Influence of high intensity ultrasound application on mass transport, microstructure and textural properties of pork meat (Longissimus dorsi) brined at different NaCl concentrations

[EN] The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of high intensity ultrasound and NaCl concentration on the brining kinetics (5 ± 1 C) of pork loin as well as its influence on the textural and microstructural changes. In order to identify the effect of both factors on NaCl and moisture transport, kinetics were analyzed by taking the diffusion theory into account. The textural and microstructural analysis of raw and brined meat both with and without ultrasound application was carried out. The experimental results showed that the brine NaCl concentration not only determined the final NaCl content in meat samples but also the direction of water transport. The NaCl and moisture effective diffusivities were improved by ultrasound application. The final NaCl and moisture content and the ultrasound application promoted changes in instrumentally measured meat texture, which were confirmed via microstructural observations.This work is financed by Project CARNISENUSA (CSD2007-00016) included in the CONSOLIDER-INGENIO-2010.Ozuna López, C.; Puig Gómez, CA.; García Pérez, JV.; Mulet Pons, A.; Cárcel Carrión, JA. (2013). Influence of high intensity ultrasound application on mass transport, microstructure and textural properties of pork meat (Longissimus dorsi) brined at different NaCl concentrations. Journal of Food Engineering. 119(1):84-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodeng.2031.05.016S8493119

Experimental verification of hybrid renewable systems as feasible energy sources

[EN] Renewable energies are a central element in the search for energy sustainability, so they are becoming a substantial component of the energy scenario of every country, both as systems connected to the grid or in stand-alone applications. Feasibility of these renewable energy systems could be necessary not only in their application in isolated areas, but also in systems connected to the grid, in this last case when their contribution reaches a substantial fraction of the total electricity demand. To overcome this reliability problem, hybrid renewable systems could become essential and activities to optimize their design should be addressed, both in the simulation and in the experimental areas. In this paper, a laboratory to simulate and verify the reliability of hybrid renewable systems is presented and its application to the feasibility analysis of multicomponent systems including photovoltaic panels, wind generator and biomass gasification plant, plus energy storage in a battery bank, are described.Pérez-Navarro, Á.; Alfonso-Solar, D.; Ariza-Chacón, HE.; Cárcel Carrasco, FJ.; Correcher Salvador, A.; Escrivá-Escrivá, G.; Hurtado, E.... (2016). Experimental verification of hybrid renewable systems as feasible energy sources. Renewable Energy. 86(2):384-391. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2015.08.030S38439186

Efectos de la extracción de chaetomorpha linum y ulva spp sobre el estado ecológico del mar menor durante la primavera y verano de 2022

El Mar Menor a diferencia de otras lagunas costeras es de carácter oligotrófico y en las últimas décadas derivado de presiones agrícolas y urbanas, y una planificación litoral de escasa integración ambiental han desencadenado episodios eutróficos que el sistema ha intentado controlar mediante proliferaciones de medusas, algas, fitoplancton y zooplancton, en un intento de favorecer el sistema de producción primaria de arriba-abajo. El Gobierno de la Región de Murcia durante 2022 realiza una retirada de las algas con el fin de evitar la putrefacción y descomposición en zonas someras que generan fangos, y minimizando la incorporación de nutrientes desde el sediment

Justificación de las excepciones al Reglamento (CE) 1967/2006 en lo referente a luz de malla, así como de la distancia a costa y profundidad marina mínima para la pesca del chanquete en la Región de Murcia.

Transparent goby fishing is an artisanal, traditional and sustainable fishery with a high economic impact for the small gear sector of the Region of Murcia. The morphological and ecological characteristics of the target species require the use of fishing gear and slaughter maneuvers not permitted in Regulation 1967/2006. For this reason, the European Commission was asked for certain exceptions for this fishery and a Management Plan was implemented. After 3 periods of exception and after 11 years of application of the Management Plan for the transparent goby fishery in the Region of Murcia, the present work demonstrates and justifies, based on the scientific data obtained in the monitoring plan, the need to the exception to Regulation (EC) 1967/2006 in relation to mesh size as well as distance to coast and minimum sea depth.La pesca del chanquete es una pesquería artesanal, tradicional y sostenible con un elevado impacto económico para el sector de artes menores de la Región de Murcia. Las características morfológicas y ecológicas de la especie objetivo exigen el uso de un arte de pesca y unas maniobras de faenado no permitidas en el Reglamento 1967/2006. Por tal motivo, se solicitó a la Comisión Europea determinadas excepciones para esta pesquería en lo referente a luz de malla, así como de la distancia a costa y profundidad marina mínima, implementándose un Plan de Gestión. Después de 3 periodos de excepción y tras 11 años de aplicación del Plan de Gestión de la pesca del chanquete en la Región de Murcia, el presente trabajo demuestra y justifica, en base a los datos científicos obtenidos en el plan de monitorización, la necesidad de la excepción al Reglamento (CE) 1967/2006 en lo referente a luz de malla, así como de la distancia a costa y profundidad marina mínima

Single nucleotide variations in ZBTB46 are associated with post-thrombolytic parenchymal haematoma

Haemorrhagic transformation is a complication of recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator treatment. The most severe form, parenchymal haematoma, can result in neurological deterioration, disability, and death. Our objective was to identify single nucleotide variations associated with a risk of parenchymal haematoma following thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. A fixed-effect genome-wide meta-analysis was performed combining two-stage genome-wide association studies (n = 1904). The discovery stage (three cohorts) comprised 1324 ischaemic stroke individuals, 5.4% of whom had a parenchymal haematoma. Genetic variants yielding a P-value < 0.05 1 x 10(-5) were analysed in the validation stage (six cohorts), formed by 580 ischaemic stroke patients with 12.1% haemorrhagic events. All participants received recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator; cases were parenchymal haematoma type 1 or 2 as defined by the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study (ECASS) criteria. Genome-wide significant findings (P < 5 x 10(-8)) were characterized by in silica functional annotation, gene expression, and DNA regulatory elements. We analysed 7 989 272 single nucleotide polymorphisms and identified a genome-wide association locus on chromosome 20 in the discovery cohort; functional annotation indicated that the ZBTB46 gene was driving the association for chromosome 20. The top single nucleotide polymorphism was rs76484331 in the ZBTB46 gene [P = 2.49 x 10(-8); odds ratio (OR): 11.21; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.82-26.55]. In the replication cohort (n = 580), the rs76484331 polymorphism was associated with parenchymal haematoma (P = 0.01), and the overall association after meta-analysis increased (P = 1.61 x 10(-8), OR: 5.84; 95% CI: 3.16-10.76). ZBTB46 codes the zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 46 that acts as a transcription factor. In silica studies indicated that ZBTB46 is expressed in brain tissue by neurons and endothelial cells. Moreover, rs76484331 interacts with the promoter sites located at 20q13. In conclusion, we identified single nucleotide variants in the ZBTB46 gene associated with a higher risk of parenchymal haematoma following recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator treatment.Peer reviewe

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Factors in the Relationship between Maintenance Engineering and Knowledge Management

The mechanisms of transmission and management of knowledge are mostly created by maintenance and exploitation activities of large buildings and industrial facilities, but they are poorly studied due to the difficulty capturing themas they belong to tacit knowledge gained by the experience of the maintenance staff. These professionals are highly qualified and are accostumed to solving technical problems even under pressure. The loss of these professionals means losing also an important asset of the company. This article will tackle the importance of the factors that influence knowledge management (KM) in maintenance engineering and its barriers and facilitators. The research is carried out by qualitative investigation on maintenance staff of an industrial company