Comparison between Airborne Pollen and Aeroallergen Quantification with the ChemVol Impact Sampler. Olive pollen vs Ole e 1

Comparison between Airborne Pollen and Aeroallergen Quantification with the ChemVol Impact Sampler. Olive pollen vs Ole e 1. Torres M.C.1, C. Antunes2, M.J. Velasco1, R. Ferro2, H. García-Mozo1, R. Ribeiro2, R.Brandao3, Galán, C1 and the HIALINE team4 1Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of Córdoba 2Department of Chemistry, University of Évora, Portugal 3Department of Biology, University of Évora, Portugal 4J.T.M. Buters, Germany, M. Thibaudon, France, M. Smith, Great Britain, C. Galan, Spain, R. Brandao and C. Antunes, Portugal, G. Reese, Germany, R. Albertini, Italy, L. Grewling, Poland, A. Rantio-Lehtimäki, Finland, S. Jäger and U. Berger, Austria, I. Sauliene, Lithuania, L. Cecchi, Italy Nowadays, pollinosis is affecting a large percentage of population in the countries with a western life style. The existence of allergenic activity in the atmosphere is not only associated to pollen grains and fungal spores, but also to submicronic and paucimicronic biological particles. The origin of these allergens can be due to the rupture of pollen transported in the atmosphere or to the presence of allergens from other parts of the plant making amorphous material with an allergen load. Olive pollen is recognized as one of the main causes of allergic disease in the Mediterranean area. In this study we have tried to compare olive pollen count in the air and Ole e 1 as major allergen of this species, at two different localities in South of Europe: Evora (Portugal) and Córdoba (Spain). At each location both samplers were placed side-by-side. Pollen grains have been sampled using a volumetric Hirst type spore trap. Chemvol high-volume cascade impactor equipped with stages PM>10µm, 10 µm>PM>2.5µm were used for detecting aeroallergens. Ole e 1 major allergen was determined using allergen specific ELISA´s. Similar behaviour between pollen and the total allergenic load was observed during the pollen season. Nevertheless, at some occasions, during the previous and later period of the pollen season, airborne allergenic load was detected in South Spain, due to the contributions from other Oleaceae species. For this reason the use of these two different methodologies allow a better understanding of the allergenic load in the atmosphere. This work was supported in part by the European Agency for Health and Consumers EAHC, Luxembourg, under the grant agreement 20081107

Garlic derivatives (PTS and PTS-O) differently affect the ecology of swine faecal microbiota in vitro

A number of in vitro experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of two different industrial products, namely PROALLIUM-S-DMC and PROALLIUM-SO-DMC (DMC Research Center, Granada, Spain), obtained from garlic (Allium sativum) on the faecal microbiota of pigs. The effects of three different concentrations (50, 200 and 400 ppm) of the active compounds (PTS and PTS-O, respectively) from both industrial products on the gastrointestinal microbiota of pigs were tested. Growth medium without any additive (0 ppm) was used as control. Predominant bacterial groups (total aerobes, total anaerobes,lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, coliforms, enterobacteria, bacteroides and clostridia) were studied. Results showed that both PTS and PTS-O have significant (P < 0.01) antimicrobial activity against every group studied, although enterobacteria and coliforms were the most affected populations (P < 0.01). Time kill curves for Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, two common pathogens of pigs, showed that both compounds had a bactericidal effect against these strains. For the bacterial groups here studied, the antimicrobial effect of PTS-O was significantly (P < 0.001) stronger than that of PTS. Trials in vivo are in course to study the potential use of these products as alternatives to antibiotics in pig feeds.Peer reviewe

Estado del bienestar, salud y carrera profesional : la carrera profesional como herramienta para mejorar las prestaciones y servicios en entorno de crisis = Welfare state, health and development career : the development career as a performance and services improvement tool in a crisis environment

Health protection is the most important element of our welfare state. Human resources focus makes up the health system and justifyes the need of developing policies and management tools to facilitate professionals motivation and integration. The main tool, in addition to others with less expensive dyes, is the so-called professional career of health professionals. Our national system of health (NHS, SNS in Spanish) must develop a model of professional career combining the professionals profile with the needs of such a system, introducing true elements of motivation and incentives to achieve personal and organizational goals, allowing to improve benefits and services in the current crisis environment.Parte de la importancia de la protección a la salud como uno de los elementos de cohesión de nuestro estado del bienestar, focalizando la importancia en los recursos humanos que conforman el sistema sanitario y justificando la necesidad de elaborar políticas y herramientas de gestión que faciliten la motivación y la integración de los profesionales. La herramienta por excelencia, más allá de otras con tintes más económicos, es la denominada carrera profesional de los profesionales sanitarios. Nuestro Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) debe elaborar un modelo de carrera profesional que aúne el perfil de los profesionales con las necesidades de dicho sistema, introduciendo verdaderos elementos de motivación e incentivación que permitan conseguir los objetivos personales y organizacionales, permitiendo mejorar las prestaciones y los servicios en el entorno de crisis actual

Probing the catalytic activity of sulfate-derived Pristine and post-treated porous TiO2(101) anatase mesocrystals by the oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophenes

Mesocrystals (basically nanostructures showing alignment of nanocrystals well beyond crystal size) are attracting considerable attention for modeling and optimization of functionalities. However, for surface-driven applications (heterogeneous catalysis), only those mesocrystals with excellent textural properties are expected to fulfill their potential. This is especially true for oxidative desulfuration of dibenzothiophenes (hard to desulfurize organosulfur compounds found in fossil fuels). Here, we probe the catalytic activity of anatases for the oxidative desulfuration of dibenzothiophenes under atmospheric pressure and mild temperatures. Specifically, for this study, we have taken advantage of the high stability of the (101) anatase surface to obtain a variety of uniform colloidal mesocrystals (approximately 50 nm) with adequate orientational order and good textural properties (pores around 3-4 nm and surface areas around 200 m2/g). Ultimately, this stability has allowed us to compare the catalytic activity of anatases that expose a high number of aligned single crystal-like surfaces while differing in controllable surface characteristics. Thus, we have established that the type of tetrahedral coordination observed in these anatase mesocrystals is not essential for oxidative desulfuration and that both elimination of sulfates and good textural properties significantly improve the catalytic activity. Furthermore, the most active mesocrystals have been used to model the catalytic reaction in three-(oil-solvent-catalyst) and two-phase (solvent-catalyst) systems. Thus, we have been able to observe that the transfer of DBT from the oil to the solvent phase partially limits the oxidative process and to estimate an apparent activation energy for the oxidative desulfuration reaction of approximately 40 kJ/mol in the two-phase system to avoid mass transfer limitations. Our results clearly establish that (101) anatase mesocrystals with excellent textural properties show adequate stability to withstand several post-treatments without losing their initial mesocrystalline character and therefore could serve as models for catalytic processes different from the one studied here.Fil: Rivoira, Lorena Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Química. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación en Nanociencia y Nanotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Falcon, Horacio. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación en Nanociencia y Nanotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Beltramone, Andrea Raquel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación en Nanociencia y Nanotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Campos-Martin, Jose M.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: García Fierro, José Luis. Instituto de Catalisis y Petroleoquimica-csic; EspañaFil: Tartaj, Pedro. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica; Españ

Reduced graphene oxide supported piperazine in aminocatalysis

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has been used as a support for piperazine to provide heterogeneous bifunctional organocatalyst (rGO-NH) that is able to efficiently promotvintage organic transformations such as Knoevenagel, Michael and aldol reactions. The obtained results suggest a significant role of the support in the course of these reactionsWe thank the Spanish Government (CTQ-2012-35957) and CAM (AVANCAT CS2009/PPQ-1634) for financial support. E.R. thanks the Spanish Ministry for a predoctoral fellowship (FPU/AP-2010-0807). R.S. thanks the Spanish Ministry of Science for a postdoctoral contract (PTQ-11-04601

Aportaciones al conocimiento de la orquidoflora palentina (España)

En este trabajo se comentan hallazgos de orquídeas poco conocidas en el territorio palentino, se aportan algunas novedades para la provincia y se comentan algunos datos de provincias limítrofes. Puesto que el grupo de orquidáceas ha suscitado un especial interés en los estudios concernientes a flora rara y amenazada, se detalla el estatus de conservación de aquellos táxones incluidos en documentos técnicos y listados ofi ciales de protección de flora

El sistema caprino extensivo en la sierra norte y este de Jaén, como base del desarrollo sostenible

En los quince municipios de menos de 5000 habitantes, localizados en el Parque Natural de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas se ha puesto de manifiesto un proceso de despoblación, envejecimiento y empobrecimiento. La desaparición del mundo rural es un indicador de la degradación medioambiental. El presente trabajo pretende valorar técnica y económicamente el sector caprino de este parque natural, así como su nivel de competencia con el bosque mediterráneo. El estudio se centra en una muestra representativa de las explotaciones de caprino autóctono extensivo del parque natural, constituida por 63 rebaños, que representan el 60 p.100 del total de explotaciones La dimensión media de las explotaciones es de 213 cabras, con una UTH dedicada al caprino y dos por granja. El sistema productivo es eminentemente pastoril, de carácter familiar, con razas autóctonas muy adaptadas, pastos comunales y un régimen característico de pacería, denominado costeo y con unos canales de comercialización ineficientes. El ganado caprino (sin contabilizar el ovino y el vacuno) permite facturar por término medio 1.800.000 pta y generar un flujo de caja en torno a las 300.000 pta al año. Los valores de carga (0,78 UO por ha) están en consonancia con la capacidad sustentadora del parque entre 0,31 y 0,92 UO por ha (Gallego et al., 1991) y son inferiores a lo manifestados por Fernández Rebollo (1995). Además de la importancia económica y social del sistema productivo de carácter sustentable, se ha de tener presente que los protagonistas del desarrollo sostenible son los habitantes del medio rural y estos han de participar la adopción de decisiones

Porcine circovirus 3 is highly prevalent in serum and tissues and may persistently infect wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa)

Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV‐3) prevalence has been minimally investigated in wild boar; dynamics of infection and viral tissue distribution are currently unknown. In this study, serum samples from 518 wild boar (from years 2004 to 2018) were used to study frequency of infection. Also, serum samples from 19 boar captured and recaptured at least two times for a period of time from 1 month to 1 year were collected to determine PCV‐3 infection dynamics. Finally, to elucidate PCV‐3 DNA organic distribution, sera, different tissues and faeces were obtained from 35 additional wild boar. PCV‐3 DNA was extracted and amplified with a conventional PCR. For the PCV‐3 PCR‐positive sera from the longitudinally sampled and different tissue types, a quantitative PCR was performed. Genome sequence was obtained from a number of PCV‐3 PCR‐positive samples from different years, different time‐points of infection and tissues. Obtained results confirmed the susceptibility of wild boar to the virus, showing high frequency of PCV‐3 detection (221 out of 518, 42.66%) and demonstrating circulation at least since 2004. Compiled data indicate the possibility of long‐term infections, since 5 out of 10 PCV‐3 PCR‐positive boars longitudinally sampled showed positivity in samplings separated for more than 5 months. All tested tissue types' harboured PCV‐3 genome, with the highest percentage of PCR positivity in submandibular lymph node, tonsil, lung, liver, spleen and kidney. The amount of DNA in all tested PCV‐3 PCR‐positive samples was moderate to low. All partial and complete PCV‐3 sequences obtained from wild boar displayed high nucleotide identity, higher than 98%. In conclusion, this study further confirms that wild boar is susceptible to PCV‐3 infection, showing high frequency of detection in this animal species. Furthermore, PCV‐3 can be found in different tissues of wild boar and is apparently able to cause persistent infection.Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria. Grant Number: E‐RTA2017‐00007‐00‐0

Psychopathological Risk Factors Associated with Body Image, Body Dissatisfaction and Weight-Loss Dieting in School-Age Adolescents

Determining the comorbidity patterns leading to suffering behavioural eating disorders (BED) that are identifiable in the early stages of life, can help prevent their becoming chronic, as well as preventing the consequences deriving from the cost and effectiveness of intervention programs. The paper focuses mainly on analysing the association between behavioural/emotional risk factors and body image, body satisfaction and diet in school children, as well as confirming whether there are differences based on sex. Several questionnaires (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and several items of Health Behaviour in School-age Children) including these variables were distributed and completed by the 647 adolescents (16 year olds on average) who took part in the research project. The findings confirmed a differentiated risk profile in adolescent girls in that they had greater prevalence of emotional symptoms as a general psychopathological trait, although this was offset with their prosocial behaviour. Additionally, the findings also allowed us to conclude that the factors that predict vulnerability to BEDs are sex, the presence of emotional symptoms and social and behavioural issues. At the end of this paper, we discuss some implications and consequences that should be taken into account for future work