Mercury and selenium binding biomolecules in terrestrial mammals (Cervus elaphus and Sus scrofa) from a mercury exposed area

Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (PCC-05-004-2, PAI06-0094, PCI-08-0096, PEII09-0032-5329) and the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2013-48411-P) for financial support. M.J. Patiño Ropero acknowledges the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha for her PhD. fellowship.Peer reviewedPostprin

Reciclado de residuos cerámicos en materiales absorbentes acústicos

The scope of this investigation is to develop a material mainly composed (80% w/w) of ceramic wastes that can be applied in the manufacture of road traffic noise reducing devices. The characterization of the product has been carried out attending to its acoustic, physical and mechanical properties, by measuring the sound absorption coefficient at normal incidence, the open void ratio, density and compressive strength. Since the sound absorbing behavior of a porous material is related to the size of the pores and the thickness of the specimen tested, the influence of the particle grain size of the ceramic waste and the thickness of the samples tested on the properties of the final product has been analyzed. The results obtained have been compared to a porous concrete made of crushed granite aggregate as a reference commercial material traditionally used in similar applications. Compositions with coarse particles showed greater sound absorption properties than compositions made with finer particles, besides presenting better sound absorption behavior than the reference porous concrete. Therefore, a ceramic waste-based porous concrete can be potentially recycled in the highway noise barriers field.El objetivo de este trabajo es desarrollar un material absorbente acústico compuesto fundamentalmente por residuos cerámicos (80% p) que se pueda utilizar en la fabricación de dispositivos reductores de ruido de carretera. La caracterización del producto se ha llevado a cabo atendiendo a sus propiedades acústicas, físicas y mecánicas, determinando el coeficiente de absorción acústica a incidencia normal, porosidad abierta, densidad y resistencia a compresión. La absorción acústica de un material poroso está fuertemente determinada por el tamaño de poro y por la longitud dela probeta sometida a ensayo. De este modo, se ha analizado la influencia del tamaño de partícula del residuo cerámico y del espesor de las muestras estudiadas en las propiedades del producto final. Los resultados obtenidos se han comparado con los obtenidos para un hormigón poroso elaborado con árido grueso, que se ha tomado como producto de referencia tradicionalmente empleado en este tipo de aplicaciones. Las composiciones elaboradas con el residuo de mayor tamaño de partícula han mostrado mayor absorción acústica, incluso mayor que las del hormigón poroso comercial. Por tanto, un hormigón poroso elaborado con residuos cerámicos puede ser potencialmente empleado como material en la fabricación de barreras acústicas de carretera

Correlations in the low-temperature phase of the two-dimensional XY model

Monte Carlo simulations of the two-dimensional XY model are performed in a square geometry with fixed boundary conditions. Using a conformal mapping it is very easy to deduce the exponent eta_sigma(T) of the order parameter correlation function at any temperature in the critical phase of the model. The temperature behaviour of eta_sigma(T) is obtained numerically with a good accuracy up to the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature. At very low temperatures, a good agreement is found with Berezinskii's harmonic approximation. Surprisingly, we show some evidence that there are no logarithmic corrections to the behaviour of the order parameter density profile (with symmetry breaking surface fields) at the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature.Comment: 7 pages, 2 eps figure

The poor accuracy of D-dimer for the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection but its potential usefulness in early postoperative infections following revision arthroplasty for aseptic loosening

Background: D-dimer was introduced in 2018 as an alternative biomarker for C-reactive protein (CRP) in the diagnostic of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) criteria of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society. We assessed the accuracy of plasma D-dimer for the diagnosis of early, delayed, and late PJI according to Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) criteria, and whether persistently high levels of D-dimer in cases of aseptic loosening (AL) may be predictive of subsequent implant-related infection. Methods: A prospective study of a consecutive series of 187 revision arthroplasties was performed at a single institution.Septic (n = 39) and aseptic revisions (n = 141) were classified based on IDSA criteria. Preoperative assessment of CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and D-dimer was performed. Receiver operating curves were used to determine maximum sensitivity and specificity of the biomarkers. The natural progress of D-dimer for AL cases was followed up either until the date of implant-related infection at any time during the first year or 1 year after revision in patients without failure. Clinical outcomes for those AL cases included infection-related failure that required a new surgery or need for antibiotic suppression. Results: Preoperative D-dimer level was significantly higher in PJI cases than in AL cases (p = 0.000). The optimal threshold of D-dimer for the diagnosis of PJI was 1167 ng/mL. For overall diagnosis of PJI, C-reactive protein (CRP) achieved the highest sensitivity (84.6%), followed by erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and D-dimer (82% and 71.8%, respectively). Plasma D-dimer sensitivity was lower for all PJI types. When combinations of 2 tests were studied, the combined use of ESR and CRP achieved the best accuracy for all types of PJI (76.9%). 4.25% of AL cases had implant failure due to implant-related infection during the first year after the index revision arthroplasty, only the cases with early failure maintained high D-dimer levels

An analysis of innovation in textile companies: an efficiency approach

[EN] The elimination of trade contingency measures in 2005 triggered a process of renewal in the textile sector, requiring major investments. The divide between efficiency and innovation has become an issue of major importance for decision-making in the Spanish textile sector. This study provides quantitative data on the efficiency levels of innovative Spanish textile companies. The aim is to identify their distinguishing features and establish a possible pattern to follow. In addition, truncated regression is used to estimate the determinants of efficiency, in order to check the significance of innovation processes for firms.Puertas Medina, RM.; Martí Selva, ML.; Calafat Marzal, MC. (2020). An analysis of innovation in textile companies: an efficiency approach. Bulletin of Economic Research (Online). 72(1):63-76. https://doi.org/10.1111/boer.12210S6376721Banker, R. D., Charnes, A., & Cooper, W. W. (1984). Some Models for Estimating Technical and Scale Inefficiencies in Data Envelopment Analysis. Management Science, 30(9), 1078-1092. doi:10.1287/mnsc.30.9.1078Bastos F. &Nasir J.(2004).Productivity and the investment climate: What matters most?World Bank Policy Research Working Paper3335.Becker, S. O., & Egger, P. H. (2009). Endogenous product versus process innovation and a firm’s propensity to export. Empirical Economics, 44(1), 329-354. doi:10.1007/s00181-009-0322-6Beneito, P., Coscollá-Girona, P., Rochina-Barrachina, M. E., & Sanchis, A. (2015). Competitive Pressure and Innovation at the Firm Level. The Journal of Industrial Economics, 63(3), 422-457. doi:10.1111/joie.12079Bhandari, A. K., & Ray, S. C. (2011). TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN THE INDIAN TEXTILES INDUSTRY: A NON-PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS OF FIRM-LEVEL DATA. Bulletin of Economic Research, 64(1), 109-124. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8586.2010.00381.xCassiman, B., Golovko, E., & Martínez-Ros, E. (2010). Innovation, exports and productivity. International Journal of Industrial Organization, 28(4), 372-376. doi:10.1016/j.ijindorg.2010.03.005Crépon B. Duguet E. &Mairesse J.(1998).Research innovation and productivity an econometric analysis at the firm level. NBER Working Paper 6696.https://doi.org/10.1080/10438599800000031De Jorge-Moreno, J., & Rojas Carrasco, O. (2015). Technical efficiency and its determinants factors in Spanish textiles industry (2002-2009). Journal of Economic Studies, 42(3), 346-357. doi:10.1108/jes-06-2013-0085Diaz-Balteiro, L., Casimiro Herruzo, A., Martinez, M., & González-Pachón, J. (2006). An analysis of productive efficiency and innovation activity using DEA: An application to Spain’s wood-based industry. Forest Policy and Economics, 8(7), 762-773. doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2005.06.004Duch N.(2006).Posición competitiva y estrategias de las empresas catalanas. Análisis del Programa Créixer (2003–2005). Documents de treball. CIDEM. Generalitat de Catalunya.Goedhuys, M., & Veugelers, R. (2012). Innovation strategies, process and product innovations and growth: Firm-level evidence from Brazil. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 23(4), 516-529. doi:10.1016/j.strueco.2011.01.004Harrison, R., Jaumandreu, J., Mairesse, J., & Peters, B. (2014). Does innovation stimulate employment? A firm-level analysis using comparable micro-data from four European countries. International Journal of Industrial Organization, 35, 29-43. doi:10.1016/j.ijindorg.2014.06.001Huergo, E., & Jaumandreu, J. (2004). Firms’ age, process innovation and productivity growth. International Journal of Industrial Organization, 22(4), 541-559. doi:10.1016/j.ijindorg.2003.12.002Kouliavtsev, M., Christoffersen, S., & Russel, P. (2006). Productivity, Scale and Efficiency in the U.S. Textile Industry. Empirical Economics, 32(1), 1-18. doi:10.1007/s00181-006-0069-2Sanchez R. &Diaz A.(2013).Are large innovative firms more efficient?MRPA Paper n° 44592.Sellers R. Nicolau J. L. &Mas F. J.(2002).Eficiencia en la distribución: Una aplicación en el sector de agencias de viaje. Working paper serie ED N°17. Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas. Retrieved fromhttp://hdl.handle.net/10045/23320Zheng J. Liu X. &Bigsten A.(2000).Efficiency Technical Progress and Best Practice in Chinese State Enterprises (1980–1994). Working Papers in Economics n 30 Department of Economics. Göteborg.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-5967(02)00010-

Low pre-transplant levels of mannosebinding lectin are associated with viral infections and mortality after haematopoietic allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Background: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a key component of innate immunity. Low serum MBL levels, related to promoter polymorphism and structural variants, have been associated with an increased risk of infection. The aim of this work was to analyse the incidence and severity of infections and mortality in relation to the MBL2 genotype and MBL levels in patients underwent allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT). Results: This was a prospective cohort study of 72 consecutive patients underwent Allo-HSCT between January 2007 and June 2009 in a tertiary referral centre. Three periods were considered in the patients? follow-up: the early period (0?30 days after Allo-HSCT), the intermediate period (30?100 days after Allo-HSCT) and the late period (> 100 days after Allo-HSCT). A commercial line probe assay for MBL2 genotyping and an ELISA Kit were used to measure MBL levels. A total of 220 episodes of infection were collected in the 72 patients. No association between donor or recipient MBL2 genotype and infection was found. The first episode of infection presented earlier in patients with pre-transplant MBL levels of < 1000 ng/ml (median 6d vs 8d, p = 0.036). MBL levels < 1000 ng/ml in the pre-transplant period (risk ratio (RR) 2.48, 95% CI 1.00?6.13), neutropenic period (0?30 days, RR 3.28, 95% CI 1.53?7.06) and intermediate period (30?100 days, RR 2.37, 95% CI 1.15?4.90) were associated with increased risk of virus infection. No association with bacterial or fungal disease was found. Mortality was associated with pre-transplant MBL levels < 1000 ng/ml (hazard ratio 5.55, 95% CI 1.17?26.30, p = 0.03) but not with MBL2 genotype. Conclusions: Patients who underwent Allo-HSCT with low pre-transplant MBL levels presented the first episode of infection earlier and had an increased risk of viral infections and mortality in the first 6 months post-transplant. Thus, pre-transplant MBL levels would be important in predicting susceptibility to viral infections and mortality and might be considered a biomarker to be included in the pre-transplantation risk assessment.This work was supported by grants from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (Ministry of Health of Spain) PI04/0492 to MC Fariñas and Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Valdecilla (IDIVAL) API 06/01. The content of the paper is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views. The funding body was not involved in the design of the study, collection or analysis of the data, interpretation of the data, or in the writing of the manuscript

A Single Intradermal Injection of IFN-γ Induces an Inflammatory State in Both Non-Lesional Psoriatic and Healthy Skin

Psoriasis is a chronic, debilitating, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. As IFN-γ is involved in many cellular processes, including activation of dendritic cells (DCs), antigen processing and presentation, cell adhesion and trafficking, and cytokine and chemokine production, IFN-γ–producing Th1 cells were proposed to be integral to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Recently, IFN-γ was shown to enhance IL-23 and IL-1 production by DCs and subsequently induce Th17 cells, which are important contributors to the inflammatory cascade in psoriatic lesions. To determine whether IFN-γ indeed induces the pathways expressed in psoriatic lesions, a single intradermal injection of IFN-γ was administered to an area of clinically normal, non-lesional (NL) skin of psoriasis patients and biopsies were collected 24 hours later. Although there were no visible changes in the skin, IFN-γ induced many molecular and histological features characteristic of psoriatic lesions. IFN-γ increased a number of differentially expressed genes in the skin, including many chemokines concomitant with an influx of T cells and inflammatory DCs. Furthermore, inflammatory DC products tumor necrosis factor (TNF), inducible nitric oxide synthase, IL-23, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand were present in IFN-γ–treated skin. Thus, IFN-γ, which is significantly elevated in NL skin compared with healthy skin, appears to be a key pathogenic cytokine that can induce many features of the inflammatory cascade of psoriasis

tumor infiltrating lymphocytes tils and pdl1 expression as prescreening enrichment biomarkers of clinical benefit to immune checkpoint inhibitors ci in early clinical trials ect

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