Appropriateness of radiological diagnostic tests in otolaryngology

Objective: To evaluate the appropriateness of imaging tests associated with radiation in the field of otolaryngology according to the available recommendations, and to estimate the effective radiation dose associated. Method: Cross-sectional epidemiological study of the totality of the imaging test requests carried out by two Spanish hospitals (n = 1931). We collected the following information: patient demographic data, type of imaging test, imaging tests referred in the previous 12 months, referrer department and diagnostic suspicion. In accordance with the available guidelines, we considered the requests: (a) Appropriate; (b) Inappropriate; (c) Not adequately justified; (d) Not included in the guidelines. We calculated the prevalence of each category and their variation according to the different variables. Collective and per capita effective dose were calculated for each category. Results: Of the 538 requests, 42% were considered appropriate, 34.4% inappropriate, 11.9% not adequately justified and 11.7% not included in the guidelines. Imaging tests requested by general partitioners (aOR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06–0.50) and clinical departments (aOR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.11–0.60) were less likely to be considered appropriate than those requested by the Otolaryngology department. Patients with a diagnosis suspicion of tumour pathology were more likely to have a requested imaging test classified as appropriate (aOR: 7.12; 95% CI: 3.25–15.61). The cumulative effective dose was 877.8 mSv, of which 40% corresponded to tests classified as inappropriate. Conclusions: A high percentage of imaging tests are considered as inappropriate in the field of otolaryngology, with a relevant frequency of associated effective radiation dose. Type of department, the diagnostic suspicion and the type of imaging tests were variables associated to the inappropriateness of the test

Bioaccessibility and Pharmacokinetics of a Commercial Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Extract

There are few studies about the pharmacokinetics of the low-molecular mass carotenoids crocetin or crocin isomers from saffron (Crocus sativus L.). None has been performed with a galenic preparation of a standardised saffron extract. The aim of the present research work was to study the effect of in vitro digestion process on the main bioactive components of saffron extract tablets and the corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters in humans. Pharmacokinetics were calculated collecting blood samples every 30 min during the first 3 h and at 24 h after administration of two different concentrations (56 and 84 mg of the saffron extract) to 13 healthy human volunteers. Additionally, an in vitro digestion process was performed in order to determine the bioaccessibility of saffron main bioactive compounds. Identification and quantification analysis were performed by HPLC-PAD/MS. Digestion resulted in 40% of bioaccesibility for crocin isomers, whereas, safranal content followed an opposite trend increasing about 2 folds its initial concentration after the digestion process. Crocetin in plasma was detected in a maximum concentration (Cmax) in blood between 60 and 90 min after oral consumption with dose-dependent response kinetics, showing that crocin isomers from galenic preparation of saffron extract are rapidly transformed into crocetin. The results showed that this tested galenic form is an efficient way to administer a saffron extract, since the observed crocetin Cmax was similar and more quickly bioavailable than those obtained by other studies with much higher concentrations of crocetinThe authors gratefully acknowledge the Pharmactive Biotech Products, SL Company, for funding the project and supplying affron®, LIPA Pharmaceuticals for manufacturing the tablets, and RDC Clinical for their management of the clinical tria

Real-time incidents detection in the highways of the future

Due to ever increasing transportation of people and goods, automatic traffic surveillance is becoming a key issue for both providing safety to road users and improving traffic control in an efficient way. In this paper, we propose a new system that, exploiting the capabilities that both computer vision and machine learning offer, is able to detect and track different types of real incidents on a highway. Specifically, it is able to accurately detect not only stopped vehicles, but also drivers and passengers leaving the stopped vehicle, and other pedestrians present in the roadway. Additionally, a theoretical approach for detecting vehicles which may leave the road in an unexpected way is also presented. The system works in real-time and it has been optimized for working outdoor, being thus appropriate for its deployment in a real-world environment like a highway. First experimental results on a dataset created with videos provided by two Spanish highway operators demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system and its robustness against noise and low-quality videos

Historia politica de los establecimientos ultramarinos de las naciones europeas [Texto impreso]

Eduardo Malo de Luque es seud. de Pedro Lujan y Suarez de GongoraSign. : *4,**4, A-Z4, Aa-ZZ4, Aaa-Zzz4, Aaaa-Gggg

Floods and Adaptation to Climate Change in Tourist Areas: Management Experiences on the Coast of the Province of Alicante (Spain)

One of the principal challenges for cities on the Mediterranean coast is the management of urban runoff after episodes of intense rainfall. This problem is aggravated by the effects of climate change, with the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather phenomena in this region. In light of this situation, the local governments, in collaboration with the concessionaire companies providing supply and sewage services, are committed to adopting measures aimed at a more efficient management of non-conventional water resources. Examples of good practice for reducing urban flood risk and adapting to climate change are those actions developed in the tourist municipalities of Alicante, Torrevieja, and Benidorm, where measures have been implemented or have been planned and integrated with green spaces, with a commitment to sustainability, such as sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) or Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs). This study analyses these case studies, based on a detailed review of the technical projects that contemplate each of the actions. Furthermore, several field trips were made with technical personnel who are familiar with the measures adopted. The results show that the implementation of these systems contributes to advancing the reduction of urban flood risk and the adaptation to climate change, creating more resilient and safer urban spaces for the citizens residing in them.This research was funded by the Vice-Rectorate for Research of the University of Alicante (predoctoral fellowship to E.S.-A., reference FPUA2019-54), the Interuniversity Institute of Geography of the University of Alicante (Research Groups Water and Territory) and Research Group Environment, Society and Landscape Research Group (MedsPai). CIBIO Research Institute (Centro Iberoamericano de la Biodiversidad)

An architecture for virtual labs in engineering education

This paper describes the preliminary results of an educational innovation project in which virtual world technologies have been used to build up a set of virtual laboratories oriented to engineering studies. Focusing on the architecture of a biotechnology laboratory created in this project, we describe how this architecture will also be adopted in other labs under construction, so that these labs can also take advantage of the same educational benefits. Instead of relying on a commercial software solution, these labs have been created with an open source software infrastructure named OpenSim. The limitations found in OpenSim and the solutions that have been provided to overcome these limitations are shown

Innovative Risk Assessment Framework for Hydraulic Control of Irrigation Reservoirs´ Breaching

[EN] This research introduces an innovative framework aimed at developing a risk assessment to analyse the breaching hydraulic control of non-impounding reservoirs for irrigation purposes, called irrigation reservoirs (IRs). This approach comprises an analytical method based on several empirical formulas where the one that best fts the diferent geometric characteristics of IR water systems is chosen. Furthermore, a stochastic framework allows for the incorpo ration of the occurrence probability as a tool to characterize the risk analysis of IRs. This occurrence probability has two components: probability based on the bottom elevation of a fnal breach and probability based on the failure mode (piping in this case). In risk assessment terms, the ultimate product comprises the maximum hazard probability maps that allow a signifcant improvement in the representation of the artifcial fooding efect. This research was successfully applied in two dimensions, synthetically and realistically, in the Las Porteras and Macías Picavea IR water systems (Spain). This approach may improve the management of this type of hydraulic infrastructure and its surrounding area by reducing the risk of experiencing negative consequences derived from uncontrolled hydraulic breaching.Publicación en abierto financiada por el Consorcio de Bibliotecas Universitarias de Castilla y León (BUCLE), con cargo al Programa Operativo 2014ES16RFOP009 FEDER 2014-2020 DE CASTILLA Y LEÓN, Actuación:20007-CL - Apoyo Consorcio BUCLE

Anti-influenza virus activity of the elenolic acid rich olive leaf (Olea europaea L.) extract Isenolic

Seasonal flu is caused by influenza infection, a virus that spreads easily in human population with periodical epidemic outbreaks. The high mutational rate of influenza viruses leads to the emergence of strains resistant to the current treatments. Due to that, scientific research is focusing on the development of new anti-influenza agents as alternative or complementary treatments. Olive tree (Olea europaea L.) has been a source of ancestral remedies due to its antimicrobial activity. Thus, the aim of this study was to test the anti-influenza activity of a standardized olive leaf extract rich in elenolic acid (EA), Isenolic®, compared with oseltamivir. Isenolic® extract was characterized by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)-Mass Spectrometry and its content in EA was determined by HPLC. Cytotoxicity, viral neuraminidase inhibitor activity and cell viability protection against influenza infection of Isenolic® were tested in vitro using sialic acid overexpressing Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cells. Isenolic® formulations showed a 4% and 8% dry basis. Oseltamivir and Isenolic® extracts showed anti-influenza activity. The 8% Isenolic® formulation showed a dose-dependent neuraminidase inhibitor activity higher than the 4% formulation, and preserved cell viability under viral infection. Thus, Isenolic® become a promising natural alternative to existing influenza treatment

Cálculo de costes en la programación agregada de la producción

La Programación Agregada de la Producción (PAP) es un sistema permite ajustar la oferta, a la demanda teniendo en cuenta las circunstancias productivas de la empresa. En función de cómo se realice este ajuste se generarán unos costes u otros. Para aplicar este método de programación, debemos sopesar el equilibrio entre la oferta y la demanda, puesto que el objetivo es que ambas se ajusten. En este ajuste intervienen diferentes factores que transitan desde las políticas de la empresa hasta las restricciones del mercado laboral, y por este motivo, se justifica la existencia de un método. Nuestro objetivo consiste en proporcionar un método sistemático que permita mecanizar los procesos de cálculo e interpretación de la programación agregada. Para ello se ha desarrollado una metodología precisa que permite su aplicación en los diferentes escenarios empresariales. Además, esta metodología se establece en forma de secuencia lógica, y así, además de contar con el apoyo de la formulación matemática, permite que los supuestos planteados se resuelvan con el mero razonamiento. El presente trabajo se estructura en dos partes. En la primera se explica el método general de aplicación a todos los supuestos, es por tanto, una exposición teórica. La segunda parte constituye la aplicación práctica del método establecido anteriormente. Consta de diversos supuestos prácticos que evocan la realidad de una empresa. Comienza con un ejercicio que, con pequeñas variaciones, sirve para practicar todos los conceptos teóricos. Esto permite que el lector, a medida que se enfrenta a nuevas versiones del ejercicio, se centre únicamente en el aspecto concreto que se desea trabajar. El resto de supuestos son, propiamente, ejercicios completos para trabajar las técnicas y estrategias del PAP. A su vez, los ejercicios completos también incrementan paulatinamente su complejidad.Production Aggregation Programming (PAP) is a system that allows the adjustment of supply to demand, taking into account the productive circumstances of the company. Depending on how this adjustment is made, some costs will be generated or others. In order to apply this method of programming, we must weigh up the balance between supply and demand, since the objective is for both to be adjusted. Different factors are involved in this adjustment, ranging from company policies to labour market restrictions, and for this reason a method is justified. Our aim is to provide a systematic method that allows the processes of calculation and interpretation of the aggregate schedule to be mechanised. To this end, we have developed a precise methodology that can be applied in different business scenarios. Moreover, this methodology is established in the form of a logical sequence, and thus, in addition to having the support of mathematical formulation, it allows the assumptions made to be resolved by mere reasoning. The present work is structured in two parts. In the first part, the general method of application to all the assumptions is explained; it is, therefore, a theoretical exposition. The second part constitutes the practical application of the method established above. It consists of various practical assumptions that evoke the reality of a company. It begins with an exercise which, with slight variations, serves to practice all the theoretical concepts. This allows the reader, as he or she is faced with new versions of the exercise, to focus only on the specific aspect that he or she wishes to work on. The rest of the assumptions are, properly speaking, complete exercises to work on the techniques and strategies of the PAP. In turn, the complete exercises also gradually increase in complexity