Development and application of a composite circularity index

Resource depletion and environmental pollution are increasingly a matter of concern for their adverse effects on ecosystems, human health, and the economy. Circular Economy (CE) practices can help us address these chal-lenges. This paper proposes a composite circularity index (CI) to assess the level of implementation of CE practices. The main advantage of the proposed index is its ability to combine multiple indicators of circularity for different units operating in a given sector (given as inputs), using a 'Benefit of the Doubt' model. This new model is innovative in the manner it deals with ordinal scales and also by considering both relative and absolute performance indices. These indices are computed using mathematical programming tools, building on ideas from Data Envelopment Analysis models.Although the model can be applied to any sector, this work addresses the hotel industry in particular. The selection of indicators for this CI was based on seven blocks of the Circular Economy Action Plan and a literature review of circular practices. An application of the proposed index is performed by using data from Portuguese and Spanish hotels. The proposed CI allows the identification of the organizations with the best and worst performance in implementing the CE practices and clarifying the benchmarks they could follow to improve their level of circularity. Moreover, the index analysis also provides specific targets for improvement, indicating which circular practices should be improved for the lower performers to reach the implementation levels of the best performers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Acorn production at the dehesa: influential factors

This paper reviews the state-of-the-knowledge of acorn production in the South-Western Iberian dehesas. In the first part are briefly described the soil and climatic determining factors and phenology of most common trees of genus Quercus at the dehesa (Q. ilex, Q. suber and Q. faginea). In the second part, acorn production estimations are analyzed. Was established a mean acorn yield of 300 to 700 kg/ha; with individual productions of 8-14 kg/tree for Q. ilex, 5-10 kg/tree for Q. suber and 1-11 kg/tree for Q. faginea; with a highly variable production, both between and within years and individual trees. Finally we review the factors affecting acorn production, describing density of trees (estimated in 20-50 trees/ha), masting phenomenon (with cycles of 2-5,5 years and asynchrony between trees), individual cha-racteristics of trees (genetic potential, age, top surface, etc.), tree mass handling (with favourable effect of tilling, moderate pruning and sustainable grazing), meteorological conditions (mainly drought and meteorology during flowering) and sanitary status (Lymantria, Tortrix, Curculio, Cydia, Balaninus and Brenneria).Se revisa el conocimiento sobre la producción de bellota en las dehesas del SW de la Península Ibérica. Primero se analizan los condicionantes edafoclimáticos y la fenología de los principales árboles del género Quercus (Q. ilex, Q. suber y Q. faginea) presentes en las dehesas. A continuación se analiza la producción de bellota, que presentan valores medios de 300 a 700 kg/ha y producciones individuales de 8-14 kg/árbol para Q. ilex, 5-10 kg/árbol para Q. suber y 1-11 kg/árbol para Q. faginea; resultando producciones muy variables entre individuos, tanto intra como interanualmente. Finalmente, se revisan los factores que afectan a la producción de bellota; y entre éstos se describen la densidad de árboles (estimada en 20-50 pies adultos/ha), el fenómeno de la vecería (con ciclos de 2-5,5 años y asincronía entre árboles), las características individuales de los árboles (potencial genético, edad, superficie de copa, etc.), el manejo de la arboleda (con efecto favorable del laboreo, las podas ligeras y el pastoreo sostenible), las condiciones meteorológicas (principalmente sequía y meteorología durante la floración) y el estado sanitario (Lymantria, Tortrix, Curculio, Cydia, Balaninus y Brenneria)

Evaluation of learning outcomes of humanities curricula in medical students. A meta-review of narrative and systematic reviews

Objectives: To assess the expected learning outcomes of medical humanities subjects in medical studies curricula. To connect those expected learning outcomes with the types of knowledge to be acquired in medical education. Methods: Meta-review of systematic and narrative reviews. Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (Pubmed), Embase, CINAHL, and ERIC were searched. In addition, references from all the included studies were revised, and the ISI Web of Science and DARE were searched. Results: A total of 364 articles were identified, of which six were finally included in the review. Learning outcomes describe the acquisition of knowledge and skills to improve the relationship with patients, as well as the incorporation of tools to reduce burnout and promote professionalism. Programs that focus on teaching humanities promote diagnostic observation skills, the ability to cope with uncertainty in clinical practice, and the development of empathetic behaviors. Conclusion: The results of this review show heterogeneity in the teaching of medical humanities, both in terms of content and at the formal level. Humanities learning outcomes are part of the necessary knowledge for good clinical practice. Consequently, the epistemological approach provides a valid argument for including the humanities in medical curricula

Measures and nutritional characteristics of quercus acorns from the dehesa

Las bellotas de los Quercus de la dehesa (Q. ilex, Q. suber, etc.) son un importante recurso alimenticio en otoño-invierno. El peso, el tamaño y la forma de la bellota presentan muchas variaciones entre especies, individuos y zonas, al igual que la composición que además, está sometida a variaciones derivadas de su propio proceso de maduración y de la actuación de agentes externos (humedad, parásitos, etc.). Por el contrario, el porcentaje de cáscara y cotiledones presenta mucha más homogeneidad. La cáscara es rica en taninos y lignina, lo que afecta a su digestibilidad. La pulpa es muy rica en glúcidos (80% de la MS) y en lípidos (5-10% de la MS) con un contenido de ácido oleico superior al 60%, sin embargo el contenido de proteína es muy bajo (4-6% de la MS). Son muchas las especies de animales silvestres y domésticos que se alimentan con bellotas; pero en la dehesa éstas se destinan fundamentalmente al engorde del cerdo Ibérico, única raza doméstica capaz de decorticarla y que, además, da lugar a productos que gozan de una elevada consideración por parte de los consumidores y alcanzan gran valor

Basic of methods for acorn mast prediction in the dehesa

La bellota de los Quercus de la dehesa (ilex, suber y faginea) es un recurso alimenticio de alto valor para el cebo extensivo del cerdo Ibérico, muy valorado comercialmente. Su producción muy afectada por la vecería propia de los Quercus debe estimarse anualmente para ajustar con suficiente antelación las cargas ganaderas de unos cerdos que nacen 12 a 16 meses antes del comienzo de la montanera en la que se cebarán. En este trabajo se revisan los diferentes métodos de estimación cualitativos o indirectos, basados en las condiciones climatológicas y en bioindicadores (floración y plagas); y los métodos cuantitativos o directos, basados en conteos visuales y en trampas para captura de bellotas. De acuerdo con las referencias, el método más precoz es el aeropalinológico con trampas Burkard® y los dos aspectos que más influyen en la fiabilidad de las estimaciones existentes son el momento de su realización y el tamaño de la muestra

Comparer et modéliser les sites, les territoires et les systèmes pastoraux pyrénéens dans la diachronie: présentation et premiers résultats du projet collaboratif DEPART

Le développement récent des recherches archéologiques sur les dynamiques des systèmes pastoraux d'altitude a engendré, tout au long du massif pyrénéen, la constitution d'une dizaine de zones ateliers interdisciplinaires, conçues comme autant de laboratoires d'étude des interactions entre les sociétés, leur espace et leur environnement, dans la longue durée. La quantité de données amassées permet aujourd'hui de dépasser le cadre des monographies, pour se lancer dans une véritable approche comparée des trajectoires de ces territoires d'altitude sous l’angle du pastoralisme. Ce projet, qui se fonde sur la modélisation et la création d'un Système d’Information Géographique (SIG), nécessite un important travail d'élaboration, technique et théorique, tant en termes de construction de la base de données spatialisée, que de formalisation des processus à étudier. Le réseau DEPART, créé dans cette perspective, s’est fixé comme premiers objectifs de construire et tester un SIG partagé sur un échantillon du corpus, et d'élaborer les outils et les questions structurant la comparaison. Après une présentation synthétique des différentes zones ateliers, cet article expose les résultats des discussions actuelles, sur les choix de structuration de la base et les questions appelées à sous-tendre l’analyse comparative.Peer reviewe

Ageism and nursing students, past or reality?: a systematic review

Objective: This systematic review aimed to summarise and update existing knowledge about ageism among nursing students through the following research question: what is the perception and attitudes of ageism among student nurses? Design: A systematic review of longitudinal and cross-sectional studies of ageism in nursing students was carried out. Data sources: The literature search was conducted in the scientific databases Pubmed and Scopus in February 2021. Review methods: After the screening process, 22 studies meeting the selection criteria were selected; 8 more were identified after manually searching the selected paper' reference lists. A total of 30 studies were included in the review. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists for Analytical Cross-Sectional studies and for Cohort Studies were used to appraise the articles' quality. Results: There was large variability in the manifestation of ageism among student nurses, as well as in the instruments used for assessment. Most of the articles analysed attitudes towards old age, the majority of which were positive. Being a female student, being on the final year of study and having regular contact or cohabitation with an older adult were three of the main determinants in the expression of positive attitudes towards the elderly. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that student nurses generally have positive attitudes towards old age, although ageist beliefs and discriminatory behaviours were identified and should be studied in greater depth. Training programs for future care professionals have a responsibility to educate from a non-stereotypical perspective based on current societal needs

A context for the last Neandertals of interior Iberia: Los Casares cave revisited.

Introduction and objectives Although the Iberian Peninsula is a key area for understanding the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition and the demise of the Neandertals, valuable evidence for these debates remains scarce and problematic in its interior regions. Sparse data supporting a late Neandertal persistence in the Iberian interior have been recently refuted and hence new evidence is needed to build new models on the timing and causes of Neandertal disappearance in inland Iberia and the whole peninsula. In this study we provide new evidence from Los Casares, a cave located in the highlands of the Spanish Meseta, where a Neandertal-associated Middle Paleolithic site was discovered and first excavated in the 1960’s. Our main objective is twofold: (1) provide an updated geoarcheological, paleoenvironmental and chronological framework for this site, and (2) discuss obtained results in the context of the time and nature of the last Neandertal presence in Iberia. Methods We conducted new fieldwork in an interior chamber of Los Casares cave named ‘Seno A’. Our methods included micromorphology, sedimentology, radiocarbon dating, Uranium/Thorium dating, palinology, microfaunal analysis, anthracology, phytolith analysis, archeozoology and lithic technology. Here we present results on site formation processes, paleoenvironment and the chronological setting of the Neandertal occupation at Los Casares cave-Seno A. Results and discussion The sediment sequence reveals a mostly in situ archeological deposit containing evidence of both Neandertal activity and carnivore action in level c, dated to 44,899–42,175 calendar years ago. This occupation occurred during a warm and humid interval of Marine Isotopic Stage 3, probably correlating with Greenland Interstadial 11, representing one of the latest occurrences of Neandertals in the Iberian interior. However, overlying layer b records a deterioration of local environments, thus providing a plausible explanation for the abandonment of the site, and perhaps for the total disappearance of Neandertals of the highlands of inland Iberia during subsequent Greenland Stadials 11 or 10, or even Heinrich Stadial 4. Since layer b provided very few signs of human activity and no reliable chronometric results, and given the scarce chronostratigrapic evidence recorded so far for this period in interior Iberia, this can only be taken as a working hypothesis to be tested with future research. Meanwhile, 42,000 calendar years ago remains the most plausible date for the abandonment of interior Iberia by Neandertals, possibly due to climate deterioration. Currently, a later survival of this human species in Iberia is limited to the southern coasts.Peer Reviewe

A retrospective, multicenter study of the efficacy of lapatinib plus trastuzumab in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients previously treated with trastuzumab, lapatinib, or both: the Trastyvere study

[Purpose]: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lapatinib (L) and trastuzumab (T) combination in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients previously treated with T and/or L.[Materials and methods]: We conducted a retrospective, post-authorized, multicenter study including patients with HER2-positive MBC or locally advanced breast cancer (ABC) treated with the combination of L–T. Concomitant endocrine therapy, as well as brain metastasis and/or prior exposure to L, were allowed.[Results]: One hundred and fifteen patients from 14 institutions were included. The median age was 59.8 years. The median number of prior T regimens in the advanced setting was 3 and 73 patients had received a prior L regimen. The clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 34.8% (95% CI 26.1–43.5). Among other efficacy endpoints, the overall response rate was 21.7%, and median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 3.9 and 21.6 months, respectively. Heavily pretreated and ≥ 3 metastatic organ patients showed lower CBR and PFS than patients with a low number of previous regimens and < 3 metastatic organs. Moreover, CBR did not significantly change in L-pretreated compared with L-naïve patients (31.5% versus 40.5% for L-pretreated versus L-naïve). Grade 3/4 adverse events were reported in 19 patients (16.5%).[Conclusion]: The combination of L–T is an effective and well-tolerated regimen in heavily pretreated patients and remains active among patients progressing on prior L-based therapy. Our study suggests that the L–T regimen is a safe and active chemotherapy-free option for MBC patients previously treated with T and/or L.This work was supported by GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) through a contract with Medica Scientia Innovation Research (MedSIR), an academic research organization focused on independent clinical research development

Need for tripeptidyl-peptidase II in major histocompatibility complex class I viral antigen processing when proteasomes are detrimental

CD8(+) T lymphocytes recognize infected cells that display virus-derived antigenic peptides complexed with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Peptides are mainly byproducts of cellular protein turnover by cytosolic proteasomes. Cytosolic tripeptidyl-peptidase II (TPPII) also participates in protein degradation. Several peptidic epitopes unexpectedly do not require proteasomes, but it is unclear which proteases generate them. We studied antigen processing of influenza virus nucleoprotein epitope NP(147-155), an archetype epitope that is even destroyed by a proteasome-mediated mechanism. TPPII, with the assistance of endoplasmic reticulum trimming metallo-aminopeptidases, probably ERAAP (endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase associated with antigen processing), was crucial for nucleoprotein epitope generation both in the presence of functional proteasomes and when blocked by lactacystin, as shown with specific chemical inhibitors and gene silencing. Different protein contexts and subcellular targeting all allowed epitope processing by TPPII as well as trimming. The results show the plasticity of the cell's assortment of proteases for providing ligands for recognition by antiviral CD8(+) T cells. Our observations identify for the first time a set of proteases competent for antigen processing of an epitope that is susceptible to destruction by proteasomes.This work was supported in part by grants from Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia and from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (to M. D. V.), by a grant from Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (to L. C. A.), by an institutional grant from the Fundación Ramón Areces to the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, and by a grant from Comunidad de Madrid (to M. D. V. and L. C. A.). The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.S