Determination of thermal conductivity variation through Modified Transient Plane Source (MTPS), and its relationship with porosity variation on thermally treated Prada limestone

In this research, the variation of thermal conductivity with temperature of a limestone and its relationship with porosity is studied. Samples from Prada formation, a lower Cretaceous limestone from the Catalan Pyrenees (Spain), obtained from the Tres Ponts road tunnel were subjected to temperatures of 105, 300, and 600 °C and then cooled at a slow rate by air-cooling to laboratory temperature. Open porosity tests were determined before and after heating to evaluate the porosity increase and the micro-cracks growth. Complementarity, thermal conductivity was measured in the rock samples before and after the application of a thermal treatment by means of C-Therm TCi device, a Modified Transient Plane Source (MTPS). This is a non-invasive, quick, and precise method, when compared with other steady-state laboratory alternatives, widely used to directly determine thermal properties of rock samples. A clear decrease in the thermal conductivity of above 10% was observed for samples heated at 600 °C, probably due to a dramatic increase in porosity. The obtained results could be of great interest for the incorporation of the effect of temperature on rock in numerical models, to evaluate the potential impacts induced by eventual fires developed inside the Tres Ponts tunnel.This work was supported by the Department of Geological and Geotechnical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València

Temperature-Induced Explosive Behaviour and Thermo-Chemical Damage on Pyrite-Bearing Limestones: Causes and Mechanisms

In this investigation, two different varieties of ‘Prada’ limestones were studied: a dark grey texture, bearing quartz, clay minerals, organic matter and pyrites, and a light grey texture with little or no presence of such components. We have observed two effects of different intensity when heating the dark texture from 400 °C: (1) the explosion of certain samples and (2) greater thermal damage than in the light grey texture. Chemical and mineralogical composition, texture, microstructure, and physical properties (i.e. colour, open porosity, P and S-wave velocity) have been evaluated at temperatures of 105, 300, 400, and 500 °C in order to identify differences between textures. The violence of the explosive events was clear and cannot be confounded with ordinary splitting and cracking on thermally treated rocks: exploded samples underwent a total loss of integrity, displacing and overturning the surrounding samples, and embedding fragments in the walls of the furnace, whose impacts were clearly heard in the laboratory. Thermogravimetric results allowed the identification of a process of oxidation of pyrites releasing SO2 from 400 °C. This process jointly with the presence of microfissures in the dark texture, would cause a dramatic increase in pore pressure, leading to a rapid growth and coalescence of microcracks that leads to a process of catastrophic decay in rock integrity. In addition to the explosive events, average ultrasound velocities and open porosity showed a greater variation in the dark grey texture from 400 °C. That result also points towards a significant contribution of oxidation of pyrites on the thermo-chemical damage of the rock, among other factors such as the pre-existence of microfissures and the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between minerals. Implications in underground infrastructure and mining engineering works are critical, as the explosive potential of pyrite-bearing limestones bears risk for mass fracturing and dramatic strength decay from 400 °C. Moreover, SO2 released has harmful effects on health of people and the potential to form acid compounds that corrode materials, shortening their durability and increasing maintenance costs.This work was supported by the Spanish Government [Grant number RTI2018-099052-B-I00] and by the Department of Geological and Geotechnical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València

Predicting the Uniaxial Compressive Strength of a Limestone Exposed to High Temperatures by Point Load and Leeb Rebound Hardness Testing

The effect of exposure to high temperature on rock strength is a topic of interest in many engineering fields. In general, rock strength is known to decrease as temperature increases. The most common test used to evaluate the rock strength is the uniaxial compressive strength test (UCS). It can only be carried out in laboratory and presents some limitations in terms of the number, type and preparation of the samples. Such constrains are more evident in case of rocks from historical monuments affected by a fire, where the availability of samples is limited. There are alternatives for an indirect determination of UCS, such as the point load test (PLT), or non-destructive tests such as the Schmidt’s hammer, that can also be performed in situ. The aims of this research are: (i) measuring the effect of high temperatures and cooling methods on the strength and hardness of a limestone named Pedra de Borriol widely used in several historic buildings on the E of Spain, and (ii) studying the possibility of indirectly obtaining UCS by means of PLT and Leeb hardness tests (LHT), using Equotip type D. Limestone samples were heated to 105 (standard conditions), 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 ºC and cooled slowly (in air) and quickly (immersed in water). After that, UCS, PLT and LHT tests were performed to evaluate the changes as temperature increases. Results show decreases over 90% in UCS, of between 50 and 70% in PLT index and smaller than 60% in LHT index. Insignificant differences between cooling methods were observed, although slowly cooled samples provide slightly higher values than quickly cooled ones. The results indicate that LHT can be used to indirectly estimate UCS, providing an acceptable prediction. Research on correlating strength parameters in rocks after thermally treated is still scarce. This research novelty provides correlations to predict UCS in historic buildings if affected by a fire, from PLT and non-destructive methods such as LHT whose determination is quicker and easier.The authors acknowledge the support by Canteras Bernad SL which has generously provided samples, and Department of Geotechnical and Geological Engineering of Universitat Politècnica de València and Department of Civil Engineering of Universidad de Alicante, for its continuous support. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature

Analysis of the safety culture in a Cardiology Unit managed by processes

La cultura sobre seguridad se perfila como uno de los requisitos para evitar la aparición de efectos adversos, sin embargo no se ha estudiado en el ámbito de la cardiología. El objetivo es evaluar la cultura de seguridad en una unidad de cardiología que tiene implantado y certificado un sistema integrado de gestión de calidad y riesgos para la seguridad del paciente. Método: Se realizó un estudio observacional trasversal en 2 años consecutivos utilizando la encuesta Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture de la «Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality» en su versión española (42 ítems agrupados en 12 dimensiones) sobre todo el personal. Se comparó el porcentaje de respuestas positivas de cada dimensión en 2014 y 2015, así como con los datos a nivel nacional y en EE. UU., siguiendo las recomendaciones establecidas. Resultados: La valoración global, sobre un máximo de 5, fue de 4.5 en 2014 y de 4.7 en 2015. Identificamos 7 dimensiones como fortaleza. Las peor valoradas fueron: Dotación de personal, Apoyo de la gerencia y Trabajo en equipo entre unidades. La comparación mostró superioridad en todas las dimensiones a nivel nacional, y en 8 respecto a los datos del registro americano. Conclusiones: La cultura de seguridad en una unidad de cardiología con un sistema integrado de gestión de calidad y riesgos y seguridad del paciente es elevada, superior a la nacional en todas sus dimensiones y en la mayoría de ellas respecto al registro de EE. UU.The safety culture is one of the requirements to prevent the occurrence of adverse effects, however has not been studied in the field of cardiology. The objective is to evaluate the safety culture in a cardiology unit has implemented and certified an integrated quality and risk management for patient safety system. Methods: A transversal observational study was made in 2 consecutive years using the survey “Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture” of the “Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality” in its Spanish version (42 items grouped into 12 dimensions) in all staff. The percentage of positive responses in each dimension in 2014 and 2015 were compared, as well as national data and United States data, following the established rules. Results: The overall assessment of a possible 5, was 4.5 in 2014 and 4.7 in 2015. We identified seven dimensions as a fortress. The worst rated were: staffing, management support and teamwork between units. The comparison showed superiority in all dimensions respect to national data, and 8 respect to American data. Conclusions: The safety culture in a Cardiology Unit with an integrated quality and risk management and patient safety system is high, higher than the national in all its dimensions and in most of them respect to the United States

Urinary transferrin pre-emptively identifies the risk of renal damage posed by subclinical tubular alterations

Nephrotoxicity is an important limitation to the clinical use of many drugs and contrast media. Drug nephrotoxicity occurs in acute, subacute and chronic manifestations ranging from glomerular, tubular, vascular and immunological phenotypes to acute kidney injury. Pre-emptive risk assessment of drug nephrotoxicity poses an urgent need of precision medicine to optimize pharmacological therapies and interventional procedures involving nephrotoxic products in a preventive and personalized manner. Biomarkers of risk have been identified in animal models, and risk scores have been proposed, whose clinical use is abated by their reduced applicability to specific etiological models or clinical circumstances. However, our present data suggest that the urinary level of transferrin may be indicative of risk of renal damage, where risk is induced by subclinical tubular alterations regardless of etiology. In fact, urinary transferrin pre-emptively correlates with the subsequent renal damage in animal models in which risk has been induced by drugs and toxins affecting the renal tubules (i.e. cisplatin, gentamicin and uranyl nitrate); whereas transferrin shows no relation with the risk posed by a drug affecting renal hemodynamics (i.e. cyclosporine A). Our experiments also show that transferrin increases in the urine in the risk state (i.e. prior to the damage) precisely as a consequence of reduced tubular reabsorption. Finally, urinary transferrin pre-emptively identifies subpopulations of oncological and cardiac patients at risk of nephrotoxicity. In perspective, urinary transferrin might be further explored as a wider biomarker of an important mechanism of predisposition to renal damage induced by insults causing subclinical tubular alterations.Research from the authors’ laboratory supporting part of the information incorporated into this article was funded by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI14/01776, DT15S/00166, PI15/01055 and PI17/01979, and Retic RD016/0009/0025, REDINREN), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (IPT-2012-0779-010000), Junta de Castilla y León (Consejería de Sanidad, BIO/SA20/14, BIO/SA66/15; and Consejería de Educación, SA359U14), and FEDER funds

Urinary transferrin pre-emptively identifies the risk of renal damage posed by subclinical tubular alterations

Nephrotoxicity is an important limitation to the clinical use of many drugs and contrast media. Drug nephrotoxicity occurs in acute, subacute and chronic manifestations ranging from glomerular, tubular, vascular and immunological phenotypes to acute kidney injury. Pre-emptive risk assessment of drug nephrotoxicity posesman urgent need of precision medicine to optimize pharmacological therapies and interventional procedures involving nephrotoxic products in a preventive and personalized manner. Biomarkers of risk have been identified in animal models, and risk scores have been proposed, whose clinical use is abated by their reduced applicability to specific etiological models or clinical circumstances. However, our present data suggest that the urinary level of transferrin may be indicative of risk of renal damage, where risk is induced by subclinical tubular alterations regardless of etiology. In fact, urinary transferrin pre-emptively correlates with the subsequent renal damage in animal models in which risk has been induced by drugs and toxins affecting the renal tubules (i.e. cisplatin, gentamicin and uranyl nitrate); whereas transferrin shows no relation with the risk posed by a drug affecting renal hemodynamics (i.e. cyclosporine A). Our experiments also show that transferrin increases in the urine in the risk state (i.e. prior to the damage) precisely as a consequence of reduced tubular reabsorption. Finally, urinary transferrin pre-emptively identifies subpopulations of oncological and cardiac patients at risk of nephrotoxicity. In perspective, urinary transferrin might be further explored as a wider biomarker of an important mechanism of predisposition to renal damage induced by insults causing subclinical tubular alterations

Buenas prácticas de innovación docente en la Universidad de Córdoba

La iniciativa presenta el Centro de Atención Infantil Temprana de la Universidad de Córdoba, en el que la investigación y la formación son básicos para sus integrantes y desde el que se hace un importante ejercicio de transferencia del conocimiento a la comunidad universitaria y a la socieda

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

Contribución al estudio de la bermejuela Rutilus arcasi, Steindachner, 1866 de la cuenca del Júcar (Osteichthyes: Cyprinidae)II. Edad y crecimientoSobre la taxonomía de Barbus comiza Steindachner, 1865 (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae)Fenología de una comunidad de anfibios asociada a cursos fluviales temporales.Nueva especie para la ciencia de Anolis (Lacertilia: Iguanidae) de Cuba pertenecient eal complejo argillaceusSegregación ecológica en una comunidad de ofidios.El Aguila Imperial (Aquila adalberti): dispersión de los jóvenes, estructura de edades y mortalidaSobre diferencias individuales en la alimentación de Tyto albaInfluencia de las condiciones ambientales sobre la organización de la comunidad de aves invernantes en un bosque subalpino mediterráneoVariaciones en la agregación y distribución de la cabra montés (Capra pyrenaica Schinz,1838) detectadas con un muestreo de excrementosAlimentación del conejo (Oryctolagus cuniculus L. 1758) en Doñana. SO, EspañaSobre la distribución de Barbus meridionales Risso, 1826 (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae) en la Península IbéricaSobre la distribución de Barbus meridionales Risso, 1826 (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae) en la Península IbéricaNueva cita de Barbus microcephalus Almaça (Pisces, Cyprinidae) en España.Revisión taxonómica y distribución de Cobitis maroccana Pellegrin, 1929 (Osteichthyes, Cobitidae)Datos sobre una población de Lacerta viviparaSobre la presencia de Emys orbicularis en la provincia de León.Algunas observaciones sobre la captura de quirópteros por Falco subbuteo y Falco tinunculusNyctalus leisleri (Kuhk, 1818) (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Una nueva especie para las islas CanariaNuevos datos acerca de la distribución del topillo campesino Microtus arvalis, PALLAS 1778, en la Península IbéricaPeer reviewe

Evaluation of Poly(N-Ethyl Pyrrolidine Methacrylamide) (EPA) and Derivatives as Polymeric Vehicles for miRNA Delivery to Neural Cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, short RNA oligonucleotides that regulate the expression of hundreds of proteins to control cells' function in physiological and pathological conditions. miRNA therapeutics are highly specific, reducing the toxicity associated with off-target effects, and require low doses to achieve therapeutic effects. Despite their potential, applying miRNA-based therapies is limited by difficulties in delivery due to their poor stability, fast clearance, poor efficiency, and off-target effects. To overcome these challenges, polymeric vehicles have attracted a lot of attention due to their ease of production with low costs, large payload, safety profiles, and minimal induction of the immune response. Poly(N-ethyl pyrrolidine methacrylamide) (EPA) copolymers have shown optimal DNA transfection efficiencies in fibroblasts. The present study aims to evaluate the potential of EPA polymers as miRNA carriers for neural cell lines and primary neuron cultures when they are copolymerized with different compounds. To achieve this aim, we synthesized and characterized different copolymers and evaluated their miRNA condensation ability, size, charge, cytotoxicity, cell binding and internalization ability, and endosomal escape capacity. Finally, we evaluated their miRNA transfection capability and efficacy in Neuro-2a cells and rat primary hippocampal neurons. The results indicate that EPA and its copolymers, incorporating β-cyclodextrins with or without polyethylene glycol acrylate derivatives, can be promising vehicles for miRNA administration to neural cells when all experiments on Neuro-2a cells and primary hippocampal neurons are considered together.This research was supported by the Council of Education, Culture and Sports of the Regional Government of Castilla La Mancha (Spain) and Co-financed by the European Union (FEDER) “A way to make Europe” (project references SBPLY/17/000376 and SBPLY/21/180501/000097) and by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (RTI2018-096328-B-I00). Altea Soto was funded by the Council of Education, Culture and Sports of the Regional Government of Castilla La Mancha (Spain) M. Asunción Barreda-Manso is funded by the Council of Health of the Regional Government of Castilla La Mancha (Spain), through: “Convocatoria de Ayudas Regionales a la Investigación en Biomedicina y Ciencias de la Salud” (II-2020_05). Irene Novillo Algaba is funded by the Next Generation Funds of the European Union through the “Programa Investigo”.Peer reviewe

Comprehensive description of clinical characteristics of a large systemic Lupus Erythematosus Cohort from the Spanish Rheumatology Society Lupus Registry (RELESSER) with emphasis on complete versus incomplete lupus differences

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiple organ involvement and pronounced racial and ethnic heterogeneity. The aims of the present work were (1) to describe the cumulative clinical characteristics of those patients included in the Spanish Rheumatology Society SLE Registry (RELESSER), focusing on the differences between patients who fulfilled the 1997 ACR-SLE criteria versus those with less than 4 criteria (hereafter designated as incomplete SLE (iSLE)) and (2) to compare SLE patient characteristics with those documented in other multicentric SLE registries. RELESSER is a multicenter hospital-based registry, with a collection of data from a large, representative sample of adult patients with SLE (1997 ACR criteria) seen at Spanish rheumatology departments. The registry includes demographic data, comprehensive descriptions of clinical manifestations, as well as information about disease activity and severity, cumulative damage, comorbidities, treatments and mortality, using variables with highly standardized definitions. A total of 4.024 SLE patients (91% with ≥4 ACR criteria) were included. Ninety percent were women with a mean age at diagnosis of 35.4 years and a median duration of disease of 11.0 years. As expected, most SLE manifestations were more frequent in SLE patients than in iSLE ones and every one of the ACR criteria was also associated with SLE condition; this was particularly true of malar rash, oral ulcers and renal disorder. The analysis-adjusted by gender, age at diagnosis, and disease duration-revealed that higher disease activity, damage and SLE severity index are associated with SLE [OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.08-1.20 (P < 0.001); 1.29; 95% CI: 1.15-1.44 (P < 0.001); and 2.10; 95% CI: 1.83-2.42 (P < 0.001), respectively]. These results support the hypothesis that iSLE behaves as a relative stable and mild disease. SLE patients from the RELESSER register do not appear to differ substantially from other Caucasian populations and although activity [median SELENA-SLEDA: 2 (IQ: 0-4)], damage [median SLICC/ACR/DI: 1 (IQ: 0-2)], and severity [median KATZ index: 2 (IQ: 1-3)] scores were low, 1 of every 4 deaths was due to SLE activity. RELESSER represents the largest European SLE registry established to date, providing comprehensive, reliable and updated information on SLE in the southern European population