Caracterización físico-química de pellets producidos a partir de mezclas 50/50 carbón bituminoso/madera residual

Biofuels demand characterization and reliable processes to ensure proper manufacturing process for end users in order to use them safely. About 4.42 % of biofuels that are marketed globally are presented as agglomerates or pellets. Considering that Colombia is a country with high coal reserves and, as an agricultural country, produces large amounts of organic waste, our resultsshow that the mixture of these two products has benefits in terms of energy and combustion, facilitating burning and decreasing the emissions of both particulate material and sulfur-containing gases. This article presents the results of the characterization as international pellets produced in the Laboratory for Renewable Energy of the National University of Colombia for 50/50 % mixture of wood andanthracite. The physicochemical parameters evaluation was made using the standard Austrian ONORM M7135, in order to evaluate each of the items established. Also test results and analysis of the characterization of thesemixtures and their calorific value according to ASTM D5865 11a and the impact resistance according to ASTM D440-86 are shown. Additionally the advantages and disadvantages are discussed from an environmental point of view relatedto the use of biofuels agglomerates.Los biocombustibles, demandan procesos de caracterización y transformación confiables que aseguren su adecuado proceso de fabricación para que los usuarios finales los utilicen sin riesgo alguno. Alrededor del 4,42% de los biocombustibles que se comercializan a nivel mundial se presentan como aglomerados o pellets. Teniendo en cuenta que Colombia es un país con altas reservas de carbón y que como país agrícola produce grandes cantidades de residuos orgánicos, se encontró que la mezcla de estos dos productos presenta beneficios desde el punto de vista energético y de combustión, facilitando su quema y disminuyendo emisiones tanto de material particulado como de gases con contenido de azufre. Se presentan los resultados de la caracterización según normas internacionales de pellets producidos en el Laboratorio de Energías Renovables de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia de mezclas 50/50 de carbón antracita y madera. La evaluación fisicoquímica se hizo aplicando parámetros de la norma Austriaca ONORM M7135, con el fin de evaluar cada uno de los ítems allí establecidos. Además, se dan a conocer los resultados de las pruebas y los análisis de la caracterización de estas mezclas, así como su poder calorífico según norma ASTM D5865 11a y su resistencia al impacto según norma ASTM D440-86. Adicionalmente se discuten las ventajas y desventajas desde el punto de vista ambiental que acarrea el uso de los biocombustibles aglomerados

Distribution leopard spatial pattern type in arid and semiarid regions of the world

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu MdM-2015-055

Ubiquitin-negative mini-pick like bodies in the dentate gyrus of p30l tauopathy.

Neuropathological and biochemical findings are reported in a patient who had suffered from frontotemporal dementia associated with a P310L mutation in the tau gene and included in the H1 haplotype. Tau accumulation, as revealed with phospho-specific anti-tau antibodies Thr181, Ser199, Ser202, Ser214, Ser262, Ser396, Ser422 and AT8 (Ser202 and Thr205), was found in neurons with pre-tangles, and astrocytes and oligodendrocytes through the brain. The most characteristic feature was tau immunoreactivity decorating the perinuclear region and small cytoplasmic aggregates designed as mini-Pick-like bodies, mainly in the dentate gyrus. Inclusions were not stained with anti-ubiquitin antibodies and did not recruit tubulins. Tau accumulation in individual cells was associated with increased expression of kinases linked with tau phosphorylation, mainly active (phosphorylated) stress kinases SAPK/JNK and p38 (SAPK/JNK-P and p38-P). Phosphorylated GSK-3 beta at Ser9 (GSK-3 beta-P), that inactivates the kinase, was particularly abundant in mini-Pick-like bodies, thus suggesting alternative roles of GSK-3 probably involved in cell survival. Western blots of sarkosyl-insoluble fractions revealed a double band pattern of phospho-tau of 68/66 kDa and 64 kDa in the hippocampus and white matter in the P310L mutation. Sarkosyl-insoluble fractions of the hippocampus were enriched in p38-P and GSK-3 beta-P in Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases, processed in parallel for comparative purposes, but not in the P310L mutation. In addition, no bands of high molecular weight were found in P310L in contrast with AD in these fractions. These findings indicate that the major sites of tau phosphorylation, and the expression of kinases involved in tau phosphorylation are active in P310L mutation as in AD and other tauopathies. Yet the P310L mutation has particular phospho-tau inclusions that are not tag with ubiquitin and appear to be rather soluble when compared with AD

Sentinel lymph node biopsy vs. Observation in thin melanoma: A multicenter propensity score matching study

The therapeutic value of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in thin melanoma remains controversial. The aim of this study is to determine the role of SLNB in the survival of thin melanomas (≤1 mm). A multicenter retrospective observational study was designed. A propensity score matching was performed to compare patients who underwent SLNB vs. observation. A multivariate Cox regression was used. A total of 1438 patients were matched by propensity score. There were no significant differences in melanoma-specific survival (MSS) between the SLNB and observation groups. Predictors of MSS in the multivariate model were age, tumor thickness, ulceration, and interferon treatment. Results were similar for disease-free survival and overall survival. The 5- and 10-year MSS rates for SLN-negative and -positive patients were 98.5% vs. 77.3% (p < 0.001) and 97.3% vs. 68.7% (p < 0.001), respectively. SLNB does not improve MSS in patients with thin melanoma. It also had no impact on DSF or OS. However, a considerable difference in MSS, DFS, and OS between SLN-positive and -negative patients exists, confirming its value as a prognostic procedure and therefore we recommend discussing the option of SLNB with patients

Estudio de la estructura y composición de carbonales (Acacia pennatula) en dos estadios de desarrollo. Diseño de protocolo para el seguimiento de la dinámica de la vegetación en el CIEA "El Limón", Estelí (Nicaragua)

Los carbonales son un tipo de bosque secundario originados por el abandono de un sistema de producción silvopastoril. Estos parches de bosque ocupan una superficie importante de la zona de amortiguamiento de la Reserva Natural del Tisey-La Estanzuela, área del bioma más amenazado del mundo, el Bosque Seco Tropical. La principal especie que compone esta comunidad vegetal es la Acacia pennatula, conocida comúnmente como carbón. Actualmente no hay muchos estudios sobre los carbonales, por lo que el presente proyecto pretende caracterizar la estructura y composición de la comunidad y describir algunos índices ecológicos básicos, en dos estadios diferentes. El análisis de los datos proporciona información de las principales diferencias en cuanto a estructura y composición que tienen lugar en los carbonales. La disminución natural de la densidad de individuos de A. pennatula con los años, parece tener un efecto positivo sobre la diversidad, composición y estructura de la comunidad. En base a estos datos, se ha diseñado un protocolo para realizar un estudio experimental de estas comunidades en el CIEA "El Limón". En el protocolo, mediante diferentes tratamientos de tala en estadios tempranos, se obtendrán áreas de estudio que presenten un gradiente en la variable densidad de individuos de A. pennatula. El objetivo principal es describir y comparar la estructura, composición y dinámica del carbonal a lo largo del tiempo, y determinar que efecto tiene sobre la comunidad modificar esta variable. Los resultados obtenidos en el protocolo pueden utilizarse como base para desarrollar un plan de manejo para los carbonales que facilite la restauración del Bosque Tropical Seco y el aprovechamiento forestal.Els carbonals són un tipus de bosc secundari originats per l'abandonament d'un sistema de producció silvopastoril. Aquestes fraccions de bosc ocupen una superfície important de la zona d'amortiguament de la Reserva Natural del Tisey-La Estanzuela, àrea del bioma més amenaçat del món, el Bosc Tropical Sec. La principal espècie que conforma aquesta comunitat vegetal es l' Acacia pennatula, coneguda popularment com a carbó. Actualment no hi ha molts d'estudis sobre els carbonals, fet pel qual el present projecte pretén caracteritzar l'estructura i composició de la comunitat i descriure alguns índexs ecològics bàsics, en dos estadis diferents. L'anàlisi de les dades proporciona informació precisa de les principals diferencies i processos que tenen lloc als carbonals. La disminució natural de la densitat d'individus d' A. pennatula amb els anys, sembla tenir un efecte positiu sobre la diversitat, composició i estructura de la comunitat. D'acord amb aquestes dades, s'ha dissenyat un protocol per a realitzar un estudi experimental d'aquestes comunitats al CIEA "El Limón". Al protocol, mitjançant diferents tractaments de tala en estadis joves, s'obtindran àrees d'estudi que presentin un gradient a la variable densitat d'individus d' A. pennatula. L'objectiu principal es descriure i comparar la estructura, composició i dinàmica del carbonal al llarg del temps, i determinar si existeix un efecte positiu al modificar aquesta variable. Els resultats obtinguts al protocol es poden utilitzar com a base per a desenvolupar un pla d'actuació para els carbonals que faciliti la restauració del Bosc Tropical Sec i l'aprofitament forestal.The "carbonales" are a type of secondary forests developed due to the vacated of a silvopastoral system. Those forest fractions occupy an important surface of the Natural Reserve Tisey-La Estanzuela buffer's zone, where we find the world's most threatened biome, the Tropical Dry Forest. The main species of this plant community is Acacia pennatula, commonly known as "carbón". Nowadays there are not many studies about "carbonales", so this project has the aims to characterize, in two different stages, the structure and the composition of the community and describe some basic ecological indices. The data analysis gives accurate information of the main differences and processes taking place in the "carbonales". The natural decrease of the A. pennatula's density over the years seems to have a positive effect on the diversity, the composition and the structure of the community. Based on this, a protocol for an experimental study on those communities in the CIEA "El Limón" has been designed. In the protocol, we will obtain study areas with different density of A. pennatula by different logging treatments in early stages. The main objectives is to describe and compare the structure, the composition and the dynamics of the "carbonal" over time, and determine if there is a positive effect when density is modified. The results obtained from the protocol can be used as the basis to develop a management plan for "carbonales" in order to facilitate the Tropical Dry Forest's restoration and forestry

A Novel Microfluidic Dielectrophoresis Technology to Enable Rapid Diagnosis of Mycobacteria tuberculosis in Clinical Samples

To achieve the global efforts to end tuberculosis, affordable diagnostics suitable for true point-of-care implementation are required to reach the missing millions. In addition, diagnostics with increased sensitivity and expanded drug susceptibility testing are needed to address drug resistance and to diagnose low-bacterial burden cases. The laboratory-on-a-chip technology described herein used dielectrophoresis to selectively isolate Mycobacterium tuberculosis from sputum samples, purifying the bacterial population ahead of molecular confirmation by multiplex real-time quantitative PCR. After optimization using a panel of 50 characterized sputum samples, the performance of the prototype was assessed against the current gold standards, screening 100 blinded sputum samples using characterized and biobanked sputum provided by Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics. Concordance with culture diagnosis was 100% for smear-negative samples and 87% for smear-positive samples. Of the smear-positive samples, the high burden sample concordance was 100%. Samples were diagnosed on the basis of visual assessment of the dielectrophoresis array and by multiplex real-time quantitative PCR assay. The results described herein demonstrate the potential of the CAPTURE-XT technology to provide a powerful sample preparation tool that could function as a front-end platform for molecular detection. This versatile tool could equally be applied as a visual detection diagnostic, potentially associated with bacterial identification for low-cost screening or coupled with an expanded PCR assay for genotypic drug susceptibility testing

Net Efficacy Adjusted for Risk (NEAR): A Simple Procedure for Measuring Risk:Benefit Balance

BACKGROUND: Although several mathematical models have been proposed to assess the risk:benefit of drugs in one measure, their use in practice has been rather limited. Our objective was to design a simple, easily applicable model. In this respect, measuring the proportion of patients who respond favorably to treatment without being affected by adverse drug reactions (ADR) could be a suitable endpoint. However, remarkably few published clinical trials report the data required to calculate this proportion. As an approach to the problem, we calculated the expected proportion of this type of patients. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Theoretically, responders without ADR may be obtained by multiplying the total number of responders by the total number of subjects that did not suffer ADR, and dividing the product by the total number of subjects studied. When two drugs are studied, the same calculation may be repeated for the second drug. Then, by constructing a 2 x 2 table with the expected frequencies of responders with and without ADR, and non-responders with and without ADR, the odds ratio and relative risk with their confidence intervals may be easily calculated and graphically represented on a logarithmic scale. Such measures represent "net efficacy adjusted for risk" (NEAR). We assayed the model with results extracted from several published clinical trials or meta-analyses. On comparing our results with those originally reported by the authors, marked differences were found in some cases, with ADR arising as a relevant factor to balance the clinical benefit obtained. The particular features of the adverse reaction that must be weighed against benefit is discussed in the paper. CONCLUSION: NEAR representing overall risk-benefit may contribute to improving knowledge of drug clinical usefulness. As most published clinical trials tend to overestimate benefits and underestimate toxicity, our measure represents an effort to change this trend

An imported case of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, Spain in the context of the ongoing polio Public Health Emergency of International Concern, September 2021

The monthly retrospective search for unreported acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases conducted as a complementary component of the Spanish AFP surveillance system identified a case of AFP in a child admitted in Spain from Senegal during August 2021. Vaccine-derived poliovirus 2 was identified in the stool in September 2021. We present public health implications and response undertaken within the framework of the National Action Plan for Polio Eradication and the Public Health Emergency of International Concern.S

Clinical Practice Guideline on Melanoma From the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV)

El diagnóstico y tratamiento del melanoma en atención especializada es un campo en el que se han producido numerosos cambios. El objetivo de esta guía es ofrecer a los dermatólogos españoles una referencia para resolver las dudas clínicas más frecuentes basándose en la evidencia actual. Para la realización de esta guía se escogió a miembros del Grupo Español de Dermato-Oncología y Cirugía con experiencia en el tratamiento de estos tumores y con interés en participar en la elaboración de la guía. Se hizo una adaptación de las guías de práctica clínica existentes mediante el método ADAPTE: inicialmente se resumió el proceso de atención y se elaboraron las preguntas clínicas relevantes. Se seleccionaron las guías mejor puntuadas mediante el instrumento AGREE II, realizando la búsqueda de las respuestas en dichas guías y elaborando las recomendaciones. Finalmente se sometió la guía a revisión externa. La guía se estructuró a partir de 21 preguntas clínicas que fueron seleccionadas por su relevancia, dado que se centran en aspectos que pueden plantear decisiones difíciles en el manejo del melanoma, y se han respondido empleando la evidencia obtenida de las mejores guías existentes. Entre las limitaciones de esta guía merece reseñarse que la evidencia es escasa para responder a algunas preguntas. En algunos aspectos el cambio es rápido y exige una actualización frecuente de la guía. Esta guía responde a preguntas habituales sobre el manejo del melanoma en la práctica clínica diaria, sirviendo a los dermatólogos como referencia en la toma de decisiones, siempre teniendo presente los recursos y preferencias del paciente