Mechanical properties of concrete using recycled aggregates obtained from old paving stones

Nowadays, construction, maintenance, reparation, rehabilitation, retrofitting, and demolition from infrastructure and buildings generate large amounts of urban waste, which usually are inadequately disposed due to high costs and technical limitations. On the other hand, the increasing demand for natural aggregates for concrete production seriously affects mountains and rivers as they are the source of these nonrenewable goods. Consequently, the recycling of aggregates for concrete is gaining attention worldwide as an alternative to reduce the environmental impacts caused by the extraction of nonrenewable goods and disposal of construction and demolition waste (C&DW). Therefore, this article describes the effect on the mechanical properties of new concrete using recycled aggregates obtained from old paving stones. Results show that replacing 50% by weight of the fine and coarse aggregate fractions in concrete with recycled aggregate does not meaningfully affect its mechanical behavior, making the use of recycled aggregates in new precast paving stones possible. Therefore, the latter can reduce environmental impacts and costs for developing infrastructure and building projects

Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermentation on the Polar Compounds Content with Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activity of Avocado Seed Extracts

Avocado seeds, a common waste in the avocado processing industry, have been found to have several bioactivities, such as anticancer, antimicrobial, hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities, among others. Nowadays, this wastage is causing an environmental problem, so the use of new technologies to take advantage of it is a novel field of research. In this study, the submerged fermentation by lactic acid bacteria was used as a novel tool for improving the bioactive compound extraction from avocado seeds. Avocado seeds were fermented by different strains, their polar compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS, the antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH and FRAP assays, and the antidiabetic activity was analyzed by the alpha-amylase assay. A total of 32 polar compounds were identified, with 13 of them being described in avocado seeds for the first time. Avocado seeds fermented by Pentosaceus acidilactici showed the highest sum of polar compounds (6279.63 67.74 g/g d.w.), and by extension, of hydroxytyrosol glucoside (2989.76 3.64 g/g d.w.). Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CECT 9567 showed the highest antioxidant activity measured by both DPPH and FRAP assays (6294.67 19.44 and 6846.91 2.13 g TE/g d.w., respectively). Furthermore, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CECT 748T had the highest antidiabetic activity (52.15% 0.67% inhibition of alpha-amylase activity), attributable to the polyphenols. According to the results, submerged fermentation by lactic acid bacteria led to an interesting increase of the polar compounds’ extractability of avocado seeds, consequently improving the bioactivities of the extracts, which could then be used for food nutraceutical or cosmetic purposes.Project RTI2018-099835-A-I00MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, “Una manera de hacer Europ

Transcultural adaptation of the revised caregiving appraisal scale (RCAS) in the Spanish population

Aim To develop a transcultural adaptation of the Revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale among Spanish caregivers of dependent older people and to test the psychometric properties of the scale. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods The Revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale was transculturally adapted to the Spanish population following the methodology of direct and back translation. The Spanish version of the Revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale was administered to a total of 182 family caregivers of older dependent people. The study began in January 2016 and ended in December of the same year. The construct validity was studied by means of the scree plot and parallel analysis. The exploratory factorial analysis was carried out, and the correlation between factors was studied. To verify the reliability of the process, Cronbach's alpha and homogeneity were calculated by the corrected total item correlation. The validity of the convergent criterion was studied by means of the Pearson correlation coefficient, using the Zarit Caregiver Load Interview and the Family Satisfaction Scale as the gold standard. Results The construct validity revealed three factors: ?Subjective Burden? (15 items), ?Satisfaction? (7 items) and ?Competence? (3 items). The Cronbach alpha was .86 for ?Subjective Burden?, .74 for ?Satisfaction? and .74 for ?Competence?. The corrected total item correlation was greater than .25. The validity of the convergent criterion of the ?Subjective Burden? and ?Competence? factors with the ?Zarit Caregiver's Load Interview? presented a very high statistically significant correlation, unlike ?Satisfaction? which presented a low positive correlation with the ?Family Satisfaction Scale?. Conclusion The Spanish version of the Revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale is a valid and reliable scale according to the tests performed on a random sample of family caregivers of older dependent people in Spain. Impact This scale will enable the simultaneous assessment of negative (?Subjective Burden? and ?Competence?) and positive (?Satisfaction?) perceptions among family caregivers of older dependent people

Comparative Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Olive Leaves Using a Sonotrode and an Ultrasonic Bath and the Evaluation of Both Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity

This study is part of the project SHEALTHY that has received funding from European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 817936. This study was also supported by project RTI2018-099835-A-I00 financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/5011000 11033/FEDER "Una manera de hacer Europa".A sonotrode ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from olive leaves has been developed using a Box-Behnken design to optimize the effects of solvent composition and ultrasound parameters. The determination of single phenolic compounds was performed by HPLC-MS and the highest recovery in total compounds, oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol was achieved using EtOH/H2O (55:45, v/v), 8 min and 100% of amplitude. The optimal conditions were applied on leaves from seven olive cultivars grown under the same conditions and the results were compared with those found by using a conventional ultrasonic bath, obtaining no statistical differences. Moreover, antioxidant activity by FRAP, DPPH and ABTS in these olive leaf extracts was evaluated and they exhibited a significant correlation with oleuropein and total phenolic content. All cultivars of olive leaf extracts were found to be active against S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus with minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values) that ranged from 5.5 to 22.5 mg mL(-1). No extracts showed antimicrobial activity against C. albicans. The percentages of mycelium reduction in B. cinerea ranged from 2.2 and 18.1%. Therefore, sonotrode could be considered as an efficient and fast extraction technique that could be easily scaled-up at industrial level, thus allowing for olive leaves to be revalorized.European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme 817936MCIN/AEI/FEDER "Una manera de hacer Europa" RTI2018-099835-A-I0

Essential Oils from Fruit and Vegetables, Aromatic Herbs, and Spices: Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities

The use of essential oils (EOs) in the food industry is a popular research topic, as they have antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and could be used as ingredients directly in food or as bioactive component in food coating and food packaging. Thus, the study of their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity is a crucial step to evaluate their use in food packaging/coating. In this work, we evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of 13 EOs from herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables. Briefly, the EOs from aromatic herbs and spices showed the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Fennel essential oil reported the lowest antioxidant activity, however it showed very good antimicrobial activity against Botrytis cinerea, one of the post-harvest pathogen microorganisms in fruits and vegetables.In the field of food preservation, encapsulated Essential Oils (EOs) could be the best non-toxic and eco-friendly tool for food preservative applications substituting the chemicals ones that have several disadvantages for the environment and health. Thirteen commercial EOs from plants, fruits, and vegetables were characterized by GC-MS. The antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH and ABTS techniques. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by agar well-diffusion method and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by agar dilution method against six bacteria, Candida albicans, and Botrytis cinerea. All the EOs tested have demonstrated antioxidant activity in the range of IC50 0.01–105.32 mg/mL. Between them, cinnamon EOs were the best, followed by oregano and thyme EOs. Fennel EO showed the lowest radical scavenging. MIC values ranged from 0.14 to 9 mg/mL. C. cassia, thyme, and oregano EOs were the most effective against the bacterial species tested, and the yeast C. albicans. On the contrary, citric fruit EOs showed low or no inhibition against most bacterial strains. The percentages of inhibition of mycelia growth of B. cinerea ranged from 3.4 to 98.5%. Thyme, oregano, mint, and fennel EOs showed the highest inhibition.European Union’s Horizon 2020 -No 81793

Actualización y nuevas Investigaciones de Phlebotominae en la región del NOA

En la región del noroeste argentino (NOA) se registraron desde la década del 20? hasta la actualidad un total de 10 especies de Phlebotominae de las 38 presentes en Argentina: Brumptomyia guimaresi (Coutinho & Barreto), Brumptomyia pintoi (Costa Lima ), Evandromyia cortelezzii (Brèthes), Evandromyia sallesi (Galvão & Coutinho), Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), Micropygomyia quinquefer (Dyar), Migonemyia migonei (França), Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto), Psathyromyia punctigeniculata (Floch & Abonnenc) y Psathyromyia shannoni (Dyar). La presencia estas especies estuvo asociada a antecedentes epidemiológicos y se encontraron en ambientes de Selva de Yungas, Chaco húmedo y zonas de transición. A partir de los primeros registros de Lu. longipalpis en el noreste del país asociados a casos humanos y caninos en 2006, las nuevas investigaciones se centraron en la vigilancia del resto del área de flebótomos. Se presentan nuevos registros de distribución de Phlebotominae en sitios sin investigación previa y con diferentes estrategias de muestreo con el objetivo de elaborar mapas de distribución de los principales vectores de leishmaniasis tegumentaria (LT) y visceral (LV) en sitios con riesgo potencial de transmisión en las provincias de Jujuy, Salta y Tucumán. Se realizaron muestreos transversales, longitudinales y de vigilancia siguiendo el criterio de peor escenario. Muestreos transversales: se capturaron un total de 81 individuos en dos localidades del departamento de El Carmen, Jujuy. La especie mas abundante fue Mg. migonei seguida por Ny. neivai, Pintomyia sp. nov. y Ev. cortelezzii. En Tucumán se capturaron en los departamentos de Tafi Viejo y Alberdi (Dique Escaba ) un total de 99 individuos, la especie mas abundante Pintomyia sp. nov. seguida por Mg. migonei y Evandromyia cortelezzii. El hallazgo en ambas provincias de Pintomyia sp. nov, se registró simultáneamente en el tiempo (otoño de 2013). Muestreos longitudinales: en la provincia de Jujuy (departamentos de San Pedro, Ledesma y Santa Bárbara) se describe la dinámica y distribución mediante capturas sistemáticas e intensivas. Se capturaron un total de 6059 flebótomos identificados como Ny. neivai (98.9%), Mg. migonei (0.9%) y Ev. cortelezzii (0,1%). En la provincia de Salta se profundizaron estudios en el departamento de Orán para determinar la influencia del gradiente de paisaje en la composición y abundancia de Phlebotominae. Se recolectaron 36.971 flebótomos, el 97% correspondió a Ny. neivai, el 2,2% a Mg. migonei, el 0,7% Ev. cortelezzii y 0,05% a Ps. shannoni. En la provincia de Tucumán a partir del hallazgo de Pintomyia sp. nov asociada a una colonia de murciélagos insectívoros, se continuaron con capturas para conocer la estacionalidad de esta especie. A su vez, desde el Dique se establecieronsitios de captura hasta el río Marapa (25 km) basado en la hipótesis que el área podría estar funcionando como un corredor de contigüidad biológico con el resto del pedemonte-Yungas considerada área de importante fuente de flebótomos. Se capturaron hasta el momento un total de 911 individuos en proceso de identificación. Finalmente en la ciudad de Tartagal (departamento de San Martín), Salta, a partir de un estudio de vigilancia efectuado por la Fundación Mundo Sano en colaboración entomológica con REDILA se registró por primera vez en el NOA la presencia de Lu. longipalpis, principal vector del parásito responsable de la LV. Posteriormente, se un realizó un muestreo intensivo en la ciudad para determinar la distribución del riesgo basado en la abundancia del vector en la estación de primavera. Se colectaron un total de 719 individuos de Phlebotominae, la mas abundante fue Ev. cortelezzii seguida por Mg. migonei, Lu. longipalpis y Ny. neivai. De los 66 puntos muestreados, 16 fueron positivos para Lu. longipalpis cubriendo los distintos sectores de la ciudad.Fil: Quintana, María Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Secretaria de Gobierno de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical - Sede Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Fuenzalida, Ana Denise. Secretaria de Gobierno de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical - Sede Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Remondegui, Cristina Liliana del Valle. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Gómez Bravo, Andrea. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Salomón, Oscar Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Secretaria de Gobierno de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical - Sede Tucumán; ArgentinaIX Congreso Argentino de EntomologíaPosadasArgentinaSociedad de Entomología Argentin

Puntos de encuentro. Investigaciones de posgrado en proceso

“Puntos de encuentro. Investigaciones de posgrado en proceso” es un proyecto de innovación docente que ha pretendido generar espacios para el debate y el diálogo entre estudiantes de doctorado que están realizando su tesis doctoral y profesores y directores de tesis. Se ha contemplado trabajar para la creación de una comunidad de aprendizaje en la que, a través de los vínculos entre los participantes, se posibilite una tutorización entre pares. El equipo de trabajo ha estado compuesto por profesores, doctorandos, becarios de investigación y directores de tesis. Teniendo en cuenta la naturaleza de la investigación en artes, se ha planteado la necesidad de articular espacios transdisciplinares de encuentro en los que abordar las potencialidades de trabajar conjuntamente personas e investigaciones adscritas a distintas áreas de conocimiento afines. Se ha ensayado, así mismo, la confluencia de alumnos que están adscritos en diversas universidades españolas, de tal manera que el contexto en el que realizan sus investigaciones se vea ampliado y se genere una red que pueda posibilitar acciones conjuntas de movilidad en un futuro. Se ha contemplado, por otra parte, fomentar las competencias relativas a la elaboración de textos científicos. Para ello se han realizado una serie de actividades en continuidad que han abordado encuentros mensuales, un seminario de investigación público, espacios de trabajo on-line y una publicación. Esta memoria recoge la valoración de los resultados obtenidos haciendo mención a los objetivos alcanzados, la metodología empleada, al grupo de trabajo adscrito al proyecto y a las actividades desarrolladas a lo largo del curso 2017-18. Presenta a modo de anexo una serie de imágenes de los encuentros realizados y los documentos de difusión del seminario de investigación

Protagonismo del mentor en una actividad tutorial de carácter multidisciplinar en Ingeniería

XIX Congreso Universitario de Innovación Educativa en las Enseñanzas Técnicas : Barcelona, 6 a 8 de julio de 2011En la Escuela Politécnica Superior (EPS) de la Universidad de Sevilla se ha trabajado, por tercer curso consecutivo, en un Plan de Acción Tutorial desarrollado por 16 profesores tutores y 20 alumnos mentores de 5 titulaciones de Ingeniería Técnica. El objetivo perseguido en este curso ha sido potenciar actividades que han surgido del propio albedrío de los alumnos mentores, lo que ha dado como resultado la realización de una serie de actividades de mentoría motivadas y dirigidas desde el principio por los alumnos mentores. La actividad conjunta de todos ellos ha llevado a organizar unos subgrupos de mentorías en función de determinadas características del alumnado de primer curso (deportistas, trabajadores, becarios de otras universidades…), a realizar reuniones presenciales de mentores para puesta a punto de estas actividades así como de puesta al día de los resultados que se iban consiguiendo, además de organizar una segunda captación de mentorizados tras las notas del primer cuatrimestre, y la protagonización de una Jornada de Mentoría al final del curso.A third edition with 16 tutorial lecturers and 20 tutorial students from five different degrees (Technical Engineering of the Polytechnical School, EPS, at University of Seville) in a Tutorial Plan development, has been prepared. During the present year, the main characteristic has been a serial of mentoring actions motivated and directed by these mentors. This activity has been organized considering several subgroups of mentoring depending on special characteristics in first year students (sportsplayers, workers, grant holders from other universities…), moreover the organization of a second recruiting of new students after the first term marks, updating meetings for mentors only, and to be main figures in a Congress on Mentoring at the end of the academic year

Disease surveillance during the reintroduction of the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) in southwestern Spain

This article belongs to the Section Wildlife.The restoration of Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) populations in Extremadura (Southwestern Spain) have been carried out since 2014. One of the measures to ensure the success of this program is to examine the effects that diseases may have on reintroduction. Since diseases may be greatly located at certain sites because of the specific ecological requirements of the pathogens and/or vectors, reintroduced individuals may present a risk of infection once released. To determine which pathogens the reintroduced individuals may encounter, we performed a molecular and sero-epidemiological survey in reintroduced and wild-born lynxes. From 2015 to 2019, 69 Iberian lynxes (40 reintroduced and 29 wild-born) were sampled and screened against 10 viral, bacterial and piroplasmid agents. In parallel, 195 sympatric carnivores from the families Canidae, Felidae, Viverridae, Herpestidae and Mustelidae were tested against current or past infections to six common canine/feline viruses. In the Iberian lynx, low contact rates of active infection were obtained for the feline leukemia provirus (FeLV: 1.5%; 1/67), feline parvovirus (FPV: 1.5%; 1/67) and Cytauxzoon sp. (6.7%; 1/15). We also confirmed the emergence of Aujeszky’s disease (suid herpesvirus-1) in this population (SuHV-1: 11.8%; 2/17). Evidence of previous exposure was detected for canine distemper virus (CDV: 5.8%; 3/52), feline coronavirus (1.9%; 1/52), FPV (7.7%; 1/13) and feline calicivirus (FCV: 5.3%; 1/19). From 25 recovered lynx carcasses, we could confirm infectious etiology involvement in the death of four individuals (SuHV-1 in two individuals, coinfection of Cytauxzoon spp. and Aeromonas veronii in one lynx and a Streptococcus canis myositis in another lynx). We confirmed the circulation of CDV, FPV, FeLV, FCV and the feline immunodeficiency virus within the sympatric carnivore community. Due to the low contact rate of infectious agents in such a small, endangered population, we recommend continuing a disease surveillance program to determine the prognostic factors of survival, understand the role that disease may play during the reintroduction and anticipate disease outbreaks that may pose a risk for the entire reintroduced population.[Simple Summary]: The restoration of Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) populations in Extremadura (Southwestern Spain) have been carried out since 2014. To evaluate the effect that infectious diseases may have on their reintroduction, we performed a molecular and sero-epidemiological survey in reintroduced and wild-born lynxes and sympatric carnivores. From 2015 to 2019, 69 Iberian lynxes were screened against 10 viral, bacterial and piroplasmid agents. In parallel, 195 sympatric carnivores were tested against current or past infections to six common canine/feline viruses. In the Iberian lynx, low contact rates of active infection were obtained for feline leukemia provirus (FeLV: 1.5%; 1/67), feline parvovirus (FPV: 1.5%; 1/67) and Cytauxzoon sp. (6.7%; 1/15). We confirmed the emergence of Aujeszky’s disease (suid herpesvirus-1) in this population (SuHV-1: 11.8%; 2/17). We detected the circulation of FeLV, parvovirus, canine distemper virus (CDV), feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline immunodeficiency virus within the sympatric carnivore community and FCV, FPV, CDV and feline coronavirus in lynxes. Due to the low contact rate of infectious agents in such a small, endangered population, we recommend continuing a disease surveillance program to determine the prognostic factors of survival, understand the role that disease may play during the reintroduction and anticipate disease outbreaks that may pose a risk for the entire reintroduced population.This research was funded by the European Union through its LIFE project Life+IBERLINCE (LIFE+10NAT/ES/570) “Recuperación de la distribución histórica del lince ibérico (Lynx pardinus) en España y Portugal”.Peer reviewe