El proceso analítico jerárquico como metodología para seleccionar revistas científicas en el área biotecnológica

l objetivo de este trabajo es establecer una metodología apropiada para seleccionar una revista para publicar en el área biotecnológica, a través del proceso analítico jerárquico. La publicación de artículos en revistas indizadas es una de las metas fundamentales del trabajo de investigación científica. Por eso es importante seleccionar la revista que mejor proyecte la información del artículo entre la comunidad técnico-científica; sin embargo, depender de criterios subjetivos puede derivar en la pérdida de tiempo y energía, costos innecesarios y una baja difusión de la productividad científica del investigador. Para establecer la metodología se evaluaron 11 parámetros cualitativos y cuantitativos de 20 revistas científicas, validadas por un grupo de expertos en el área, luego se usó un proceso de análisis jerárquico con lo que se estableció el criterio de selección. Se encontró que los elementos clave para considerar la selección de una revista son el factor de impacto, el tiempo de aceptación, el tipo de indización y la cantidad de artículos publicados por la revista. De esta forma, con una metodología para escoger la revista idónea, se puede aumentar las posibilidades de publicar el artículo, disminuir el tiempo de espera, gastos de publicación y lograr tener un mayor número de citas una vez publicado, usando una diversidad de criterios y no únicamente criterios bibliométricos como el factor de impacto.

he aim of this study is to establish an applicable methodology for the selection of a journal when aspiring to publish a scientific work in the biotechnology field, using the hierarchical analytical process. The publication of papers in indexed journals is one of the main goals of scientific research work. That's why it is of great importance to select the journal that best disseminates the information of the paper among the technical-scientific community; however, having to rely on subjective criteria in the journal selection process can result in time and energy waste, unnecessary costs and a low dissemination of the researcher's scientific productivity. To establish the methodology, 11 qualitative and quantitative parameters of 20 scientific journals were evaluated, validated by a group of experts in the area, followed by a hierarchical analysis process, which established the selection criteria. It was found that the key elements to consider the journal selection are the impact factor, the acceptance time, the type of indexing and the number of articles published by the journal. Thus, with a methodology to choose the appropriate journal, it is possible to increase the possibilities of publishing the article, decrease the waiting time, publication costs and achieve a larger number of citations once published, using a variety of criteria and not just bibliometric criteria as the impact factor.

Inconsistencies and ambiguities in calculating enzyme activity: The case of laccase.

Laccase is a key enzyme in the degradation of lignin by fungi. Reports indicate that the activity of this enzyme ranges from 3.5 to 484,000 U L(-1). Our aim was to analyze how laccase activity is calculated in the literature, and to determine statistically whether variations in activity are due to biological properties or to inconsistencies in calculation. We found a general lack of consensus on the definition of enzyme activity, and enzymes are sometimes characterized in terms of reaction rate and specific activity. Moreover, enzyme activity is calculated using at least seven different equations. Therefore, it is critical to standardize the calculation of laccase activity in order to compare results directly.

Production of short-chain fatty acids from the biodegradation of wheat straw lignin by Aspergillus fumigatus.

The wheat straw lignin-rich fraction (WSLig-RF) can be used as a raw material for the production of metabolites for industrial use if ligninolytic mitosporic fungi are used for its biodegradation into aromatics and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs, i.e., SCFA2-6). Although methods for the production of SCFA2-6 have been described previously, quantitative data of SCFA2-6 production have not been reported. The objectives of this study were to investigate the biodegradation of different concentrations of WSLig-RF by Aspergillus fumigatus and to identify whether SCFA2-6 production was dependent on the concentration of aromatics. A. fumigatus generated 2805mgL(-1) acetic acid when mixed with WSLig-RF at a concentration of 20gL(-1). Thus, aromatics are a substrate for the biosynthesis of SCFA2-6, and their production depends on the concentration of WSLig-RF aromatics.

Generación de monómeros aromáticos por Aspergillus y Penicillum spp a partir de lignina residual de paja de trigo / Aromatic monomers generation by Aspergillus and Penicillium spp from residual wheat straw lignin

Antecedentes: La paja de trigo es un residuo agrícola con un 17% de lignina, un polímero recalcitrante con potencial biotecnológico si se despolimeriza en aromáticos de interés para la industria; lo que es posible por métodos químicos, pero que son costosos y contaminantes. Una alternativa es su despolimerización biológica por hongos mitospóricos ligninolíticos como Aspergillus y Penicillium spp. Sin embargo existen pocos reportes del uso de hongos en la generación de aromáticos por despolimerización de la lignina de residuos agrícolas. Objetivo: Determinar la generación de aromáticos utilizando los hongos Aspergillus y Penicillium por despolimerización de la lignina residual de paja de trigo semipurificada. Métodos: Para ello los hongos se cultivaron en lignina residual de paja de trigo por 28 días, que por despolimerización generaron aromáticos que se identificaron en cromatografía de gases. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que ambos hongos generan aromáticos como: guayacol 3,5, vainillina 3,3, ácidos hidroxibenzoico 3,2, vainillinico 3,3, siringico 10,1 y ferúlico 21,9 mg mL-1. Conclusiones: Aspergillus y Penicillium son una opción ecológica en el aprovechamiento de la lignina residual de paja de trigo semipurificada para la generación de aromáticos de interés industrial, en un tiempo relativamente corto a partir de un residuo abundante y barato.

Background: Wheat straw is an agricultural waste, which contains 17% of lignin, a recalcitrant polymer with biotechnological potential provided it is depolymerized. Lignin depolymerization has attracted interest because it yields aromatics of industrial interest; chemical and physical methods are available but entail economic and environmental constraints. An alternative is to exploit the ligninolytic capacity of mitosporic fungi, such as Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. There are few reports on the use of these funguses in the generation of aromatics by lignin depolymerization. Objetives: To use Aspergillus and Penicillium spp in the biological generation of aromatics from semipurified residual wheat straw lignin. Methods: Funguses were grown in semipurified residual wheat straw lignin for 28 days; produced aromatics were followed using gas chromatography. Results: Obtained results indicate a range of aromatics produced, i.e. 3,5 mg mL-1 guaiacol, 3,3 vanillin, 3,2 hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,3 vanillinic, 10,1 syringic and 21,9 ferulic. Conclusions: Aspergillus and Penicillium represent an ecological option in the exploit of semi-purified residual lignin from wheat straw to generate aromatics in a shorter period from an abundant and cheap residue.

Distribution and partitioning of iron, zinc, and arsenic in surface sediments in the Grande River mouth to Cuitzeo Lake, Mexico.

Cuitzeo Lake is one of the largest and most important lakes in Mexico. It receives different types of pollutants through its main tributary, the Grande River of Morelia. The aim of this work was to determine if high concentrations of iron, zinc, and arsenic are present in sediments in an area near the river mouth to the lake, as well as to estimate the partitioning of these metals using a sequential extraction procedure in order to obtain information of their potential bioavailability. Sediment samples were collected from three different sites in Cuitzeo Lake and two sites in Grande River in both dry and wet seasons. A sequential extraction procedure was carried out to determine the concentrations of these elements in different geochemical phases of the sediments. Total metal concentrations were evaluated by using the enrichment factor and the geoaccumulation index. A comparison with sediment quality guidelines and shale values has also been made. The results indicate that sediments are considered unpolluted by iron and moderately polluted by zinc and arsenic. However, fractionation studies showed that significant amounts of Zn and As could be released to the lake ecosystem depending on the environmental conditions, representing a medium risk potential of bioavailability to the biota.

Comparative analysis of hazardous household waste in two Mexican regions.

Household hazardous waste (HHW) generation in two Mexican regions was examined, a northern region (bordering with the USA) and a central region. The aim of this work was to determine the dynamics of solid waste generation and to be able to compare the results of both regions, regarding consumption patterns and solid waste generation rates. In the northern region, household solid waste was analysed quantitatively. In order to perform this analysis, the population was categorized into three socioeconomic strata (lower, middle, upper). Waste characterization revealed the presence of products that give origin to household hazardous waste. In the northern region (Mexicali city), household hazardous waste comprised 3.7% of municipal solid waste, the largest categories in this fraction were home care products (29.2%), cleaning products (19.5%) and batteries and electronic equipment (15.7%). In the central region, HHW comprised 1.03% of municipal solid waste; the main categories in this fraction were represented by cleaning products (39%), self care products (27.3%), and insecticides (14.4%). In Mexicali, the socioeconomic study demonstrated that the production of HHW is independent of the income level. Furthermore, the composition of the solid waste stream in both regions suggested the influence of another set of variables such as local climate, migration patterns and marketing coverage. Further research is needed in order to establish the effect of low quantities of HHW upon the environment and public health.