A graphical tool to estimate the air change efficiency in rooms with heat recovery systems

Producción CientíficaIndoor air quality in buildings must be guaranteed for the health and comfort of the occupants. In order to assess the ventilation strategy of a considered room, the parameter of the air change efficiency ( εa ) can be used. The objective of this work is to provide designers with a graphical tool for a reliable estimate of the value of εa of a room. The temperature gradient between the outdoor air supply and the indoor air is so low that the ventilation flow can be assumed as isothermal when high-efficiency heat recovery systems are used. By means of charts, the optimal location of the openings for a better εa can be determined during the design process, in order to subsequently apply them. It is concluded that it is very important to consider the εa in the case of openings located in facing walls given that its range varies between 40% and 65%. In contrast, its use can be obviated in the case of openings located in non-facing walls, as the value of εa obtained is close to 50%; this means a perfect mixing air flow pattern, which is the reference value for the estimation of the indoor air quality (IAQ) in the different national regulations.EPACRA: Lanzadera project (TCUE.6-LANZADERA 067/157541

Innovative and thorough practice to certify reference materials for sensory defects of olive oil

An important problem in the olive sector is the occasional mismatch of results obtained by different tasting panels when the same olive oil sample is analysed. These discrepancies could be minimised by using reference materials (RM) for taster training. A comprehensive protocol based on the combined use of sensory and instrumental analysis for the certification of olive oil batches as RMs, developed within the framework of the project ’Operational Group INTERPANEL’, is proposed. Similarity indices (R2, cosθ and NEAR) applied on GC–MS fingerprints, allow a successful homogeneity and stability assessment of produced batches. Furthermore, the use of robust statistics combined with a set of instructions developed to remove outliers were applied with excellent results on sensory data set provided by supra-panel composed by more than 100 qualified tasters. This work is the first to provide a comprehensive protocol for certification of real olive oil samples as RM for sensory analysis.European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo SostenibleBiblioteca de la Universidad de Granad

Studying the complex expression dependences between sets of coexpressed genes

Organisms simplify the orchestration of gene expression by coregulating genes whose products function together in the cell. The use of clustering methods to obtain sets of coexpressed genes from expression arrays is very common; nevertheless there are no appropriate tools to studge the expression networks among these sets of coexpressed genes. The aim of the developed tools is to allow studying the complex expression dependences that exist between sets of coexpressed genes. For this purpose, we start detecting the nonlinear expression relationships between pairs of genes, plus the coexpressed genes. Next, we form networks among sets of coexpressed genes that maintain nonlinear expression dependences between all of them. The expression relationship between the sets of coexpressed genes is defined by the expression relationship between the skeletons of these sets, where this skeleton represents the coexpressed genes with a well-defined nonlinear expression relationship with the skeleton of the other sets. As a result, we can study the nonlinear expression relationships between a target gene and other sets of coexpressed genes, or start the study from the skeleton of the sets, to study the complex relationships of activation and deactivation between the sets of coexpressed genes that carry out the different cellular processes present in the expression experiment

Flavonoid Phloretin Inhibits Adipogenesis and Increases OPG Expression in Adipocytes Derived from Human Bone-Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal-Cells

Phloretin (a flavonoid abundant in apple), has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and glucose-transporter inhibitory properties. Thus, it has interesting pharmacological and nutraceutical potential. Bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have high differentiation capacity, being essential for maintaining homeostasis and regenerative capacity in the organism. Yet, they preferentially differentiate into adipocytes instead of osteoblasts with aging. This has a negative impact on bone turnover, remodeling, and formation. We have evaluated the effects of phloretin on human adipogenesis, analyzing MSC induced to differentiate into adipocytes. Expression of adipogenic genes, as well as genes encoding OPG and RANKL (involved in osteoclastogenesis), protein synthesis, lipid-droplets formation, and apoptosis, were studied. Results showed that 10 and 20 µM phloretin inhibited adipogenesis. This effect was mediated by increasing beta-catenin, as well as increasing apoptosis in adipocytes, at late stages of differentiation. In addition, this chemical increased OPG gene expression and OPG/RANKL ratio in adipocytes. These results suggest that this flavonoid (including phloretin-rich foods) has interesting potential for clinical and regenerative-medicine applications. Thus, such chemicals could be used to counteract obesity and prevent bone-marrow adiposity. That is particularly useful to protect bone mass and treat diseases like osteoporosis, which is an epidemic worldwide

Caracterización socioeconómica del agricultor maicero en la Provincia de Manabí mediante técnicas de análisis multivariantes.

Farmers´ situation aligns macro objectives, conditions and their own daily living activities. Variables interact in different scenarios developed by hard-corn growers in Manabí-Ecuador; variables have an effect on the country´s productive development. This work started from the application of a multivariate model, which was based on a multipurpose study. This generated an interrelated conglomerates concerning social, economic, political, productive and environmental variables. A high grouping similarity was presented in results, both in observation techniques and between the analyzed variables. The high impact of influential variables, especially those related to economic and to productive variables was demonstrated. Productive variable includes planting time, planting area and irrigation water availability. The economic variable includes annual invoicing and employee number. Observation diversity is affected by shorter distances for social, political and environmental variables related to decision-taking; a positive impact is generated by hard-corn growers.La situación de los agricultores alinea objetivos macro, condiciones y actividades propias en su diario convivir; las variables interactúan en los diferentes escenarios que desarrollan los productores de maíz duro en Manabí-Ecuador, teniendo un efecto en el desarrollo productivo del país. Este trabajo se realizó a partir de la aplicación del modelo multivariante basado en un estudio multipropósito, obteniéndose conglomerados interrelacionados de las variables sociales, económicas, políticas, productivas y ambientales. Los resultados presentan una alta similitud de agrupamiento tanto en las observaciones y entre variables, demostrando el alto impacto que tienen las variables influyentes, especialmente las relacionadas a la producción (época de siembra, superficie de siembra, disponibilidad de agua de riego) y económicas (facturación anual, cantidad de empleados), en tanto la diversidad en las observaciones están afectadas con menores distancias, para las variables relacionadas en la toma de decisiones, sociales, políticas y ambientales generando un impacto positivo en los productores

La medición de la creatividad en destinos urbano-culturales españoles

Este artículo propone una metodología para la medición del peso específico de la creatividad en los destinos turísticos urbano-culturales. Para ello, recurre al empleo de un índice sintético agregado basado en el DP2 (distancia al peor). Dicho índice, denominado Creacity, aplicado a las ciudades turísticas culturales españolas, permite conocer cuán creativos son estos sistemas locales a través de tres áreas: la espacial, ambiental e institucional. A partir de los indicadores generales y parciales, establece matrices creativas de cada una de las áreas estudiadas, determinando las ventajas y desventajas creativas de los sistemas analizados. La selección de las distintas variables que componen el Creacity se obtiene del análisis de la literatura científica, que parte de un itinerario sobre la epistemología del pensamiento divergente, abordando la idea de ciudad creativa y su adaptación al turismo. Siendo el índice obtenido refrendado por un panel de expertos, a través de un Delphi. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto la importancia de las clases creativas y la existencia de un ambiente de tolerancia, calidad de vida y participación ciudadana en el que se ubican espacios culturales y creativos que fomentan el desarrollo de la creatividad

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Wound-Healing Properties of EHO-85, a Novel Multifunctional Amorphous Hydrogel Containing Olea europaea Leaf Extract

The excess of free radicals in the wound environment contributes to its stagnation during the inflammatory phase, favoring hard-to-heal wounds. Oxidative stress negatively affects cells and the extracellular matrix, hindering the healing process. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and wound-healing properties of a novel multifunctional amorphous hydrogel-containing Olea europaea leaf extract (OELE). Five assessments were performed: (i) phenolic compounds characterization in OELE; (ii) absolute antioxidant activity determination in OELE and hydrogel (EHO-85); (iii) antioxidant activity measurement of OELE and (iv) its protective effect on cell viability on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and keratinocytes (HaCaT); and (v) EHO-85 wound-healing-capacity analysis on diabetic mice (db/db; BKS.Cg-m+/+Leprdb). The antioxidant activity of OELE was prominent: 2220, 1558, and 1969 µmol TE/g by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, respectively. Oxidative stress induced with H2O2 in HDFs and HaCaT was normalized, and their viability increased with OELE co-treatment, thus evidencing a protective role. EHO-85 produced an early and sustained wound-healing stimulating effect superior to controls in diabetic mice. This novel amorphous hydrogel presents an important ROS scavenger capacity due to the high phenolic content of OELE, which protects skin cells from oxidative stress and contributes to the physiological process of wound healing.This research was funded by QUESPER R&D, and partially by INNCORPORA-TU-2011-1886 subprogramme (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain) and the programme for the Reinforcement of Research Activity in the Clinical Management Units of the Andalusian Health Service (Department of Health. Regional Government of Andalusia, Spain)

Structural integrity assessment of a nuclear vessel through ASME and master curve approaches using irradiation embrittlement predictions

ABSTRACT: The assessment of the structural integrity of nuclear vessels is based on a series of procedures developed in the 1970s and 1980s. On one hand, curves that, according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers code, describe the relationship between steel toughness and temperature in the ductile-to-brittle transition region, based on the reference temperature concept RTNDT, were adopted in 1972. On the other hand, the material embrittlement derived from the exposure of steel to neutron irradiation is determined through the model included in “Regulatory Guide 1.99 Rev. 2,” published in 1988. Since then, there have been enormous advances in this field. For example, the Master Curve, based on the reference temperature T0, describes the relationship between toughness and temperature in the transition zone more realistically and with much more robust microstructural and mechanical foundations and uses the elastic-plastic fracture toughness KJc. Moreover, improved models have been developed to estimate the embrittlement of steel subjected to neutron irradiation, such as ASTM E900, Standard Guide for Predicting Radiation-Induced Transition Temperature Shift in Reactor Vessel Materials. This study is aimed at comparing the results obtained using traditional procedures to the improved alternatives developed later. For this purpose, the behavior of the steel of a nuclear vessel that is currently under construction has been experimentally characterized through RTNDT and T0 parameters. In addition, the material embrittlement has been quantified using “Regulatory Guide 1.99 Rev. 2” and ASTM E900. These experimental results have been transferred to the assessment of the structural integrity of the vessel to determine the pressure-temperature limit curves and size of the maximum admissible defect as a function of the operation time of the plant. The results have allowed the implicit overconservatism present in the traditional procedures to be quantified.This project was carried out with the financial support of Sociedad para el Desarrollo Regional de Cantabria (SODERCAN) and Equipos Nucleares S.A. (ENSA), to whom the authors would like to express their gratitude

Suitability of melanoma FFPE samples for NGS libraries: time and quality thresholds for downstream molecular tests

The use of NGS in clinical practice for precision diagnosis requires a quality starting material. Despite the broadly established use of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples in molecular testing, these usually have low-quality DNA. We established a method to determine the suitability of melanoma FFPE samples for an amplicon-based NGS custom panel analysis. DNA was extracted from unstained melanoma samples and wide local excision samples. Amplicon-based libraries were constructed and tested using time and quality parameters as variables. Time elapsed from sample retrieval >7 years, a quality control value > 5.63 and a DNA integrity value < 2.05 indicated samples were not suitable. A decision tree is provided with rate of samples suitable for analysis according to the combination of these parametersThis study has been funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III grant number PI15/01860, the Junta Provincial de Valencia de la Asociación Española contra el Cancer through a PhD grant, and by the Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscrip

Hard-to-Heal Wound Healing: Superiority of Hydrogel EHO-85 (Containing Olea europaea Leaf Extract) vs. a Standard Hydrogel. A Randomized Controlled Trial

Chronic wounds, especially those that are hard-to-heal, constitute a serious public-health problem. Although progress has been made in the development of wound dressings for healing, there is little high-quality evidence of their efficacy, with no evidence of superiority in the use of one hydrogel over another. To evaluate the superiority of a hydrogel (EHO-85), containing Olea europaea leaf extract (OELE), over a standard hydrogel (SH), the promotion and/or improvement of healing of difficult-to-heal wounds was compared in a prospective, parallel-group multicenter, randomized, observer-blinded, controlled trial (“MACAON”). Non-hospitalized patients with pressure, venous or diabetic foot-ulcers difficult-to-heal were recruited and treated with standard care, and EHO-85 (n = 35) or VariHesive (n = 34) as SH. Wound-area reduction (WAR; percentage) and healing rate (HR; mm2/day) were measured. EHO-85 showed a statistically significant superior effect over VariHesive. At the end of the follow-up period, the relative WAR decreased by 51.6% vs. 18.9% (p < 0.001), with a HR mean of 10.5 ± 5.7 vs. 1.0 ± 7.5 mm2/day (p = 0.036). EHO-85 superiority is probably based on its optimal ability to balance the ulcer bed, by modulating pH and oxidative stress. That complements the wetting and barrier functions, characteristics of conventional hydrogels. These results support the use of EHO-85 dressing, for treatment of hard-to-heal ulcers. Trial Registration AEMPS:PS/CR623/17/CE.This research was developed by QUESPER R&D, and partially funded by INNCORPO-RA-TU-2011-1886 subprogram (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain) and the programme for the Reinforcement of Research Activity in the Clinical Management Units of the Andalusian Health Service (Department of Health, Regional Government of Andalusia, Spain)