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This Ph.D. thesis assesses the impact of the change in the hazardous classification of formaldehyde in vehicle paint shops from an environmental and economic perspective. This work includes an evaluation of compliance with the applicable emission limit value for formaldehyde, a proposal of options to reduce the emissions and their economic impact, a Life Cycle Assessment of the painting process in a real vehicle paint shop and an eco-efficiency analysis. The outcomes of this thesis allowed to make a proposal for the most eco-efficient vehicle paint shop in view of formaldehyde emissions performance.

Esta Tesis Doctoral aborda la aplicación de diversas reacciones multicomponente como herramientas de diversificación estructural para la síntesis de fármacos con perfil antitumoral. El trabajo estudia asimismo, la evaluación farmacológica de las moléculas sintetizadas, el establecimiento de las relaciones estructura-actividad preliminares y el análisis computacional que establece el modo de unión fármaco-diana. En la primera parte de la Tesis, se investiga el diseño, síntesis y evaluación de prototipos directamente diseñados para la inhibición de la diana antimitótica KSP (Kinesin Spindle Protein) y que están basados en la estructura de tipo bencimidazol. En la segunda parte, se introduce una línea de investigación basada en la búsqueda de antagonistas de los receptores A2B de adenosina como agentes anticancerígenos.

Los bofedales son turberas de altitud (3800 m.s.n.m.) que se nutren del agua procedente de la lluvia y del deshielo del nevado Chimborazo en el centro del Ecuador. En el presente estudio se evaluó el estado ecológico de los 16 bofedales presentes en la Reserva de Producción de Fauna Chimborazo, una de las mas importantes áreas protegidas que cuenta el Ecuador continental; para ello se analizaron parámetros físicos, químicos y biológicos (macroinvertebrados, macrófitas y vegetación de ribera) que determinaron la calidad ecológica de estos ecosistemas acuáticos altoandinos. Se determinó que 9 de los 16 bofedales presentan condiciones de alteración y baja calidad ecológica debido a actividades de origen antrópico. Se debe considerar el presente estudio a fin de garantizar la conservación de estos bofedales.

Nowadays, frontiers among different sciences are revealed as diffuse, and as a consequence, research must necessarily be faced from an interdisciplinary approach. Similarly, teaching certain topics in Chemistry requires the consideration of developments in other sciences (Mathematics, Biology, Physics, etc.). For instance, the estimation of the parameters of calibration lines in Analytical Chemistry (via linear regression) exemplifies this mandatory interaction since the comprehension of the regression tools should also consider how estimation is regarded from a statistical perspective. This work focuses on how to overcome the contradictions that undergraduate Chemistry students may encounter between the chemists’ and statisticians’ perspectives, when they are lectured on least-squares linear regression. A mixed analytical chemistry−statistics approach is proposed to present a method to get over the discordant issues between both scientific viewpoints.

A lo largo de los últimos años, ha aumentado el interés de la agricultura de precisión, como conjunto de técnicas y herramientas que proporcionan información de utilidad en el menor tiempo posible. La utilización de una viticultura de precisión, para tratar de forma eficaz cada parte del terreno, es la clave para aplicar lo que es necesario, donde se necesite y en el momento oportuno, permitiendo una mayor eficacia para no malgastar los recursos, mejorar la eficiencia y crear una agricultura más sostenible. El ensayo experimental, se ha realizado en tres viñedos comerciales, para la realización de una zonificación, así como, para el diseño de un modelo inteligente, que permita la predicción de parámetros clave para el viticultor.

Esta tese céntrase no estudo da morfodinámica, a evolución paleoambiental, os cambios do nivel do mar e a xestión do illote Areoso, situado na parte central da ría de Arousa (NO da Península Ibérica). O elevado valor patrimonial deste enclave singular estase a ver ameazado pola dinámica erosiva e a elevada presión turística durante os meses estivais. Os resultados obtidos permiten establecer un modelo de xestión enfocado no equilibrio entre conservación e uso público.

Indirect Time-of-Flight (iToF) sensors measure the received signal's phase shift or time delay to calculate depth. In realistic conditions, however, recovering depth is challenging as reflections from secondary scattering areas or translucent objects may interfere with the direct reflection, resulting in inaccurate 3D estimates. We propose a new measurement concept including a single-shot on-chip multifrequency demodulation method with periodically-repeated ultrashort-pulsed illumination using a novel pixel array architecture to address a main limitation of conventional iToF, the Multi-Path Interference (MPI). Due to the careful hardware/software codesign, the proposed single-shot architecture provides close-to-optimal Fourier measurements to a spectral estimation algorithm that retrieves the unknown parameters of the interfering return paths in a closed form. Electrical simulations of the on-chip multifrequency demodulation circuit demonstrate the feasibility of distance retrieval in double and triple bounce conditions in a single shot with high accuracy. Furthermore, we propose a set of methods for processing the resulting sensor measurements that exploit valuable a priori information and structural constraints of the data and observe that they yield a substantial increase in accuracy

Addressing current challenges with DPIs calls for the development of innovative inhaled formulations. Achieving enhanced formulation efficacy demands the use of advanced technologies and the design of suitable carriers. Furthermore, a key consideration is the development of novel inhalers that actively contribute to minimizing environmental impact. In this PhD Thesis, aerogels, renowned as the world's lightest materials due to their high porosity and surface area, along with environmentally friendly approaches, were explored for their potential in pulmonary drug delivery. This research aims to contribute to overcoming existing challenges in DPIs by leveraging the unique properties of aerogels and adopting sustainable practices in pharmaceutical development.

O obxectivo da Tese é mellorar o coñecemento sobre os solos urbanos de Santiago de Compostela. Para o estudo das tipoloxías de solos urbanos analizáronse 13 perfís de solo cunha gran variabilidade espacial. No estudo das propiedades físicas, químicas e biolóxicas analizáronse 64 mostras superficiais de solos formados a partir de distinto material xeolóxico, e con diversidade de usos do solo e vexetación. En canto á presenza de contaminantes, analizáronse as concentracións totais e dispoñibles e a bioaccesibilidade de Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr e As, así como a presenza de PAHs en mostras superficiais de 55 solos urbanos. Os resultados obtidos indican a importancia do estudo dos solos urbanos, pola súa variabilidade e distinto grao de artificialización, así como potencial contaminación, que poden comprometer a súa xestión.

A presente tese de doutoramento céntrase no estudo da Elegia di Madonna Fiammetta, obra escrita por Giovanni Boccaccio entre 1343-1344, da que se examinarán as fontes que utiliza o autor e o protagonismo da narradora homónima. Fiammetta é unha nobre napolitana que conta a súa historia en primeira persoa e lamenta a perda de Pánfilo, o seu amante. O relato inscríbese na ficción elexíaca e recolle un gran número de fontes da tradición clásica e da tradición medieval. O escritor de Certaldo coñeceu estes textos durante a súa formación na corte anxevina de Nápoles, durante una dilatada estancia (de 1327 a 1340), onde entrou en contacto cos círculos intelectuais da capital napolitana que influíran no proceso compositivo da Elegia.

The aim of this thesis was to characterize exposure biomarkers and to determine the human exposure to polymer-related chemicals and drugs of abuse. Three different types of experiments were considered: in-vitro human liver metabolism studies, human biomonitoring through urine analysis, and wastewater-based epidemiology. In-vitro metabolism studies recreated the human body processes to identify potential exposure biomarkers of rubber-related chemicals. Human biomonitoring provided reliable stratified-population data and its relationship with human exposure to bisphenols. Finally, wastewater-based epidemiology allowed to monitor the use of drug of abuse and exposure to bisphenols and plasticizers. This thesis comprised Spanish and Portuguese samples and was driven by liquid chromatography hyphenated to (tandem) mass spectrometry.

Molecular switches, supramolecular chemistry, and polymers can be combined to create stimuli-responsive multi-chiral materials. Herein, novel mechanisms to modify the helical scaffold in helical systems are presented based on axially chiral allenes. The screw sense of the helical system is determined by the priority of the allenyl substituents that can be altered with respect to the backbone by external stimuli. Hence, a helix inversion occurs through a novel axial-to-helical communication mechanism, opening a new scenario for taming the helices of chiral dynamic helical polymers.

El objetivo es entender las relaciones organizativas entre personas y si las teorías tradicionales de liderazgo responden a los retos del contexto actual. Este está marcado por relaciones digitales y plataformas virtuales que cuestiona elementos relacionales comunicativos como la confianza. Un contexto dominado por los datos y la información ha puesto en duda el papel del líder. La digitalización transforma a las personas y a las organizaciones. Ante la mecanización de las relaciones, la toma de decisiones por agentes máquina y la crisis de los diferentes modelos de gestión organizativa, este trabajo pretende repensar las relaciones a través del liderazgo. Para cuestionar y repensar es necesario hacerlo desde una dimensión ética que proponga reflexiones y posibles soluciones al objetivo de estudio.

DNA methylation has become a biomarker of great interest in the forensic and clinical fields. In criminal investigations, the study of this epigenetic marker has allowed the development of DNA intelligence tools providing information that can be useful for investigators, such as age prediction. Following a similar trend, when the origin of a sample in a criminal scenario is unknown, the inference of an individual’s lifestyle such as tobacco use and alcohol consumption could provide relevant information to help in the identification of DNA donors at the crime scene. At the same time, in the clinical domain, prediction of these trends of consumption could allow the identification of people at risk or better identification of the causes of different pathologies. In the present study, DNA methylation data from the UK AIRWAVE study was used to build two binomial logistic models for the inference of smoking and drinking status. A total of 348 individuals (116 non-smokers, 116 former smokers and 116 smokers) plus a total of 237 individuals (79 non-drinkers, 79 moderate drinkers and 79 drinkers) were used for development of tobacco and alcohol consumption prediction models, respectively. The tobacco prediction model was composed of two CpGs (cg05575921 in AHRR and cg01940273) and the alcohol prediction model three CpGs (cg06690548 in SLC7A11, cg0886875 and cg21294714 in MIR4435–2HG), providing correct classifications of 86.49% and 74.26%, respectively. Validation of the models was performed using leave-one-out cross-validation. Additionally, two independent testing sets were also assessed for tobacco and alcohol consumption. Considering that the consumption of these substances could underlie accelerated epigenetic ageing patterns, the effect of these lifestyles on the prediction of age was evaluated. To do that, a quantile regression model based on previous studies was generated, and the potential effect of tobacco and alcohol consumption with the epigenetic age was assesse

The Cantabrian brown bear (Ursus arctos) population is threatened although in a constant process of recovery during the last 20 years. Since data on the parasitological status of this bear is still limited, the objective of the present study was to assess the diversity and prevalence of parasites in this population. Thus, 111 bear faecal samples were collected in north-western Spain and analysed for estimating the occurrence of gastrointestinal and bronchopulmonary parasites. Samples were processed by flotation in saline and sucrose solution, sedimentation and Baermann-Wetzel techniques. In addition, a commercial immunofluorescent assay was performed for detecting Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. Dicrocoelium dendriticum was the most prevalent parasite (58.6%), followed by Baylisascaris transfuga (43.2%) and nematodes of the Suborder Strongylida (18.9%) and Spirurida (2.7%). Mixed infections were detected in the 41.4% of the samples. The presence of D. dendriticum was significantly highest in bears from the autonomous region of Castile and León as well as in those in which grass or nuts/acorns were the predominant food item. Moreover, the risk of being positive to B. transfuga was significantly higher during autumn–winter, and in those, faecal samples were mainly composed of fleshy fruit. Some of the parasites detected could infect other wildlife and even humans, and therefore, the risk of pathogen transmission deserves further investigation. Since the impact of endoparasites in the health status of bears is poorly understood, the establishment of a disease surveillance protocol is strongly recommended in order to assess the potential risk of these infections for bears

El carcinoma urotelial de vejiga estadio T1 alto grado presenta una evolución clínica heterogénea, un no desdeñable riesgo de mortalidad y una problemática decisión terapéutica entre la conservación del órgano y su exéresis. Los actuales modelos de pronóstico a partir de variables clínicas y patológicas tienen una eficacia limitada. El estudio del estado HER2 es útil en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer de mama y en el gástrico. Realizamos un estudio observacional del valor pronóstico de HER2 en un grupo homogéneo de tumores T1 alto grado. La sobreexpresión resultó ser del 19,3%, la amplificación del 25,3% y el diagnóstico HER2 del 28,8%. La amplificación fue un factor pronóstico independiente que duplica el riesgo de recurrencia y triplica el de progresión del estadio tumoral.

PCSK9 inhibitors and LDL reduction play a crucial role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) management, significantly improving health outcomes. This thesis explores key areas: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cholesterol control in patients using PCSK9 inhibitors; the long-term safety of these inhibitors, especially on cognitive function; and the cost- effectiveness of additional lipid-lowering therapies in patients already on PCSK9 inhibitors. Groundbreaking findings include the maintained efficacy and safety of PCSK9 inhibitors during the pandemic; the safe use of dapagliflozin in non-vaccinated patients, however, it demonstrated an increased risk of infection; no significant impact on cognitive functions by PCSK9 inhibitors even in those achieving very low LDL-C levels during follow-up across various studied domain

Esta tese centrarase nas bases constitucionais do Dereito á Educación nos ordenamentos xurídicos español e brasileiro. A continuación, realizarase un estudo sobre os modelos educativos e as transformacións introducidas na educación como consecuencia da era tecnolóxica. Neste sentido, a tese analizará a educación en formato dixital e abordará as particularidades inherentes a este novo modelo de educación. Así mesmo, a investigación afondará no uso da intelixencia arti icial na educación, demostrando as súas debilidades e fortalezas, bene icios e inconvenientes. Ademais, destacaranse os cambios necesarios no sistema educativo, para que as tecnoloxías se utilicen a favor do ser humano, mellorando especialmente as súas competencias no proceso de aprendizaxe.

The high potential of food waste (FW) as a substrate in the anaerobic digestion (AD) raises the dilemma between producing added value bioproducts such as volatile fatty acids (VFA) or biomethane. This work assessed the scale-up of producing VFA from FW. At lab-scale (5 L), pH 7 and organic loading rate (OLR) of 10 g COD/L/d were selected as the best conditions, obtaining a VFA yield of 36.6 % g COD-VFA/g COD substrate and a rate of 3.9 g COD-VFA/L/d. Afterwards, a semi-industrial pilot plant (1.5 m3) was operated under these conditions, showing VFA production indicators in line with those of lab scale, with acetic acid as main VFA (50 % mass basis), followed by propionic and butyric (20 % each). The economic comparative between the production of VFA and biomethane concluded that revenues from VFA production (22.9 €/t FW) are considerably higher than those from biomethane (11.7 €/t FW)

In 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 elements

The constant passage of trains on the railways tracks causes, in the course of time, deviations that must be corrected periodically by means of a track calibration process. It consists of designing a new layout, called recreated horizontal alignment (RHA), as close as possible to the deformed center track fulfilling also the technical constraints according to the operational requirements of the railway. In recent years, different models have been proposed to address this task. This paper proposes, first, a new geometrical model that works with continuous variables for the definition of horizontal alignments (HAs) to deal with nonsymmetric transition curves at both sides of a circular curve and second, an optimization algorithm to compute the recreated alignment suitable in sinuous railway sections. This new mathematical model frees the optimization process from the need to previously identify the geometric elements (tangents, circular curves, and transition curves) of the HA. The usefulness of this model is tested with two academic examples showing its good behavior and in a real case study, where this algorithm is compared with the solution adopted by the engineers in a section of the railway line Ourense–Monforte in the NW of Spain.

El presente trabajo de investigación es un recorrido teórico sobre liderazgo, liderazgo político, partidos políticos, modelos de partidos, sistema político, sistema electoral mexicano, una breve referencia del liderazgo de Andrés Manuel López Obrador y del origen, evolución e institucionalización de MORENA. La obtención de información se realizó mediante entrevistas y encuestas domiciliarias para poder determinar la influencia del liderazgo de López Obrador en la intención de votar a MORENA, y definir así la capacidad de institucionalización del partido sobre la base del líder. El análisis se realizó con un enfoque cuantitativo que incluyó el manejo de diferentes técnicas estadísticas, entre ellas, modelos de regresión lineal múltiple y modelos de regresión logística binaria.

Although haemolysis is the most common source of preanalytical error in clinical laboratories, its influence on cattle biochemistry remains poorly understood. The effect of haemolysis and its clinical relevance were investigated in 70 samples in which haemolysis was artificially induced (by spiking with increasing amounts of haemolysate, yielding 0.0%, 0.2%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 10% haemolysis degree (HD)), focusing on key parameters for bovine metabolic health assessment, including albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), calcium (Ca), cholesterol, creatinine, creatine kinase (CK), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), globulins, magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), total bilirubin (TBIL) and total proteins (TP). Preanalytical haemolysis significantly affected most (8 of 14) of the biochemical parameters analysed, leading to significant increases in concentrations of albumin (starting at 5% HD), cholesterol (at 5% HD) and P (at 10% HD) and to significant decreases in Ca (at 2.5% HD), creatinine (at 5% HD), globulins (at 10% HD), TBIL (at 2.5% HD) and TP (at 10% HD). Comparison of the present and previous data indicated that, for each parameter, the HD required to produce significant bias and the clinical relevance of over- and underestimation are variable and appear to depend on the analytical technique used. Therefore, different laboratories should evaluate the influence of haemolysis in their analytical results and provide advice to clinicians accordingly. Affected parameters should be interpreted together with clinical signs and other analytical data to minimize misinterpretations (false or masked variations). Finally, due to the significant impact on numerous parameters and the limited potential for correction, we recommend rejection of samples with >10% HD

En esta tesis estudiamos la cohomología básica de las foliaciones transversalmente homogéneas, generalizando resultados clásicos para las foliaciones de Lie y dando condiciones para que una foliación transversalmente homogénea sea unimodular. Estos resultados nos permiten enunciar nuestro teorema principal: en una foliación transversalmente homogénea no unimodular sobre una variedad compacta, si se cumplen ciertas hipótesis, se tiene que o bien la variedad, o bien las adherencias de las hojas, o bien el espacio total del fibrado de Blumenthal asociado a la foliación, fibran sobre S1.

El propósito de esta tesis constituye hacer un estudio analítico de la huella que el Renacimiento dejó a su paso en el siglo XVI por la diócesis del obispado de Lugo. Centrándonos fundamentalmente, en manifestaciones de tipo arquitectónico, pero haciendo también pequeñas incursiones en el ámbito de la retablística, de la decoración de grutescos o de ciertos aditamentos decorativos, con cierta significación, que crean programas iconográficos complejos que, mediante nuestra investigación, hemos tratado de darles un sentido de inserción y comprensión de contenido en su correspondiente continente. Abordamos nuestro estudio desde una dicotomía, ya que por un lado, analizamos arquitectura civil como fortalezas, pazos...y, del otro, la arquitectura eclesiástica del siglo XVI.

Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2) has been recently identified as the endogenous non-competitive allosteric antagonist of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR1a). In rodents, LEAP-2 blunts ghrelin-induced feeding and its plasma levels are modulated in response to nutritional status, being decreased upon fasting and increased in high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice. Clinical data support the regulation of circulating LEAP-2 by nutrient availability in humans. In this work, our primary objective was to examine the chronic effects of ghrelin and LEAP-2 administration on food intake, adiposity, and energy expenditure in young mice subjected to standard and HFD at both room temperature and at thermoneutrality. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the impact of these two hormones on aging mice

A fines de los 80s se produjeron cambios políticos que reconfiguraron la escena internacional, el fin de la guerra fría y el resurgir de los nacionalismos que se habían vuelto subrepticios, aplastados por los horrores de la 2ª guerra mundial y la realineación en un mundo bipolar. La caída del muro de Berlín hizo emerger el problema étnico que, en algunos casos, generó un nacionalismo impregnado por el mesianismo religioso y, en otros, como una manifestación de las demandas históricas de pueblos indígenas sometidos a la explotación y marginación secular desde la colonia, subyugados –por políticas endocoloniales republicanas- en un círculo de pobreza del que no pueden escapar por ser indígenas, tanto en los Andes como en las selvas del Darién, Selva Lacandona, Centroamérica y la Amazonía.

Decision-making models are widely used tools developed to study how agents select their preferred features on conflictive alternatives. Despite the importance given to individual preferences in decision-making, cognitive biases, emotions or psychological influences were not studied in the realm of economics till the 70s, with rise of behavioural economics. However, contextual factors like culture from the field of social psychology were less studied in the area of economics. To explore the influence of culture on decision-making, we use the case of tourism, where the primary hypothesis is that culture affects decision-making. Thus, the aim of the thesis is to merge the knowledge from decision-making, behavioural economics and social-psychology in a tourism context to check if culture affect decision-making, and how.

This thesis is about the experimental characterization of new electrolytes for electrochemical devices for energy storage, particularly, for lithium ion batteries and beyon lithium era. New smart electrolytes based on ionic liquids (ILs) and dopped with electrochemical interest salt and then nanoconfined inside silica matrix to obtain a semisolid, self-standing and handable electrolytic matherial, known as ionogel, keeping the liquid properties desirable for battery electrolytes. The ILs and the ionogels are characterized by means of DSC, TGA, NMR, density, viscosity and electrochemically by different techniques such as BBDS, ionic conductivity, EIS, CV and GCPL.

Although modern anaerobic sewage treatment systems and in particular the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) have demonstrated remarkable performance in tropical and subtropical regions, the effluent quality is generally not compatible with discharge standards in many countries, so post-treatment becomes necessary. In practice, the most widely applied post-treatment options are polishing ponds (PPs) and other aerobic treatment bioreactors. PPs are treatment units treating anaerobically pre-treated wastewater, which distinguishes them from conventional waste treatment ponds, wherein normally raw wastewater is treated. Anaerobic pre-treatment has a very profound influence on the configuration and operation of PPs, as will be shown in this chapter. Other aerobic post-treatments can be realized with conventional activated sludge systems, or more complex technological solutions including membrane bioreactors (MBRs) or trickling filters. The anaerobic–aerobic treatment has important advantages compared to the purely aerobic treatment: the volume and sludge production is much smaller, there is a possibility that the anaerobic–aerobic system operates with energetic self-sufficiency and the concentration of excess sludge is much higher facilitating its processing. An important problem of anaerobic–aerobic treatment is the difficulty of producing a final effluent with low nutrient concentration. Anaerobic sewage treatment reduces the content of biodegradable organic matter in the effluent, limiting in practice the removal of phosphorus to the use of chemical precipitation systems. For the case of nitrogen, the alternatives only go through new processes, which complement the poor capacity of conventional denitrification due to the limited concentration of biodegradable organic matter. This limits in practice, the nitrogen elimination capacity of activated sludge systems or trickling f ilters treating effluents from UASB reactors. A notable breakthrough could occur i

Understanding vertebral bone development is essential to prevent skeletal malformations in farmed fish related to genetic and environmental factors. This is an important issue in Solea senegalensis, with special impact of spinal anomalies in postlarval and juvenile stages. Vertebral bone transcriptomics in farmed fish mainly comes from coding genes, and barely on miRNA expression. Here, we used RNA-seq of spinal samples to obtain the first comprehensive coding and miRNA transcriptomic repertoire for postlarval and juvenile vertebral bone, covering different vertebral phenotypes and egg-incubation temperatures related to skeleton health in S. senegalensis. Coding genes, miRNA and pathways regulating bone development and growth were identified. Differential transcriptomic profiles and suggestive mRNA-miRNA interactions were found between postlarvae and juveniles. Bone-related genes and functions were associated with the extracellular matrix, development and regulatory processes, calcium binding, retinol and lipid metabolism or response to stimulus, including those revealed by the miRNA targets related to signaling, cellular and metabolic processes, growth, cell proliferation and biological adhesion. Pathway enrichment associated with fish skeleton were identified when comparing postlarvae and juveniles: growth and bone development functions in postlarvae, while actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesion and proteasome related to bone remodeling in juveniles. The transcriptome data disclosed candidate coding and miRNA gene markers related to bone cell processes, references for functional studies of the anosteocytic bone of S. senegalensis. This study establishes a broad transcriptomic foundation to study healthy and anomalous spines under early thermal conditions across life-stages in S. senegalensis, and for comparative analysis of skeleton homeostasis and pathology in fish and vertebrates

Esta tesis se centra en el diseño y evaluación de hidrogeles de polisacáridos para la administración colónica de fármacos. Estos hidrogeles tienen como objetivo mejorar el tratamiento de enfermedades colónicas como la colitis ulcerosa y la enfermedad de Crohn. La investigación aborda la preparación y caracterización de estos hidrogeles basados en gomas naturales (xantana y garrofina), evaluando su bioadhesión y capacidad de liberación de fármacos como el acetónido de triamcinolona y el ciprofloxacino. Además, explora el impacto de las ciclodextrinas en las propiedades de liberación de los hidrogeles y su eficacia en modelos animales de colitis. Concluye discutiendo los resultados y sugiriendo futuras direcciones de investigación para el desarrollo de hidrogeles inteligentes y nuevas aplicaciones terapéuticas.

En el campo de la clasificación de imágenes multi e hiperespectrales se ha popularizado en la última década el uso de técnicas basadas en aprendizaje profundo, en particular las basadas en redes convolucionales. Dado que su coste computacional es más alto que el de las técnicas de aprendizaje automático más clásicas, recientemente se han propuesto nuevos esquemas de clasificación que tienen como objetivo reducir el tiempo de ejecución requerido por ellas. Un modelo de red que ha sido aplicado con éxito a problemas de clasificación de imágenes en la literatura es la llamada red EfficientNet. Este tipo de redes de aprendizaje profundo se caracterizan por realizar un escalado uniforme de las tres dimensiones que componen la red: profundidad, anchura y resolución. De esta forma, se obtiene un modelo con buenas precisiones de clasificación a la vez que se cumplen las restricciones computacionales impuestas por el problema. En este trabajo se propone la adaptación de las redes tipo EfficientNet para resolver la clasificación de imágenes multiespectrales de alta resolución. Se analizan diferentes configuraciones de este tipo de redes variando el escalado de la arquitectura, tanto en términos de precisión de la clasificación del esquema resultante como de tiempo de ejecución. Los experimentos realizados sobre imágenes multiespectrales de alta resolución espacial obtenidas mediante vehículos aéreos no tripulados han mostrado que algunas variantes específicas de EfficientNet permiten una reducción importante del coste computacional sin degradar la precisión de clasificación.

Background: In 1973, Saunders T. Frank described the diagonal earlobe crease (DELC) as a potential marker of cardiovascular disease. However, this anatomical finding is not routinely examined. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of this crease in the general population attending a dental setting and describe its anatomical variations to be able to categorize it as a physical sign. Methodology: A study group of 1050 white adults were selected, as participants in the framework of the "A Estrada Study of Glycation and Inflammation" (AEGIS), a cross-sectional, population-based descriptive study of a representative sample of the general adult population of the municipality of A Estrada (Pontevedra, Spain). Each participant's age, sex, and preferred head position when sleeping were recorded. Both earlobes were visually inspected and the anatomical variables of the crease were recorded (unilateral or bilateral, length, depth, and presence of secondary creases). The relationship between the study variables was analyzed using the chi-squared test, Student's t-test, the analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the nonparametric tests of Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis. Results: The DELC was observed in 65.2% of the participants. In 71.5% of the cases, the sign was complete (occupying the space from the tragus to the posterior edge of the earlobe); in 56.9% of the cases, the sign was bilateral; in 45.1% of the cases it was deep; and in the 43.6% of the cases, accessory creases were identified. Neither sex nor the habitual head position when sleeping were related to the prevalence or characteristics of the DELC. The prevalence, extent and depth of Frank's sign increased significantly with age (p < .001). Conclusion: The prevalence of the DELC increases significantly with age, and its morphological characteristics are accentuated. This finding, therefore, gains special relevance as a marker of potential cardiovascular disease when observed in young adults

Esta tesis investiga un cambio de paradigma en el entramado artístico de los años noventa en el contexto español de la mano de unas prácticas artísticas de naturaleza colaborativa que, desplazaron los límites de los marcos de acción y de sentido de un arte que había dejado de representar la realidad para intervenir directamente en ella. Se toman como casos de estudio, cuatro colectivos: Agustín Parejo School, Preiswert Arbeitskollegen (Sociedad de Trabajo no Alienado), Estrujenbank y La Fiambrera.

This review describes a wide variety of analytical approaches for the assessment of human exposure to organic chemicals associated with plastic additives, focusing on works published in the last decade on plasticizers, bisphenols, flame retardants and antioxidants. Physiologically based extraction tests serve as preliminary in-vitro assays to determine the bioaccessibility of these compounds from micro/nanoplastics in body fluids of the gastrointestinal tract, skin, or lung. Whenever plastic-laden compounds become bioavailable, human metabolism is to be monitored through the assessment of phase I and II metabolites. In this regard, analytical methods based on chromatography and mass spectrometry for human biomonitoring of parent compounds and their metabolites in biological samples (mostly urine and plasma) are discussed in depth. This review also covers the role of wastewater-based epidemiology in determining the overall human exposure of a given population to plastic-related species.

Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) is one of the major organophosphate flame retardants present in the indoor and outdoor environment. Knowledge of biotransformation pathways is important to elucidate potential bioavailability and toxicity of TCIPP and to identify relevant biomarkers. This study aimed to identify TCIPP metabolites through in vitro human metabolism assays and finally to confirm these findings in urine samples from an occupationally exposed population to propose new biomarkers to accurately monitor exposure to TCIPP. TCIPP was incubated with human liver microsomes and human liver cytosol to identify Phase I and Phase II metabolites, by liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). Using a suspect-screening approach, the established biomarkers bis (1-chloro-2-propyl) hydrogen phosphate (BCIPP) and 1-hydroxy-2-propyl bis (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPHIPP) were identified. In addition, carboxyethyl bis (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP-M1), bis (1-chloropropan-2-yl) (-oxopropan-2-yl) phosphate (TCIPP-M2) and 1-chloro-3-hydroxypropan-2-yl bis (1-chloropropan-2-yl) phosphate (TCIPP-M3) were identified. TCIPP-M2, an intermediate product, was not reported before in literature. In urine samples, apart from BCIPP and BCIPHIPP, TCIPP-M1 and TCIPP-M3 were identified for the first time. Interestingly, BCIPP showed the lowest detection frequency, likely due to the poor sensitivity for this compound. Therefore, TCIPP-M1 and TCIPP-M3 could serve as potential additional biomarkers to more efficiently monitor TCIPP exposure in humans.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a family of organic compounds presents around us from oil to interstellar space, that can be considered as well-defined graphene fragments. Defective PAHs with non hexagonal rings have emerge as improved scaffolds due to their ability to modify the properties of their planar analogous. The synthesis of both systems generally requires regioselective rings fusions, where metal-catalysed annulations have become one of the most attractive strategies. Throughout this PhD thesis, 1,3- cyclohexadiene nuclei, presents in dihydrobiphenylenes systems, will be explored towards annulated systems containing biphenylenes units through oxidative process. Moreover, synthesis and reactivity of strained alkynes species (COTynes) for the formation of PAHs with COT units will also be adressed.

Las úlceras de extremidad inferior son el tipo más común de heridas crónicas y constituyen un grave problema de salud a nivel mundial y afectan a todas las esferas del individuo, mermando su calidad de vida. Las enfermeras desempeñan un papel fundamental en su cuidado a través de intervenciones preventivas y terapéuticas. La implementación de tecnologías de la información y comunicación (TIC) ha facilitado al alumnado la adquisición de competencias relacionadas con contenidos prácticos en Ciencias de la Salud. Entre las TIC, la realidad aumentada (RA) se ha perfilado como una herramienta tecnológica prometedora en aquellos casos donde se necesite una visión tridimensional o inmersión en la práctica. Sin embargo, existen escasas experiencias que analicen su utilidad real en contenidos específicos de Enfermería.

Introduction The expansion of new tobacco consumption formats and electronic vapor products threatens to reverse the trend of declining smoking rates that had been observed among younger people in recent decades. Early detection in the health sector requires screening tools that have been adapted and validated in our context. This study aims to translate, culturally adapt, pilot and empirically validate the Hooked on Nicotine Checklist (HONC) with Spanish adolescents. Methods The process of translation and cultural adaptation included the following stages: direct translation, synthesis of translations, back translation, consolidation with a committee of experts and pre-test, along with a cognitive interview, which served as pilot testing. Empirical validation was conducted with a sample of 1027 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 (M = 15.40; SD = 1.638). Results The results obtained confirm that the HONC is a brief, clear and easy-to-understand tool, with appropriate psychometric properties. A Cronbach's alpha value of 0.90 was obtained. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV indices reached values of 0.56, 0.94, 0.79 and 0.83, respectively. Cut-off point 1 is the one reaching the best balance between the two values. CFA showed a model good overall fit. Conclusion This study makes the Spanish version of the HONC available to researchers and clinicians, so that it can be used with sufficient psychometric guarantees.

A multi-shot target assembly and automatic alignment procedure for laser–plasma proton acceleration at high repetition rate are introduced. The assembly is based on a multi-target rotating wheel capable of hosting more than 5000 targets, mounted on a 3D motorized stage to allow rapid replenishment and alignment of the target material between laser irradiations. The automatic alignment procedure consists of a detailed mapping of the impact positions at the target surface prior to the irradiation that ensures stable operation of the target, which alongside the purpose-built design of the target wheel, enables operation at rates up to 10 Hz. Stable and continuous laser-driven proton acceleration at 10 Hz is demonstrated, with observed cut-off energy stability about 15%.

A range of densely functionalized ullazines have been synthesized by a one-pot Rh(III)-catalyzed twofold C-H activation/oxidative annulation of N-arylpyrroles with alkynes. Electrophilic bromination at 5- or 5,7- positions of the EWG-substituted ullazine core offers an interesting single or double entry for further extended functionalization. Mechanistic considerations suggest two complementary paths, EWG-assisted and SEAr, for the C-H activations. All ullazines exhibit strong fluorescence emissions. Ullazines bearing thiophene and triarylamine units at 5- and 5,7- positions show a significant bathochromic shift in their emission spectra, attributed to the more extended electronic circuits present.

La urgente transformación social poscapitalista y decolonial en México, puede encontrar viabilidad mediante la deconstrucción del espacio universitario público. Esta idea se sustenta en el llamado Fenómeno de Causalidad Bidireccional Socioeducativa, que presenta la autora como explicación y fundamento del porqué el aparato nacional de las universidades públicas mexicanas permitiría la participación ciudadana de la enorme diversidad cultural del país, reconstruyendo los fundamentos universitarios en primer lugar. Mediante la traducción intercultural, es posible el encuentro de intersecciones conceptuales que comuniquen las prácticas y conocimientos excluidos con los conocimientos científicos, en un diálogo horizontal de justicia cognitiva, lo cual propicie la transformación decolonial en México, sostenida en una sólida plataforma social. En la segunda parte de la tesis, se analiza el tema de la ética académica con perspectiva de equidad de género, el cual, es un debate con más vigencia que nunca en las universidades más allá de la cultura mexicana, es un tema de interés y pertinencia mundial.

The operation of oxide-based memristive devices relies on the fast accumulation and depletion of oxygen vacancies by an electric field close to the metal–oxide interface. Here, we show that the reversible change of the local concentration of oxygen vacancies at this interface also produces a change in the thermal boundary resistance (TBR), i.e., a thermal resistive switching effect. We used frequency domain thermoreflectance to monitor the interfacial metal–oxide TBR in (Pt,Cr)/SrTiO3 devices, showing a change of ≈20% under usual SET/RESET operation voltages, depending on the structure of the device. Time-dependent thermal relaxation experiments suggest ionic rearrangement along the whole area of the metal/oxide interface, apart from the ionic filament responsible for the electrical conductivity switching. The experiments presented in this work provide valuable knowledge about oxide ion dynamics in redox-based memristive devices.

Fish fecundity is one of the most relevant parameters for estimating reproductive potential of fish stocks used for assessing stock status to guarantee a sustainable fisheries management. Fecundity is the number of matured eggs that each female fish can spawn each year. The stereological method is the most accurate technique to estimate fecundity using histological images of fish ovaries, in which matured oocytes must be measured and counted. This thesis propose a multi-scale Canny filter (MSCF) algorihm to recognize the outlines of cells. It also develop the graphical software STERapp, which includes the MSCF algorithm and other machine learning technique to help the quantitative analysis of images in the fishering labs. STERapp saves between 40% to 70% of time in the fecundity estimation.

Boar taint is an unpleasant odour or taste evident while cooking or eating pork or pork products from entire male pigs. Its management involves addressing welfare issues from castration, understanding compounds causing sensory defects, exploring prevention methods, and reliable detection. Addressing boar taint in Portuguese pork processing requires proactive prevention, emphasising measures like feed supplementation and developing tools to assess its efficacy rather than relying solely on carcass sorting. This research involves developing methods to quantify boar taint, evaluating its reduction using functional ingredients in the feed, and assessing the use of pork from entire males in meat processing, along with determining the prevalence of boar taint in commercial lines.

John Dewey (1859-1952) es un filósofo pragmatista fundamental para comprender la filosofía del siglo XX. Este trabajo de investigación aborda su epistemología y lo que él denominó “revolución copernicana” de la filosofía a través de su operacionalismo. Dewey propone una reconstrucción de la filosofía, para lo que resulta esencial renovar el concepto tradicional de experiencia, pues llevaba a dualismos y falacias, y la concibe como un continuo con la naturaleza, además sugiere aplicar el método científico a las acciones humanas y así une teoría y práctica. Las consecuencias de este cambio conceptual significan un cambio trascendental en la filosofía, pues disuelve los dualismos y, en especial, la distinción entre hechos y valores.

En aquellos casos en los que la disponibilidad ósea se encuentra limitada a nivel de los sectores posteriores del maxilar superior, la utilización de las diferentes técnicas de elevación de seno maxilar nos permite lograr un volumen óseo adecuado para la posterior rehabilitación mediante implantes osteointegrados. En el presente trabajo de investigación, mediante el empleo de imágenes CBCT y el software ITK-SNAP, hemos estudiado el volumen total de los senos maxilares, así como el cálculo preoperatorio del volumen de injerto necesario para la realización de una cirugía de elevación de seno maxilar y la posterior rehabilitación mediante la inserción de implantes dentales osteointegrados de 12 mm de longitud. Palabras clave: Seno maxilar; ITK-SNAP; Volumen del seno maxilar; CBCT, Volumen de injerto.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the response to exposure to pollutants (trace elements and organic pollutants) using biomarkers (micronucleated cells and glutathione S-transferase and catalase activity) in uçá crab Ucides cordatus. The study was carried out at four sites: Cacha Prego (CP) and Ponta Grossa (PG), areas with low anthropic activity; and Ilha de Maré (IM) and Pitinga (PT), areas affected by industrial activity. At each site, soil and crab samples were collected to analyze the contents of potentially toxic elements (total concentration and chemical partitioning of trace elements), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Both total concentrations and geochemical fractions of Cu, Zn, and Ni in soils were significantly higher in IM. Likewise, higher reactive Pb contents were observed in mangroves both in IM and in PG. Values above quality limits were observed for organic pollutants (PAHs) in soils from CP and PT, while PCB contents were below the maximum permissible levels. Metals in crabs also showed spatial variations, with higher Cu concentrations in all tissues in IM and PT and higher Ni concentrations in hepatopancreas in PT during the dry season. PAH values in crabs did not show spatial variations; however, crustaceans with contents above maximum limits in their muscle tissue were found in CP. Crabs from the Baia de Todos Santos showed different responses in biomarker expression, with higher enzymatic activity and greater numbers of micronucleated cells in crabs from IM, suggesting oxidative stress and genotoxicity in this mangrove forest