Optimisation of processing routes for a marine biorefinery

13 páginas, 5 figurasCurrent fishing practices result in the waste of 20 million tonnes of valuable resources every year. However, from now on, vessels must keep on board and land both target and those non-target species subject to quota regulations, as regulated by recent EU legislation, in the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Therefore, an important quantity of low-value marine biomass has to be managed in an efficient manner to avoid its waste. Several added value products apart from fishmeal and oil (like enzymes or nutraceuticals) can be obtained from the wide variety of discarded species trough different valorisation processes. The challenge arises when these species can be handled by more than one processing route. The selection of the best alternatives has to fulfil often-opposite sustainability criteria, considering also the constraints associated to each resource and process. This was achieved by a multiobjective framework using a suitable and efficient optimization approach based on scatter-search. The results from the obtained Pareto fronts show that, in general, the valorisation of specific fish parts rather than the use of the whole specimen is more optimal from both points of view. It is also demonstrated that the most suitable products to be obtained are biopeptides, chondroitin sulphate and fish enzymes, due to their high sales price and relative low environmental impact. On the other hand, alternative technologies to present state-of-the-art ones should be considered for the production of chitin, gelatine and fishmeal due to their high environmental cost. Furthermore, a high number of the most optimal valorisation pathways leave biomass unprocessed and therefore, its treatment as solid waste must be included in the economic and environmental costsThe authors acknowledge the financial support received from the European Union through the LIFE Environment Program of the European Union (LIFE05 ENV/E000267-BE FAIR,LIFE08 ENV/E/000119-FAROS and LIFE13 ENV/ES/000131-LIFE iSEAS). Dr. Amaya Franco-Uría would like to thank Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación for the support provided by the “Ramón y Cajal” SubprogramPeer reviewe

Pseudoartrosis de escafoides carpiano tratadas mediante la técnica de Matti-Russe: estudio retrospectivo de 36 casos

Presentamos un estudio retrospectivo de una serie de 36 pacientes con pseudoartrosis de escafoides operados mediante la técnica de Matti-Russe entre 1985 y 1991. Utilizamos injerto córtico esponjoso obtenido del radio (50%), cresta ilíaca (42%) y cúbito (8%) sin diferencias en la incorporación. La tasa de curación fue mayor en las pseudoartrosis medias y distales (80%) que en las de localización proximal (54%). El 80% de los fracasos de curación en la localización media y distal eran pseudoartrosis de más de 30 meses de evolución. Los cambios degenerativos en el carpo de las pseudoartrosis no curadas fueron significativamente mayores (p< 0,001) que en las que se obtuvo la consolidación. La localización y la antiguedad de la pseudoartrosis parecen ser dos importantes factores pronósticos. La técnica de Matti-Russe presenta limitaciones en la pseudoartrosis de localización proximal y en los carpos muy degenerados.We reported a retrospective study of 36 patients with a pseudoarthrosis of the carpal scaphoid bone treated by the Matti-Russe operation from 1985 to 1991. We used radial (50%), iliac (42%) or ulnar (8%) autogenous grafts without any difference in the rate of incorporation. The rate of healing of the pseudoarthrosis was higher in mid and distal location (80%) than in proximal location (54%). In 80% of cases, healing failures in the mid and distal location occurred in old pseudoarthrosis ( >3 0 months evolution). Carpal degenerative changes were significantly higher (p < 0,01) in patients with not healed pseudoarthrosis. The location and the age of the pseudoarthrosis appear to be important prognostic factors. The Matti-Russe technique has limitations when is performed either in proximal pseudoarthrosis or in the presence of advanced radiocarpal osteoarthritis

In silico scrutiny of genes revealing phylogenetic congruence with clinical prevalence or tropism properties of Chlamydia trachomatis strains

Microbes possess a multiplicity of virulence factors that confer them the ability to specifically infect distinct biological niches. Contrary to what is known for other bacteria, for the obligate intracellular human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis, the knowledge of the molecular basis underlying serovars’ tissue specificity is scarce. We examined all ~900 genes to evaluate the association between individual phylogenies and cell-appetence or ecological success of C. trachomatis strains. Only ~1% of the genes presented a tree topology showing the segregation of all three disease groups (ocular, urogenital, and lymphatic) into three wellsupported clades. Approximately 28% of the genes, which include the majority of the genes encoding putative type III secretion system effectors and Inc proteins, present a phylogenetic tree where only lymphogranuloma venereum strains form a clade. Similarly, an exclusive phylogenetic segregation of the most prevalent genital serovars was observed for 61 proteins. Curiously, these serovars are phylogenetically cosegregated with the lymphogranuloma venereum serovars for ~20% of the genes. Some clade-specific pseudogenes were identified (novel findings include the conserved hypothetical protein CT037 and the predicted a-hemolysin CT473), suggesting their putative expendability for the infection of particular niches. Approximately 3.5% of the genes revealed a significant overrepresentation of nonsynonymous mutations, and the majority encode proteins that directly interact with the host. Overall, this in silico scrutiny of genes whose phylogeny is congruent with clinical prevalence or tissue specificity of C. trachomatis strains may constitute an important database of putative targets for future functional studies to evaluate their biological role in chlamydial infections.This work was supported by a grant, ERA-PTG/0004/2010, from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) (to J.P.G.), in the frame of ERA-NET PathoGenoMics. A.N. is recipient of a FCT post-doctoral fellowship (SFRH/BPD/75295/2010), V.B. and R.F. are recipients of Ph.D. fellowships (SFRH/BD/68527/2010 and SFRH/BD/68532/2010, respectively) from FCT, and V.D. is a recipient of fellowship on behalf of the grant ERA-PTG/0004/2010

Fish discards management in selected Spanish and Portuguese métiers: Identification and potential valorisation

15 páginas, 4 tablasWith the aim of promoting the responsible and sustainable management of marine resources, the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have established a set of international guidelines on by-catch management and reduction of discards. In this framework, the minimisation of discards and the optimal valorisation of inevitable unwanted biomass are the main objectives of the optimal and efficient discards management network that has been developed in FAROS LIFE + Project. According to FAO, in 2008, around 27 million tonnes of marine biomass were used for non-food purposes, these including fish meal, fish oil, bait or high-added value compounds production by pharmaceutical or cosmetic industries. In this work, the most important discarded species by the selected métiers of interest for FAROS project have been analysed regarding possible valorisation options in a wide variety of sectors, including food products for human consumption. A protocol to easily determine the most suitable valorisation strategies for each of them has been also established. In order to carry out this approach, several factors as the status of stocks in the environment, the valorisation potential of each species or by-product and the amounts discarded by métier have been taken into accountLIFE + Program of the European Union (FAROS Project – LIFE08 ENV/E/000119)Peer reviewe

Fracturas de húmero complicadas con lesión arterial

Presentamos una serie de 10 pacientes afectos de una fractura de húmero asociada a una lesión arterial, tratados entre Enero de 1990 y Octubre de 1993. Dentro de la serie distinguimos tres grupos, de acuerdo con la localización de la fractura (tercio proximal, diáfisis, región supracondílea). El análisis de los resultados sugiere que el peor pronóstico corresponde a las lesiones proximales y diafisarias por su etiología, daños asociados y menor posibilidad de circulación colateral de suplencia. El manejo de estas lesiones complejas exige un tratamiento quirúrgico interdisciplinario. Señalamos la utilidad de la fijación externa como método de osteosíntesis y el uso de un «shunt» provisional para perfundir el miembro durante la cirugía ósea. Se discute la indicación de arteriografía en los traumatismos agudos del miembro superior.A serie of 10 patients with a fracture of the humerus and associated arterial injury treated from January 1990 to October 1993 is reported. The serie was divided in 3 groups acording the proximal, mid shaft or supracondylar location of the fracture. Clinical results indicate a poor prognosis of proximal and mid shaft fractures related to their etiology, associated injuries and damage of the colateral vessels. The management of these complex injuries require an interdisciplinar approach. External fixation is an usefull stabilitation method for fractures associated with vascular damage. The utility of a temporary intraluminar vascular shunt to perfuse the limb at the bone surgery and preoperative arteriography are discussed

Firm and industry effects on small, medium-sized and large firms’ performance

This paper examines whether or not the relative importance of the firm and industry effects in explaining performance variations is the same regardless of the firm size. In relation to size, we think that there has been particular neglect of studying medium-sized firms separately from SMEs in general. That is why we study separately large, medium-sized and small firms. We also contribute to knowledge on the firm-industry debate testing empirically both effects distinguishing the firms by size according to a standard classification in the EU. Our results show that the performances of large and small firms are mainly explained by the firm effect, albeit for different reasons, while the performance of medium-sized firms is explained primarily by the industry effect

Biología del cocodrilo o caimán del Orinoco (Crocodylus intermedius) en la Estación Biológica El Frío, Estado Apure (Venezuela)

Se presentan los resultados obtenidos, durante un periodo de estudio de casi 5 años, sobre la Biología del cocodrilo o caimán del Orinoco (C. intermedius) en la Estación Biológica El Frío (EBF), Estado Apure, Venezuela y áreas adyacentes, en los llanos inundables. Se trata de sabanas influenciadas por las cuencas de los ríos Apure y Arauca, que siguiendo la acusada estacionalidad climática se inundan (de mayo a noviembre) y se secan (el resto del año) periódicamente. Los estudios biométricos indican que la longitud total (LT) equivale a seis veces la longitud de la cabeza (LC) y dos veces la longitud cabeza-cloaca (LCC). La relación LCC/LC presenta variación interespecífica en los adultos. Los cocodrilos colombianos presentan, para una misma medida de LCC, la cabeza un 17% más larga que los venezolanos. El crecimiento del cráneo durante la ontogenia es alométrico. Los cocodrilos del Orinoco nacen con un cráneo proporcionalmente muy ancho, que se estiliza con el desarrollo para volver a robustecerse al alcanzar el estado adulto. El cocodrilo del Orinoco, en la zona de estudio, como en la casi totalidad de su área de distribución, fue exterminado a mediados del siglo pasado debido a la caza descontrolada para comerciar con sus pieles. La población objeto de este trabajo es la consecuencia de un programa de conservación que, entre otros aspectos ha incluido la reintroducción de cocodrilos subadultos criados en cautividad. Las primeras introducciones se realizaron en 1990 y en 2006 se habían introducido 2.282 ejemplares. A fecha de hoy podemos constatar la presencia de una población compuesta por al menos 400 cocodrilos subadultos y adultos, lo que representa un 17,5 % de supervivencia. Debido a su particular origen, la estructura de población está dominada por los adultos (70%) y presenta una proporción sexual favorable a las hembras de entre 1♂:2♀ y 1♂:3♀

Influence of the feedstock material on the compost maturity, stability and reactivity

Compost samples from different origins have been characterized in order to obtain information about their composition, humic-like substances content, maturity and stability. The composts used in the present study were obtained from manure (CAP), algae (CA), domestic waste (VCRU), sewage sludge (CT) and animal waste (CE). Different techniques have been used to gather physical-chemical parameters of the raw composts, their equilibrium solutions and the extracted humic-like substances. The analysis of the parameters collected in the characterization process allowed to stablish the degree of maturity and stability of the composts. Results indicate that the compost originated from algae exhibits the highest degree of maturity. Also, metal complexation was analyzed in the CE compost with the aim of assessing the contribution of the different fractions of dissolved organic matter.0366_RES2VALHUM_1_P - Valorização de resíduos orgânicos: produção de substâncias húmicas, cofinanciada pelo Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento regional (FEDER) através do Programa INTERREG V-A Espanha-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020

A systematic approach to plant-wide control based on thermodynamics

Abstract In this work, a systematic approach to plant-wide control design is proposed. The method combines ingredients from process networks, thermodynamics and systems theory to derive robust decentralized controllers that will ensure complete plant stability. As a first step, the considered process system is decomposed into abstract mass and energy inventory networks. In this framework, conceptual inventory control loops are then designed for the mass and energy layers to guarantee that the states of the plant, both in terms of extensive and intensive properties, will converge to a compact convex region defined by constant inventories. This result by itself does not ensure the convergence of intensive variables to a desired operation point as complex dynamic phenomena such as multiplicities may appear in the invariant set. In order to avoid these phenomena, thermodynamics naturally provides the designer, in these convex regions, with a legitimate storage or Lyapunov function candidate, the entropy, that can be employed to ensure global stability. Based on this, the control structure design procedure is completed with the realization of the conceptual inventory and intensive variable control loops over the available degrees of freedom in the system. To that purpose, both PI and feedback linearization control are employed. The different aspects of the proposed methodology will be illustrated on a non-isothermal chemical reaction network