Ground maritime structure interaction. Recent failures in inner gravity constructions on the Spanish Coastline

A maritime construction is usually a slender line in the ocean.It is usual to see just its narrow surface strip and not analyse the large amount of submerged material the latter is supporting.Without doubt,it is the ground to which a notable load is transmitted in an environment subjected to periodic,alternating stresses,dynamic forces which the sea's media constitute. Both an outer and inner maritime construction works in a complex fashion.A granular solid(breakwater)breathes with the incident wave flow,dissipating part of the wave energy between its gaps.The backflow tries to extract the different items from the solid block,setting a balance between effective and neutral tensions that follow Terzaghui's principle. On some occasions,fluidification of the armour layer has caused the breakwater to collapse(Sines,Portugal,February 1978).On others,siphoning or liquefaction of sand supporting monoliths(vertical breakwaters)lead them to destruction or collapse(New Barcelona Harbour Mouth,Spain,November 2001). This is why the ground-force-structure interaction is a complicated analysis with joint design tools still in an incipient state. The purpose of this article is to describe two singular failures in inner maritime constructions in Spain deriving from ground problems(Malaga,July 2004and Barcelona,January 2007).They occurred recently and the causes are the subject of reflection and analysis

Enhancement of industrial pectin production from sugar beet pulp by the integration of surfactants in ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by diafiltration/ultrafiltration

Producción CientíficaTo recover industrial pectin from sugar beet pulp (SBP), a combined surfactant and ultrasound-assisted extrac- tion, followed by a concentration with ultrafiltration/diafiltration membranes is proposed. First, the operation conditions of the extraction were optimized for synthetic (Tween80, PEG4000) and natural (Saponin) surfac- tants. Tween 80 and Saponin provided maximum galacturonic acid (GalA) concentrations (5.5 and 5.8 g/L, respectively) under the best extraction conditions (4 gsurfactant/L, pH = 1, amplitude = 90%, and time = 90 min). The extracted liquid was purified and concentrated through membranes. The final retentate maintained 73% of the initial GalA and eliminated a high percentage of oligosaccharides. Finally, the pectin was precipitated with ethanol, and the precipitate solid contained 57 g GalA/100 g GalA of SBP with a high degree of esterification (DE = 81%) and MW (930 kDa). The pectin yield for the global process was 24.6%. The ultrasound-assisted extraction with surfactants followed by diafiltration/ultrafiltration could become a promising process for the chemical industry, able to provide pectin-enriched products of commercial interest from sugar beet pulp.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyecto PID2020–115110RB-I00/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033)Junta de Castilla y León (UIC 320, VAG028G19, CLU-2017–09, CL-EI-2021–07)Junta de Castilla y Leon (postdoctoral grant E-47–2019-0114592

Valorization of discarded red beetroot through the recovery of bioactive compounds and the production of pectin by surfactant-assisted microwave extraction

Producción CientíficaDiscarded red beetroot (DRB) is an organic waste generated in the food industry. This study is focused on the valorization of DRB through the recovery of bioactive compounds. The characterization of the DRB juice confirmed a higher content of antioxidants (DPPH 504 ± 24 μmol TE/L, FRAP 10920 ± 440 μmol TE/L, ABTS 22012 ± 592 μmol TE/L), phenolic compounds (1789 ± 56 mg GAE/L), flavonoids (471 ± 17 mg CE/L) and betalains (1426 ± 24 mg/L) than commercial juices. DRB pomace contains pectin that was recovered by microwave extraction aided by a surfactant (polyethylene glycol, PEG4000). Conditions (temperature, time and surfactant concentration) for the extraction of galacturonic acid (GalA) or pectooligosaccharides (POS) were optimized by a central composite experimental design. POS were extracted at high temperatures (160 °C, 5.3 min, 8.4 g PEG4000/L, yield of 271.2 g POS/kg dry pomace). In comparison, galacturonic acid extraction was favored at moderate conditions (137 °C, 5 min, 2.5 g PEG4000/L, yield of 120.1 g GalA/kg dry pomace). The characterization of the freeze-dried hydrolysates revealed that the solid obtained under moderate temperature conditions (137 °C) showed a higher GalA content (49.5%) and lower neutral sugars (11.4%), as GalA degrades at lower temperatures than pentoses. The recovered pectin can be considered high-methoxyl pectin, as the degree of esterification was higher than 50%. FTIR spectra of the freeze-dried hydrolysates showed functional groups consistent with pectin. MALDI-TOF-MS analysis revealed the presence of oligosaccharides of hexoses and pentoses with different structures and degrees of polymerization. Thus, DRB, a low-value vegetable waste, can be converted into high-value-added bioproducts in a biorefinery framework.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (proyect PID2020-115110RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)Junta de Castilla y León (UIC 320, VAG028G19, CLU-2017-09) and grant (REF EDU/875/2021

Efficacy of naloxegol on symptoms and quality of life related to opioid-induced constipation in patients with cancer: a 3-month follow-up analysis

Objectives: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) can affect up to 63% of all patients with cancer. The objectives of this study were to assess quality of life as well as efficacy and safety of naloxegol, in patients with cancer with OIC. Methods: An observational study was made of a cohort of patients with cancer and with OIC exhibiting an inadequate response to laxatives and treated with naloxegol. The sample consisted of adult outpatients with a Karnofsky performance status score ≥50. The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAC-QOL) and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) were applied for 3 months. Results: A total of 126 patients (58.2% males) with a mean age of 61.3 years (range 34-89) were included. Clinically relevant improvements (>0.5 points) were recorded in the PAC-QOL and PAC-SYM questionnaires (p<0.0001) from 15 days of treatment. The number of days a week with complete spontaneous bowel movements increased significantly (p<0.0001) from 2.4 to 4.6 on day 15, 4.7 after 1 month and 5 after 3 months. Pain control significantly improved (p<0.0001) during follow-up. A total of 13.5% of the patients (17/126) presented some gastrointestinal adverse reaction, mostly of mild (62.5%) or moderate intensity (25%). Conclusions: Clinically relevant improvements in OIC-related quality of life, number of bowel movements and constipation-related symptoms were recorded as early as after 15 days of treatment with naloxegol in patients with cancer and OIC, with a good safety profile

The CARBA-MAP study: national mapping of carbapenemases in Spain (2014–2018)

Introduction:Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including isolates producing acquired carbapenemases, constitute a prevalent health problem worldwide. The primary objective of this study was to determine the distribution of the different carbapenemases among carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE, specifically Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae complex, and Klebsiella aerogenes) and carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa (CPPA) in Spain from January 2014 to December 2018.Methods: A national, retrospective, cross-sectional multicenter study was performed. The study included the first isolate per patient and year obtained from clinical samples and obtained for diagnosis of infection in hospitalized patients. A structured questionnaire was completed by the participating centers using the REDCap platform, and results were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0.0.Results: A total of 2,704 carbapenemase-producing microorganisms were included, for which the type of carbapenemase was determined in 2692 cases: 2280 CPE (84.7%) and 412 CPPA (15.3%), most often using molecular methods and immunochromatographic assays. Globally, the most frequent types of carbapenemase in Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa were OXA-48-like, alone or in combination with other enzymes (1,523 cases, 66.8%) and VIM (365 cases, 88.6%), respectively. Among Enterobacterales, carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae was reported in 1821 cases (79.9%), followed by E. cloacae complex in 334 cases (14.6%). In Enterobacterales, KPC is mainly present in the South and South-East regions of Spain and OXA-48-like in the rest of the country. Regarding P. aeruginosa, VIM is widely distributed all over the country. Globally, an increasing percentage of OXA-48-like enzymes was observed from 2014 to 2017. KPC enzymes were more frequent in 2017–2018 compared to 2014–2016.Discussion: Data from this study help to understand the situation and evolution of the main species of CPE and CPPA in Spain, with practical implications for control and optimal treatment of infections caused by these multi-drug resistant organisms

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

CARB-ES-19 Multicenter Study of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli From All Spanish Provinces Reveals Interregional Spread of High-Risk Clones Such as ST307/OXA-48 and ST512/KPC-3

ObjectivesCARB-ES-19 is a comprehensive, multicenter, nationwide study integrating whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in the surveillance of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (CP-Kpn) and E. coli (CP-Eco) to determine their incidence, geographical distribution, phylogeny, and resistance mechanisms in Spain.MethodsIn total, 71 hospitals, representing all 50 Spanish provinces, collected the first 10 isolates per hospital (February to May 2019); CPE isolates were first identified according to EUCAST (meropenem MIC &gt; 0.12 mg/L with immunochromatography, colorimetric tests, carbapenem inactivation, or carbapenem hydrolysis with MALDI-TOF). Prevalence and incidence were calculated according to population denominators. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the microdilution method (EUCAST). All 403 isolates collected were sequenced for high-resolution single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing, core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST), and resistome analysis.ResultsIn total, 377 (93.5%) CP-Kpn and 26 (6.5%) CP-Eco isolates were collected from 62 (87.3%) hospitals in 46 (92%) provinces. CP-Kpn was more prevalent in the blood (5.8%, 50/853) than in the urine (1.4%, 201/14,464). The cumulative incidence for both CP-Kpn and CP-Eco was 0.05 per 100 admitted patients. The main carbapenemase genes identified in CP-Kpn were blaOXA–48 (263/377), blaKPC–3 (62/377), blaVIM–1 (28/377), and blaNDM–1 (12/377). All isolates were susceptible to at least two antibiotics. Interregional dissemination of eight high-risk CP-Kpn clones was detected, mainly ST307/OXA-48 (16.4%), ST11/OXA-48 (16.4%), and ST512-ST258/KPC (13.8%). ST512/KPC and ST15/OXA-48 were the most frequent bacteremia-causative clones. The average number of acquired resistance genes was higher in CP-Kpn (7.9) than in CP-Eco (5.5).ConclusionThis study serves as a first step toward WGS integration in the surveillance of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in Spain. We detected important epidemiological changes, including increased CP-Kpn and CP-Eco prevalence and incidence compared to previous studies, wide interregional dissemination, and increased dissemination of high-risk clones, such as ST307/OXA-48 and ST512/KPC-3

Recovery of organic carbon from municipal mixed waste compost for the production of fertilizers

Producción CientíficaNowadays, the extensive use of inorganic fertilizers has increased the salinity of soil and decreased optimal assimilation of nutrients by crops. Organic carbon is basic for controlling the nutrient level in soil and nutrient assimilation by plants. The objective of this study was to develop a process for recovering organic carbon using compost from mixed municipal waste as raw material. The use of fertilizers from organic residues could replace mineral fertilizers, contributing to resources preservation and recycling of organic matter. In this way, a Taguchi experimental design was proposed to select the most suitable operating conditions for recovering organic carbon from the organic residue. The variable factors were the solid:liquid ratio, type of solvent, extraction time, and particle size. The optimum extraction conditions were: solid:liquid ratio 1:2.5, 1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH), 72 h, and particle size > 1 mm. Subsequent experiments concluded that separating the mixed municipal waste compost (MMWC) by fractions of different particle sizes before extraction process is not recommended. Under these conditions, the total organic carbon concentration in the extract was 6.9% w/w, of which the content of humic acids was 47.6%. On the other hand, the extract complies with the legal requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 for fertilizing products regarding composition. Germination tests were carried out to analyze the phytotoxic effects of organic extracts. Finally, a preliminary economic study showed the viability for a production plant with a capacity of 300 kg/h of MMWC. The production of liquid fertilizer was 200 L per 100 kg of dry compost, and the estimated sale price to obtain economic benefits was 1 €/L of fertilizer for a plant whose total investment cost was 1,600 k€.INTERREG V-569A Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020 and EU-FEDER (project 0119_VALORCOMP_2_P)Junta de Castilla y León y EU-FEDER (UIC 572129) y (CLU2017-09)Junta de Castilla y León (E-47-2019-0114592