191 research outputs found
Utilization of lactose and whey permeate for the sustainable production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava DSM1034
No full textThe utilization of agri-food wastes holds significant importance from both environmental and economic standpoints. Whey permeate, a by-product of cheese manufacturing with high lactose content, could be considered a promising substrate for microbial growth to yield value-added products. Whey permeate was therefore investigated as a potential feedstock for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava DSM1034. Although the ability of this microorganism to grow and accumulate PHAs on whey permeate has been previously demonstrated, the PHAs yields were notably low. Therefore, a meticulous inoculum optimization was performed, taking into consideration adaptation to lactose-containing substrates, initial bacterial concentration, and growth kinetics. In media containing lactose as a carbon source, the lag phase, exceeding 40 hours in non-optimized conditions, decreased to only 4 hours. In whey permeate, a cell dry weight (CDW) of 5.49 ± 0.08 g/L was obtained. P..
Economic Reforms, Financial Development and Growth: Lessons from the Chilean Experience
No full textDespite reform efforts, the economic performance of Latin American countries during the 1990s was disappointing with the exception of Chile, which grew at almost 7% per year. This paper tries to explain this difference. Following recent literature that hiEconomic growth, reforms, institutions, financial development
The supracondylar process in the skeletal remains of a full-term fetus from Central Spain (V–VII century BC)
No full textA rare case in the remains of a full-term fetus was recovered from the archaeological site 'Arriaca-Zaide' (Guadalajara, Spain) that dates to the century V-VII BC. The right humerus presents an osseous tubercle, fractured at its end that extends obliquely forward and medially, from the anteromedial aspect of the lower third of the humerus. It is a supracondylar process, a rare osseous anatomic variation. The presence of the supracondylar process in the fetal period allowed us to propose its congenital nature. Furthermore, its disposition and state of ossification allowed us to suggest that it was formed from the ossification center of the humeral diaphysis and not from a secondary ossification center. This case represents the first time that the supracondylar process during the fetal period has been described in the anthropological physical literature.Banco de Santander/Universidad Complutense de MadridDepto. de Anatomía y EmbriologíaFac. de MedicinaTRUEpu
Microarray analysis of defined Mycobacterium tuberculosis populations using RNA amplification strategies.
No full textBACKGROUND: The amplification of bacterial RNA is required if complex host-pathogen interactions are to be studied where the recovery of bacterial RNA is limited. Here, using a whole genome Mycobacterium tuberculosis microarray to measure cross-genome representation of amplified mRNA populations, we have investigated two approaches to RNA amplification using different priming strategies. The first using oligo-dT primers after polyadenylation of the bacterial RNA, the second using a set of mycobacterial amplification-directed primers both linked to T7 polymerase in vitro run off transcription.
RESULTS: The reproducibility, sensitivity, and the representational bias introduced by these amplification systems were examined by contrasting expression profiles of the amplified products from inputs of 500, 50 and 5 ng total M. tuberculosis RNA with unamplified RNA from the same source. In addition, as a direct measure of the effectiveness of bacterial amplification for identifying biologically relevant changes in gene expression, a model M. tuberculosis system of microaerophilic growth and non-replicating persistence was used to assess the capability of amplified RNA microarray comparisons. Mycobacterial RNA was reproducibly amplified using both methods from as little as 5 ng total RNA (~equivalent to 2 x 105 bacilli). Differential gene expression patterns observed with unamplified RNA in the switch from aerobic to microaerophilic growth were also reflected in the amplified expression profiles using both methods.
CONCLUSION: Here we describe two reproducible methods of bacterial RNA amplification that will allow previously intractable host-pathogen interactions during bacterial infection to be explored at the whole genome level by RNA profiling
A 200-antibody microarray biochip for environmental monitoring: Searching for universal microbial biomarkers through immunoprofiling
No full textEnvironmental biomonitoring approaches require the measurement of either unequivocal biomarkers or specific biological profiles. Antibody microarrays constitute new tools for fast and reliable analysis of up to hundreds of biomarkers simultaneously. Herein we report 150 new polyclonal antibodies against microbial strains and environmental extracts, as well as the construction and validation of an antibody microarray (EMCHIP200, for “Environmental Monitoring Chip”) containing 200 different antibodies. Each antibody was tested against its antigen for its specificity and cross-reactivity by a sandwich microarray immunoassay. The limit of detection was 0.2 ng mL−1 for some proteins and 104−105 cells mL−1 for bacterial cells and spores. Partial biochemical characterization allowed identification of polymeric compounds (proteins and polysaccharides) as some of the targets recognized by the antibodies. We have successfully used the EMCHIP200 for the detection of biological polymers in samples from extreme environments around the world (e.g., a deep South African mine, Antarctica’s dry valleys, Yellowstone National Park, Iceland, and Rio Tinto surface and subsurface). Clustering analysis permitted us to associate similar immunoprofiles or patterns to samples from apparently very different environments, indicating that they indeed share similar universal biomarkers. Our EMCHIP200 constitutes a new generation of immunosensors for biomarker detection and profiling, for either environmental, industrial, biotechnological, or astrobiological applications.This work has been financed by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (grants ESP2004-05008 and ESP2006-08128). V Parro has a “Ramón y Cajal” contract from Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia
The Icebreaker Mission to Search for Life on Mars
No full textThe search for evidence of life on Mars is the ultimate motivation for its scientific exploration. The results from the Phoenix mission indicate that the high N. latitude ice-rich regolith at low elevations is likely to be a recently habitable place on Mars [Stoker et al., 2010]. The near-surface ice likely provided adequate water activity during periods of high obliquity, 3 to 10 Myr ago. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen are present in the atmosphere, and nitrates may be present in the soil. Together with iron in basaltic rocks and perchlorate in the soil they provide carbon and energy sources, and oxidative power to drive metabolism. Furthermore, the presence of organics is possible, as thermally reactive perchlorate would have prevented their detection by Viking and Phoenix. The Mars Icebreaker Life mission [McKay et al., 2013] focuses on the following science goals: (1) Search for biomolecular evidence of life; (2) Search for organic matter from either exogeneous or endogeneous sources using methods that are not effected by the presence of perchlorate; (3) Characterize oxidative species that produced reactivity of soils seen by Viking; and 4) Assess the habitability of the ice bearing soils. The Icebreaker Life payload (Figure 1) includes a 1-m rotary percussive drill that brings cuttings samples to the surface where they are delivered to three instruments (Fig. 1), the Signs of Life Detector (SOLID) [Parro et al., 2011] for biomolecular analysis, Laser Desorption Mass Spectrometer (LDMS) [??? 2015]) for broad spectrum organic analysis, and Wet Chemistry Laboratory (WCL) [Hecht et al., 2009] for detecting soluble species of nutrients and reactive oxidants. The Icebreaker payload fits on the Phoenix spacecraft and can land at the well-characterized Phoe-nix landing site in 2020 in a Discovery-class mission
Implementación del procesador RV321 en el programa Logisim-Evolution
No full textEste Trabajo de Fin de Grado se centra en la implementación de un procesador basado en la arquitectura RISC-V, específicamente en el conjunto de instrucciones RV32I, utilizando la herramienta de simulación Logisim-Evolution. El objetivo principal es implementar un procesador funcional que pueda ser utilizado en hardware real, como una FPGA, o en futuros proyectos que busquen ampliar la capacidad de instrucciones del procesador.
A lo largo del documento, se detallan los pasos para la implementación de las instrucciones de tipo R, I, S, B, U y J, así como la integración de todos los componentes en un único sistema. La combinación de RISC-V y Logisim-Evolution ofrece una poderosa herramienta para la enseñanza de la arquitectura de computadores y el diseño de sistemas digitales que se ha aprovechado para desarrollar una serie de prácticas de laboratorio. Estos guían al estudiante a implementar un procesador desde cero abordando la arquitectura del procesador de manera progresiva.
La implementación final del procesador permite la simulación de instrucciones básicas y avanzadas, proporcionando una visión integral del funcionamiento de los procesadores modernos basados en la arquitectura RISC-V.This degree dissertation focuses on the implementation of a processor based on the
RISC-V architecture, specifically the RV32I instruction set, using the Logisim-Evolution
simulation tool. The main objective is to implement a functional processor that can be
used in real hardware, such as an FPGA, or in future projects aimed at expanding the
processor’s instruction capacity. Throughout the document, the steps for implemen ting R, I, S, B, U, and J type instructions are detailed, as well as the integration of all
components into a single system. The combination of RISC-V and Logisim-Evolution
offers a powerful tool for teaching computer architecture and digital system design,
which has been utilized to develop a series of laboratory practices. These guide stu dents in implementing a processor from scratch, progressively addressing the processor
architecture. The final implementation of the processor allows the simulation of both
basic and advanced instructions, providing a comprehensive view of the operation of
modern processors based on the RISC-V architecture.Departamento de Tecnología ElectrónicaGrado en Ingeniería en Electrónica Industrial y Automátic
- …
