Vol. 119 No. 2 (2023)

Repeat proteins are natural biopolymers that have been widely studied in the development of new nanotechnological tools. The simplicity of their sequences and the robustness of their structures allow the development of versatile and adaptable scaffolds for a number of functions. In addition, the generation of protein-nanomaterial hybrids raises the possibilities to a new level that has only just begun to be explored. In the present review we have updated some of the advances made in the field, particularly with CTPR repeat proteins, and described by means of examples the potential of these systems in various technological and biomedical applications.

Keywords: Repeat proteins, protein engineering, protein scaffolds, functional hybrids, nanomaterials, multifunctionality, theranostic tools

The goal of this work is to ascertain whether academic publication patterns have significantly changed in the last few years in Spain. In particular, the analysis focuses on the publication venues (publishers and journals) and the document types that are chosen by researchers working in Spain to communicate their work. The Web of Science core collection (WoScc) is selected as a data source because this bibliographic database, as well the journal ranking that is derived from it (Journal Citation Reports) are the sources that have long been used in Spain to assess the performance of researchers. The results show that indeed, significant changes in the choice of publication venues can be observed in recent years. Specifically, compared to world trends, researchers working in Spain are disproportionally publishing in relatively young journals, created by relatively new publishers. An unusually high proportion of review articles is also identified. Works published by MDPI and Frontiers have seen a meteoric rise. In 2021, MDPI had already attained second place in the list of publishers with a higher number of documents published by Spanish researchers (14.6% of Spanish production), doubling the overall weight of this publisher worldwide. In 40 universities, MDPI was the most used publisher in 2021, responsible for over 20% of the production in these institutions. The establishment of MDPI as a preferred publisher for Spanish researchers is observed in all fields of knowledge. Although in 2015 MDPI was among the top 10 publishers (according to its production level) in three out of ten broad scientific fields, in 2021 it could already be found among the top 10 in all fields. Additionally, we observed differences in the distribution of document types in Frontiers and MDPI publications: the proportion of review articles published by researchers in Spain in these two publishers quadruples and triples (respectively) the overall proportion of review articles by researchers in Spain across all publishers.of this publisher worldwide. In 40 universities, MDPI was the most used publisher in 2021, responsible for over 20% of the production in these institutions. The establishment of MDPI as a preferred publisher for Spanish researchers is observed in all fields of knowledge. Although in 2015 MDPI was among the top 10 publishers (according to its production level) in three out of ten broad scientific fields, in 2021 it could already be found among the top 10 in all fields. Additionally, we observed differences in the distribution of document types in Frontiers and MDPI publications: the proportion of review articles published by researchers in Spain in these two publishers quadruples and triples (respectively) the overall proportion of review articles by researchers in Spain across all publishers.

Keywords: Scholarly communication, academic publishing, scientific journals, scientific publishers, publication trends, scientific evaluation, research performance evaluation, bibliometric indicators, Web of Science, Journal Citation Reports, MDPI, Frontiers, Spain

The human body has developed chemical machinery dedicated exclusively to iron. This machinery works in such an extraordinarily beautiful and effective way that one is astonished to meet it. This article shows the “journey” that iron from food makes through the human body, discovering an incredible world of proteins that capture it, transform it, store it, release it and use it.

Keywords: Iron, Bioinorganic Chemistry, Anemia

It is carried out an initial historical analysis of the origin of the Madelung-Klechkowskii rule as well as of its rapid incorporation as a didactic instrument, which led to the proposal of numerous mnemonic rules to facilitate its learning. Subsequently, it is analysed the incorrect way with which this rule is usually mechanically applied, through a particular study of the electronic configurations of the elements of the first transition series. Finally, it is exemplified its limitations regarding the transition elements and their ions.

Keywords: Electronic configuration, periodic system, Madelung’s rule, energetic diagrams, mnemonic rules

Steel wool experiment to determine the oxygen content in the atmosphere has been described in many elementary chemistry textbooks, due to it is an extremely simple procedure that gives good results. Just a few grams of steel wool, a graduated cylinder (or cylindrical glass), a water container and a ruler are necessary to check, by means of a simple operation, that the volume percentage of oxygen in the air is approximately 21%. However, the truth is slightly more challenging, since in order to calculate the oxygen content more accurately, the conditions under which the experiment is carried out, namely the relative humidity of the air, the ambient temperature and the atmospheric pressure, must be taken into account. In the present article, the influence of these factors is analysed and a variant of the experiment with a plastic bottle is presented in which, in addition to determining the mole fraction of oxygen in air with an error of less than 5 %, the force exerted by the atmospheric pressure when the chemical reaction takes place in a closed vessel is demonstrated in a rather striking way.

Keywords: Mole fraction of oxygen in air, steel wool, force exerted by the atmosphere, experiments with everyday materials

This series of two articles examines the historical evolution of the National Fuel Institute, a research center that existed between 1940 and 1965 and was the common origin of two current CSIC institutes . In this first part , the first seven years of its existence (1940 -46) are examined . The last year is especially significant due to the restructuring of the National Fuel Institute itself, the creation of the National Coal Institute and the implementation of a financing system through economic contributions from mining companies.

Keywords: Coal, CSIC, Fuel chemistry, Fuel technology, Fuels

This series of two articles on the historical evolution of the National Fuel Institute is completed with an analysis of the period 1947-65. Part 2 begins by reporting on the construction of facilities and buildings for the different centers in Zaragoza, Madrid and Oviedo around 1950. It shows the existence of unused scientific precedents in Oviedo, as well as a project to create a section in León that was never implemented. The role of the National Fuel Institute as coordinator of activities and its disappearance in 1965, becoming the National Institute of Coal and its Derivatives, with headquarters in Oviedo and laboratories in Oviedo and Zaragoza, are examined.

Keywords: Coal, CSIC, Fuels, Fuel chemistry, Fuel technology