Improving the fire behavior of flexible polyurethane foams using eco-friendly fillers

212 p.This research work is focused on the preparation and characterization of flexible polyurethane foams and also on the modification and introduction of different eco-friendly fillers into polyurethane formulations. Nowadays maximizing the sustainability of polymeric materials is of special interest due to the increasing environmental concern and the imminent depletion of fossil resources. In this work, the sustainability of the prepared materials is enhanced by using a renewable sourced polyol and selecting environmentally-friendly additives such as anionic clays (layered double hydroxides) and an industrial byproduct such as lignin, giving in this way added value to this abundant residue from pulp and paper industry.These eco-friendly fillers were selected not only due to their sustainable nature, but also because of their chemical structure and morphology that makes them of special interest in another topic with increased attention: the improvement of the fire behavior of polymeric materials.The increased use of polymers has boosted the dangers related to the development of violent fire scenarios, forcing industries to improve the flame retardancy of polymeric materials by using different types of additives, such as halogenated compounds. These compounds reduce effectively the flammability of polymeric materials with the drawback of increased toxicity and thus, increased death hazard while contributing also to the depletion of the ozone layer owing to the highly toxic halogenated fumes released during polymer and additive combustion.For this reason, this work not only analyzes the effect on the properties of different eco-friendly additives in the properties of flexible polyurethane foams, but also explores their potential to be used as flame retardant agents.GMT Materials + Technologies Research Grou

Improving the fire behavior of flexible polyurethane foams using eco-friendly fillers

212 p.This research work is focused on the preparation and characterization of flexible polyurethane foams and also on the modification and introduction of different eco-friendly fillers into polyurethane formulations. Nowadays maximizing the sustainability of polymeric materials is of special interest due to the increasing environmental concern and the imminent depletion of fossil resources. In this work, the sustainability of the prepared materials is enhanced by using a renewable sourced polyol and selecting environmentally-friendly additives such as anionic clays (layered double hydroxides) and an industrial byproduct such as lignin, giving in this way added value to this abundant residue from pulp and paper industry.These eco-friendly fillers were selected not only due to their sustainable nature, but also because of their chemical structure and morphology that makes them of special interest in another topic with increased attention: the improvement of the fire behavior of polymeric materials.The increased use of polymers has boosted the dangers related to the development of violent fire scenarios, forcing industries to improve the flame retardancy of polymeric materials by using different types of additives, such as halogenated compounds. These compounds reduce effectively the flammability of polymeric materials with the drawback of increased toxicity and thus, increased death hazard while contributing also to the depletion of the ozone layer owing to the highly toxic halogenated fumes released during polymer and additive combustion.For this reason, this work not only analyzes the effect on the properties of different eco-friendly additives in the properties of flexible polyurethane foams, but also explores their potential to be used as flame retardant agents.GMT Materials + Technologies Research Grou

Propuesta de estrategias de mejora de la calidad de servicio utilizando el modelo SERVQUAL en Bureau Veritas del Perú S.A. Talara 2020

El presente proyecto de investigación tuvo como objetivo proponer estrategias para mejorar el control de calidad del servicio por medio de la metodología Servqual aplicándose en la empresa Bureau Veritas del Perú S.A, se realizó una encuesta a las empresas que prestaron servicios evaluándolas por medio de 5 factores que son: factibilidad, empatía, capacidad de respuesta, seguridad y objetos tangibles. Cabe resaltar que la empresa Bureau Veritas del Perú S.A es una empresa que realiza estudios de suelos y ensayos no destructivos a diferentes empresas en la ciudad de Talara, pero se apreció una baja en los servicios que se prestaban causando pérdidas. Es por ello que esta encuesta reflejo cuales son estas deficiencias que generaron la reducción de servicios, se apreció la falta de empatía, capacidad de respuesta en el desarrollo de los servicios que se prestaron. A partir de estos resultados para recuperar la calidad de servicio y no tener más pérdidas se deberá proceder a proponer estrategias como por ejemplo para mejorar la empatía se deberá capacitar al personal con respecto al trato de personas para que se mejore la atención logrando tener clientes a gusto. Con referencia a la seguridad se deberá enmendar este problema teniendo una comunicación fluida con el personal involucrado en los servicios, incentivar por medio de bonos y ponerle en conocimiento que si mejora la seguridad el beneficioso sera para ambos. Concluyo que esta investigación se dejara bien especificado el problema que ha generado déficit en el servicio y la solución que se deberá dar para asi lograr que la empresa Bureau Veritas logre recuperar la confianza de sus clientes y con ello establezca un servicio de calidad que nos haga competitivo en la ciudad de Talara

Análisis de la prescripción potencialmente inapropiada en el paciente anciano

Se estima que la principal causa de reacciones adversas a medicamentos en el paciente anciano es la prescripción inapropiada de fármacos y la insuficiente monitorización de tratamientos prescritos. Además, el riesgo en ellos se incrementa de forma lineal con el número de fármacos prescritos. El objetivo del estudio es identificar la presencia de prescripción potencialmente inapropiada en el paciente anciano. Para llevarlo a cabo, se realizó el análisis de los tratamientos en dos ámbitos distintos de asistencia sanitaria. Los resultados obtenidos han demostrado una baja prevalencia de prescripción potencialmente inapropiada en el paciente anciano, tanto en Atención Primaria como al ingreso hospitalari

The RNA-binding protein RBP33 dampens non-productive transcription in trypanosomes

In-depth analysis of the transcriptomes of several model organisms has revealed that genomes are pervasively transcribed, giving rise to an abundance of non-canonical and mainly antisense RNA polymerase II-derived transcripts that are produced from almost any genomic context. Pervasive RNAs are degraded by surveillance mechanisms, but the repertoire of proteins that control the fate of these non-productive transcripts is still incomplete. Trypanosomes are single-celled eukaryotes that show constitutive RNA polymerase II transcription and in which initiation and termination of transcription occur at a limited number of sites per chromosome. It is not known whether pervasive transcription exists in organisms with unregulated RNA polymerase II activity, and which factors could be involved in the process. We show here that depletion of RBP33 results in overexpression of similar to 40% of all annotated genes in the genome, with a marked accumulation of sense and antisense transcripts derived from silenced regions. RBP33 loss does not result in a significant increase in chromatin accessibility. Finally, we have found that transcripts that increase in abundance upon RBP33 knockdown are significantly more stable in RBP33-depleted trypanosomes, and that the exosome complex is responsible for their degradation. Our results provide strong evidence that RBP33 dampens non-productive transcription in trypanosomes

The role of root organic acids in the tolerance of Festuca rubra to zinc, lead and cadmium

Festuca rubra L. plants are pseudometallophytes colonizing abandoned Pb/Zn mine areas, successfully employed in phytostabilization. To study the contribution of low-molecular weight organic acids to metal tolerance, F. rubra plants were grown for three months in hydroponics with Cd (1.8, 18 and 36 µmol L−1), Pb (50, 250 and 500 µmol L−1) and Zn (0.3, 3 and 6 mmol L−1), separately, and in ternary combination (18 µmol L−1 Cd + 250 µmol L−1 Pb + 0.3 mmol L−1 Zn). The roots retained most of the metals but their distribution from shoot to root was altered when the plants were treated with the ternary combination. The main organic acids in roots were citrate and malate. At the lowest concentrations, the metals caused small reductions in biomass, had no effects on photosynthetic pigments nor on malondialdehyde, but led to increases in root organic acids. At higher concentrations, phytotoxic responses were observed, associated with a decline of citrate and malate in the rootsThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [AGL2012-39715-C03-03] and [CTM2013-48697-C2-2-R

Chemical extraction and gastrointestinal digestion of honey: influence on Its antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-Inflammatory activities

The effect of chemical extraction andin vitrodigestion of different kinds of honey onbioactive compounds (total phenolic compounds and flavonoids) and biological activities (antioxi-dant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) was investigated. The antioxidant activity was evaluatedagainst three radicals (ABTS•+, ROO•,•OH), and the antimicrobial activity was studied againstfive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus,Listeria monocytogenes,Escherichia coli,Streptococcus mutansandPseudomona aeruginosa) and one yeast (Candida albicans). The results show that in comparison withraw honeys, the methanolic extracts exhibited lower values for phenols, flavonoids and antioxidantactivity and higher anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities againstL. monocytogenes.Thehigher anti-inflammatory activity indicates a possible use of dried honey extracts in the pharma-ceutical and cosmetic industries. The digested honeys showed higher total phenolics and higherantioxidant activity than the pre-digested honeys, as well as higher antimicrobial activity againstS.aureusandL. monocytogenes, which underlines the possible antioxidant and antimicrobial effects ofhoney in the human body after the digestion process

Biomimetic Citrate-Coated Luminescent Apatite Nanoplatforms for Diclofenac Delivery in Inflammatory Environments

This research was funded by Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (AEI) of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MCI) and co-funded with FEDER, UE, Project No. PGC2018-102047-B-I00 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE). M.P. acknowledges the Progetto di Ricerca Fondi di Ateneo per la Ricerca-FAR 2018 "Development of innovative biological materials for the functional regeneration of cardiac tissue models".Luminescent nanoparticles are innovative tools for medicine, allowing the imaging of cells and tissues, and, at the same time, carrying and releasing different types of molecules. We explored and compared the loading/release ability of diclofenac (COX-2 antagonist), in both undoped- and luminescent Terbium(3+) (Tb3+)-doped citrate-coated carbonated apatite nanoparticles at different temperatures (25, 37, 40 degrees C) and pHs (7.4, 5.2). The cytocompatibility was evaluated on two osteosarcoma cell lines and primary human osteoblasts. Biological effects of diclofenac-loaded-nanoparticles were monitored in an in vitro osteoblast's cytokine-induced inflammation model by evaluating COX-2 mRNA expression and production of PGE(2). Adsorption isotherms fitted the multilayer Langmuir-Freundlich model. The maximum adsorbed amounts at 37 degrees C were higher than at 25 degrees C, and particularly when using the Tb3+ -doped particles. Diclofenac-release efficiencies were higher at pH 5.2, a condition simulating a local inflammation. The luminescence properties of diclofenac-loaded Tb3+ -doped particles were affected by pH, being the relative luminescence intensity higher at pH 5.2 and the luminescence lifetime higher at pH 7.4, but not influenced either by the temperature or by the diclofenac-loaded amount. Both undoped and Tb3+-doped nanoparticles were cytocompatible. In addition, diclofenac release increased COX-2 mRNA expression and decreased PGE(2) production in an in vitro inflammation model. These findings evidence the potential of these nanoparticles for osteo-localized delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs and the possibility to localize the inflammation, characterized by a decrease in pH, by changes in luminescence.Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (AEI) of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MCI)European Commission PGC2018-102047-B-I0

Profit and viability persistence: evidence from the Spanish agricultural sector

The literature focused on analyzing profit persistence in the agricultural sector is scarce. This paper contributes to reducing this gap by carrying out an empirical study of 10 types of farming in Spain based on a dynamic panel model with microeconomic data from a large sample of farms provided by the Spanish Farm Accountancy Data Network. The generalized method of moments system estimator is used to assess profit persistence, including all significant lagged profit rates explaining the adjustment of abnormal profits over time. Moreover, the dynamic of farms' economic performance is analyzed considering the return on assets as a dependent variable (i.e., measuring farms' profitability), as well as an alternative indicator that also accounts for opportunity costs (i.e., measuring farms' viability). The results show that profit and viability persistence in the farming sector are complex dynamic processes that depend on several lags of the aforementioned dependent variables (between 2 and 5 years), with high abnormal profit and viability persistence being widespread. In any case, heterogeneous persistence results are achieved depending on the type of farming. The differences found can be explained by disparities in several explanatory variables contributing to above- or below-average performance. The conclusions reached could lead to sounder decision-making regarding agricultural policy (i.e., farm subsidies) and competition policy (i.e., exceptions to competition law). [EconLit Citations: D41; L13; L22; L25; Q12; C23]

Antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of ling-heather honey powder obtained by different methods with several carriers

Honey powder is being increasingly used in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry, because it avoids inconveniences of raw honey, such as high viscosity, stickiness and formation of sugar crystals. It is of paramount importance to know if honey powders keep the features of raw honeys. This is the first study, in which total phenolics, total flavonoids, and biological properties of ling-heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull) honey powders obtained by different drying methods (spray drying, vacuum drying and freeze drying), using different carriers (Arabic gum, whey protein isolate and maltodextrin) were assessed. Results showed that all the drying procedures and carriers retained the honey phenolics in the honey powders. Honey powders' antioxidant activities against different free radicals (ABTS•+, ROO•, •OH and O2•-) were higher than those of the raw honeys, while honey powders’ anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities against several microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli) were lower. Concentration of honey in the powder and type of carrier used for dehydration were the key factors for the quality of honey powders. However, the drying procedure did not strongly influence the parameters and properties studied.Junta de Castilla y León (Spain) for financial support (BU041G18), and for the research assistant contract given to Ms. Leire Cantero (Grant No. UBU-09-A)