Projecte d’instal·lacions sostenibles d’una masia rural aïllada

En aquest projecte es vol donar solució a la contaminació que es produeix a les llars ja sigui en forma de gasos d’efecte hivernacle o la contaminació d’aqüífers i rius per les aigües residuals d’aquestes. Els objectius a aconseguir són la disminució del consum d’energia de la llar, reduint així el consum de combustibles fòssils, amb la conseqüent disminució de gasos d’efecte hivernacle i l’estalvi econòmic que això suposa. I per altra banda la depuració de les aigües residuals, tot i que actualment totes les grans poblacions de Catalunya de més de 10.000 habitants ja disposen de EDARS i en pocs anys en tindran totes les de més de 2000 habitants. Però en aquest cas es tracta d’una població molt petita que no disposa de xarxa de clavegueram. En primer lloc s’ha plantejat un sistema de calefacció d’energia geotèrmica que ens permet aprofitar l’energia tèrmica que es va emmagatzemant a la terra degut a l’escalfor del sol i que ens permet extreure d’aquesta fins a ¾ parts de l’energia tèrmica necessària per el sistema de calefacció. En segon lloc es planteja un sistema de producció d’energia elèctrica per panells fotovoltaics que produeixi el consum elèctric anual familiar, tot i que no de forma directe, sinó venent l’energia a la xarxa elèctrica i comprant-la després de la xarxa. Per últim es projecta un sistema de depuració d’aigües per mitjà d’un aiguamoll artificial que permetrà a la casa, que no disposa de xarxa de clavegueram, retornar les aigües residuals en bones mediambientals a l’entorn rural que envolta l’edificació, sense perjudicar la fauna i els rius que l’envolten

Loss of ovarian hormones increases salt-sensitivity in normotensive women

Salt sensitivity (SS) is associated with an elevated risk of developing hypertension(HTN) and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Cross-sectional studies have suggested that postmenopausal women are more salt sensitive than premenopausal women. The purpose of the present study was to investigate prospectively the prevalence of SS among healthy premenopausal women and determine whether the loss of ovarian hormones increases SS.

Instal·lació d'energia fotovoltaica d'una casa de colònies

Els objectius d'aquest projecte són el disseny d'una instal·lació fotovoltaica connectada a xarxa que sigui capaç de produir la mateixa quantitat d’energia que consumeix la casa de colònies a on es troba ubicada. La particularitat d’aquesta instal·lació serà que els generadors fotovoltaics aniran sobra una plataforma giratòria que seguirà el sol buscant sempre la millor i major producció energètica. El control d'aquesta estructura anirà a càrrec d'un autòmat programable. Aprofitant l'existència de panells fotovoltaics, s'ha dissenyat un sistema d’acumulació d’energia de 2 kW de potència que dotarà de corrent una línia que, en cas de falla en el sistema d’alimentació general, es mantindrà ininterrompuda. Aquesta línia serà de 230 V i està dissenyada per tenir una autonomia de 2 hores

Position of fixed-dose combinations containing an AT(1)-receptor blocker and a thiazide diuretic.

Treatment of hypertension remains a difficult task despite the availability of different types of medications lowering blood pressure by different mechanisms. In order to reach the target blood pressures recommended today combination therapy is required in most patients. The co-administration of two drugs with different impacts on the cardiovascular system markedly increases the antihypertensive effectiveness without altering adversely tolerability. Fixed low-dose combinations are becoming a valuable option not only as second-line, but also as first-line therapy. In this respect the co-administration of thiazide diuretic with an AT(1)-receptor blocker is particularly appealing. The diuretic-induced decrease in total body sodium activates the renin-angiotensin system, thus rendering blood pressure maintenance angiotensin II-dependent. During blockade of the renin-angiotensin system low doses of thiazides generally suffice, allowing the prevention of undesirable metabolic effects. Also, blockade of the AT(1)-receptor, particularly when angiotensin II production is enhanced in response to diuretic therapy, is expected to be beneficial, since angiotensin II seems to contribute importantly to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and renal complications of hypertension.

Avaluació i implantació d’un sistema de climatització amb energia solar a la Facultat de Ciències de la UdG

Estudi de viabilitat de climatització de la Facultat de Ciències de la UdG per energia solar. Estudi de costos i comparació de l’estalvi respecte al sistema actual

Effects of the peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist pioglitazone on renal and hormonal responses to salt in healthy men.

Glitazones are used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes as efficient insulin sensitizers. They can, however, induce peripheral edema through an unknown mechanism in up to 18% of cases. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, four-way, cross-over study, we examined the effects of a 6-wk administration of pioglitazone (45 mg daily) or placebo on the blood pressure, hormonal, and renal hemodynamic and tubular responses to a low (LS) and a high (HS) sodium diet in healthy volunteers. Pioglitazone had no effect on the systemic and renal hemodynamic responses to salt, except for an increase in daytime heart rate. Urinary sodium excretion and lithium clearance were lower with pioglitazone, particularly with the LS diet (P < 0.05), suggesting increased sodium reabsorption at the proximal tubule. Pioglitazone significantly increased plasma renin activity with the LS (P = 0.02) and HS (P = 0.03) diets. Similar trends were observed with aldosterone. Atrial natriuretic levels did not change with pioglitazone. Body weight increased with pioglitazone in most subjects. Pioglitazone stimulates plasma renin activity and favors sodium retention and weight gain in healthy volunteers. These effects could contribute to the development of edema in some subjects treated with glitazones.

Inferring ultraviolet anatomical exposure patterns while distinguishing the relative contribution of radiation components

Exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main causative factor for skin cancer. UV exposure depends on environmental and individual factors, but individual exposure data remain scarce. While ground UV irradiance is monitored via different techniques, it is difficult to translate such observations into human UV exposure or dose because of confounding factors. A multi-disciplinary collaboration developed a model predicting the dose and distribution of UV exposure on the basis of ground irradiation and morphological data. Standard 3D computer graphics techniques were adapted to develop a simulation tool that estimates solar exposure of a virtual manikin depicted as a triangle mesh surface. The amount of solar energy received by various body locations is computed for direct, diffuse and reflected radiation separately. Dosimetric measurements obtained in field conditions were used to assess the model performance. The model predicted exposure to solar UV adequately with a symmetric mean absolute percentage error of 13% and half of the predictions within 17% range of the measurements. Using this tool, solar UV exposure patterns were investigated with respect to the relative contribution of the direct, diffuse and reflected radiation. Exposure doses for various body parts and exposure scenarios of a standing individual were assessed using erythemally-weighted UV ground irradiance data measured in 2009 at Payerne, Switzerland as input. For most anatomical sites, mean daily doses were high (typically 6.2-14.6 Standard Erythemal Dose, SED) and exceeded recommended exposure values. Direct exposure was important during specific periods (e. g. midday during summer), but contributed moderately to the annual dose, ranging from 15 to 24% for vertical and horizontal body parts, respectively. Diffuse irradiation explained about 80% of the cumulative annual exposure dose.

Seguidor solar controlat per microcontrolador

L’objectiu d’aquest projecte és la realització d’un seguidor solar, i per poder tenir la màxima precisió en el control de moviment utilitzarem un microcontrolador (PIC 16F877) per controlar el seu estat en tot moment. Volem aconseguir que aquesta placa electrònica pugui controlar un seguidor i posteriorment ampliar-ho a un camp de seguidor solars per una vivenda estàndard. Quan parlem de controlar els seguidor ens referim a fer la orientació adient a cada moment del dia, aquesta orientació tindrà dos graus de llibertat. També aprofitarem les hores vall per poder fer el reposicionament de totes les plaques solarsAquest sistema microprocessat tindrà el suport d’un sistema d’actualització de calendari solar, per saber en quin moment del dia s’ha de posar en marxa i en quina direcció s’ha de posicionar

The anorexigenic effects of metformin involve increases in hypothalamic leptin receptor expression.

Metformin demonstrates anorectic effects in vivo and inhibits neuropeptide Y expression in cultured hypothalamic neurons. Here we investigated the mechanisms implicated in the modulation of feeding by metformin in animals rendered obese by long-term high-fat diet (diet-induced obesity [DIO]) and in animals resistant to obesity (diet resistant [DR]). Male Long-Evans rats were kept on normal chow feeding (controls) or on high-fat diet (DIO, DR) for 6 months. Afterward, rats were treated 14 days with metformin (75 mg/kg) or isotonic sodium chloride solution and killed. Energy efficiency, metabolic parameters, and gene expression were analyzed at the end of the high-fat diet period and after 14 days of metformin treatment. At the end of the high-fat diet period, despite higher leptin levels, DIO rats had higher levels of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y expression than DR or control rats, suggesting a central leptin resistance. In DIO but also in DR rats, metformin treatment induced significant reductions of food intake accompanied by decreases in body weight. Interestingly, the weight loss achieved by metformin was correlated with pretreatment plasma leptin levels. This effect was paralleled by a stimulation of the expression of the leptin receptor gene (ObRb) in the arcuate nucleus. These data identify the hypothalamic ObRb as a gene modulated after metformin treatment and suggest that the anorectic effects of the drug are potentially mediated via an increase in the central sensitivity to leptin. Thus, they provide a rationale for novel therapeutic approaches associating leptin and metformin in the treatment of obesity.

Impact of salt on cardiac differential gene expression and coronary lesion in normotensive mineralocorticoid-treated mice.

We previously reported that excess of deoxycorticosterone-acetate (DOCA)/salt-induced cardiac hypertrophy in the absence of hypertension in one-renin gene mice. This model allows us to study molecular mechanisms of high-salt intake in the development of cardiovascular remodeling, independently of blood pressure in a high mineralocorticoid state. In this study, we compared the effect of 5-wk low- and high-salt intake on cardiovascular remodeling and cardiac differential gene expression in mice receiving the same amount of DOCA. Differential gene and protein expression was measured by high-density cDNA microarray assays, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis in DOCA-high salt (HS) vs. DOCA-low salt (LS) mice. DOCA-HS mice developed cardiac hypertrophy, coronary perivascular fibrosis, and left ventricular dysfunction. Differential gene and protein expression demonstrated that high-salt intake upregulated a subset of genes encoding for proteins involved in inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling (e.g., Col3a1, Col1a2, Hmox1, and Lcn2). A major subset of downregulated genes encoded for transcription factors, including myeloid differentiation primary response (MyD) genes. Our data provide some evidence that vascular remodeling, fibrosis, and inflammation are important consequences of a high-salt intake in DOCA mice. Our study suggests that among the different pathogenic factors of cardiac and vascular remodeling, such as hypertension and mineralocorticoid excess and sodium intake, the latter is critical for the development of the profibrotic and proinflammatory phenotype observed in the heart of normotensive DOCA-treated mice.

Effectiveness of heparin versus 0.9% saline solution in maintaining the permeability of central venous catheters: a systematic review

Abstract OBJECTIVE Determining which is the most effective solution (heparin flush compared to 0.9% saline flush) for reducing the risk of occlusions in central venous catheters (CVC) in adults. METHOD The systematic review followed the principles proposed by the Cochrane Handbook; critical analysis, extraction and synthesis of data were performed by two independent researchers; statistical analysis was performed using the RevMan program 5.2.8. RESULTS Eight randomized controlled trials and one cohort study were included and the results of the meta-analysis showed no difference (RR=0.68, 95% CI=0.41-1.10; p=0.12). Analysis by subgroups showed that there was no difference in fully deployed CVC (RR=1.09, CI 95%=0.53-2.22;p=0.82); Multi-Lumen CVC showed beneficial effects in the heparin group (RR=0.53, CI 95%=0.29-0.95; p=0.03); in Double-Lumen CVC for hemodialysis (RR=1.18, CI 95%=0.08-17.82;p=0.90) and Peripherally inserted CVC (RR=0.14, CI 95%=0.01-2.60; p=0.19) also showed no difference. CONCLUSION Saline solution is sufficient for maintaining patency of the central venous catheter, preventing the risks associated with heparin administration.

Volume expansion enhances plasma endothelin-1.

We hypothesized that acute volume expansion by saline infusion triggers the release of endothelin-1. Bolus intravenous saline infusion (8 mL/min) in six groups of conscious Wistar rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats did not change mean arterial pressure or heart rate (n = 8 to 12). At 1 min after infusion, the plasma endothelin-1 level was significantly increased in Wistar rats and in spontaneously hypertensive rats by 42% and 61%, respectively (unpaired data). In 12 Wistar rats, the endothelin-1 level increased from 0.68 +/- 0.13 to 1.19 +/- 0.17 fmol/mL (mean +/- SEM, P <.0001, paired data). Thus, acute volume load by rapid saline infusion increases plasma endothelin-1 levels. Vasoconstriction induced by endothelin-1 may counteract enhanced circumferential stretch created by volume expansion.

Gestão Integrada dos Recursos Hídricos da Ilha do Maio (Cabo Verde): o Contributo das Águas Subterrâneas

Cabo Verde é constituído por 10 ilhas, sendo a ilha do Maio a mais antiga do arquipélago, com uma área de 269 km2, tendo como comprimento máximo 24100 m, uma largura máxima de 16300 m e uma população total de 6740 habitantes. No que concerne à geomorfologia e geologia, a ilha é considerada plana e é composta por formações eruptivas e sedimentares, sendo as formações sedimentares dominantes na ilha. Apresenta as formações mais antigas de Cabo Verde, de idade jurássica e cretácica. No entanto, não apresenta as formações eruptivas mais recentes como as restantes ilhas. A ilha do Maio enquadra-se num clima do tipo árido e semiárido, com uma temperatura média de 24.5 ºC e uma precipitação anual de 125.4 mm. Estimativas efectuadas com base no modelo do balanço hídrico sequencial diário mostram que cerca de 7% da precipitação corresponde a escoamento superficial e 14.1% a escoamento subterrâneo. Pela aplicação deste modelo e do método do balanço químico do ião cloreto, os recursos hídricos subterrâneos renováveis anualmente na ilha do Maio estão, em ano médio, compreendidos entre 3.44 x 106 m3 e 4.76 x 106 m3.por sua vez, o escoamento total é estimado em 7.8 x 106 m3 anuais, o que equivale a cerca de 21 400 m3/dia. O escoamento subterrâneo na ilha do Maio faz-se globalmente de um modo centrífugo a partir das elevações do maciço central. O gradiente hidráulico assume valores entre 0.05% e 2.9%, sendo que o valor mais baixo ocorre no sector norte da ilha, o que favorece o fenómeno de intrusão salina. Relativamente à qualidade da água, verifica-se que as amostras recolhidas correspondem a águas muito mineralizadas, com valores de condutividade eléctrica compreendidos entre 832 μS/cm e 7730 μS/cm. Por sua vez, os valores de TDS estão compreendidos entre 705.8 mg/L e 4210.4 mg/L. Nestas condições, as águas subterrâneas analisadas podem ser consideradas águas salobras. A fácies hidroquímica dominante é a cloretada sódica, sendo que grande parte das amostras pode ser considerada cloretada-bicarbonatada sódica. Admitindo que a amostragem efectuada tem significado estatístico, poderá dizer-se que, a nível físico-químico, cerca de 20% das águas subterrâneas são próprias para o consumo humano. No que respeita à utilização da água para rega, as águas analisadas apresentam baixo a alto perigo de alcalinização do solo e alto a muito alto perigo de salinização. Em síntese, pode concluir-se que, não obstante o carácter árido da ilha do Maio, a mesma apresenta um potencial de recursos hídricos não negligenciável, eventualmente suficiente para suprir as necessidades hídricas da população. No entanto, o estudo desenvolvido mostra a necessidade de implementar medidas susceptíveis de proporcionarem um aproveitamento sustentado dos recursos hídricos, no quadro da gestão integrada dos recursos hídricos da ilha do Maio.

Transcriptome and membrane fatty acid analyses reveal different strategies for responding to permeating and non-permeating solutes in the bacterium Sphingomonas wittichii.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Sphingomonas wittichii strain RW1 can completely oxidize dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, which are persistent contaminants of soils and sediments. For successful application in soil bioremediation systems, strain RW1 must cope with fluctuations in water availability, or water potential. Thus far, however, little is known about the adaptive strategies used by Sphingomonas bacteria to respond to changes in water potential. To improve our understanding, strain RW1 was perturbed with either the cell-permeating solute sodium chloride or the non-permeating solute polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of 8000 (PEG8000). These solutes are assumed to simulate the solute and matric components of the total water potential, respectively. The responses to these perturbations were then assessed and compared using a combination of growth assays, transcriptome profiling, and membrane fatty acid analyses. RESULTS: Under conditions producing a similar decrease in water potential but without effect on growth rate, there was only a limited shared response to perturbation with sodium chloride or PEG8000. This shared response included the increased expression of genes involved with trehalose and exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and the reduced expression of genes involved with flagella biosynthesis. Mostly, the responses to perturbation with sodium chloride or PEG8000 were very different. Only sodium chloride triggered the increased expression of two ECF-type RNA polymerase sigma factors and the differential expression of many genes involved with outer membrane and amino acid metabolism. In contrast, only PEG8000 triggered the increased expression of a heat shock-type RNA polymerase sigma factor along with many genes involved with protein turnover and repair. Membrane fatty acid analyses further corroborated these differences. The degree of saturation of membrane fatty acids increased after perturbation with sodium chloride but had the opposite effect and decreased after perturbation with PEG8000. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of growth assays, transcriptome profiling, and membrane fatty acid analyses revealed that permeating and non-permeating solutes trigger different adaptive responses in strain RW1, suggesting these solutes affect cells in fundamentally different ways. Future work is now needed that connects these responses with the responses observed in more realistic scenarios of soil desiccation.