Modeling discards in Trawling Mediterranean Northern Alboran Sea Fishery

Target and Bycatch species metrics estimated from fishery-dependent data were explored to assess their use in governance of habitat conservation in respect to fisheries. Fishing data collected by onboard observers in otter-trawl boats between 2011 and 2012 at monthly sampling frequency in the Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean) were used to build maps of sensitivity to fishing stress. Maps were drawn by means kriging interpolation techniques of biomass and abundance (Catch Per Unit of Effort, CPUE) in kilogram and number per fishing hour of blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), and red mullets (Mullus barbatus and Mullus surmuletus) target species, seabreams (Pagellus acarne, Pagellus bogaraveo, and Pagellus erythrinus), and mackerels (Trachurus mediterraneus, Trachurus trachurus, and Trachurus picturatus) bycatch species and Bogue (Boops boops) bycatch discarded species. Modelling discards by means Generalised Additive Models (GAMs) use environmental (sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a from satellite data and NAO climatic index); spatial (latitude, longitude, depth and port) and temporal (season, haul duration, moon phase), as well as technical (boat length and power) explanatory variables. The main causes of discards, for both target and bycatch species, are associated to the seasonality of the recruitment and the changes on the spatial distribution of habitat preferences along their ontogeny. Environmental variables did not reveal significant effects, showing that operational oceanography standard products must be not enough to assess discards, and therefore products providing information on specific ecological processes to discards must be designed with this purpose. In Bycatch species, such as sea breams, mackerels and bogue, discards were also highly dependent of the port and boat (fleet/boat strategies, power, etc, and market preferences). The higher discards corresponded to these bycatch pelagic or bentho-pelagic species. Keywords: Discards, Otter-trawl fisheries, fishery conservation, operational oceanography, spatial modelin

Production of drug-releasing biodegradable microporous scaffold impregnated with gemcitabine using a CO2 foaming process

The use of supercritical fluids technology, in particular the use of CO2, is an important advantage over other production techniques of controlled release systems. The impregnation and foaming process can be carried out in a single step. By adjusting the conditions of pressure, temperature, depressurization time or type of polymer used, microcellular scaffolds can be obtained with desired characteristics and adapted to the patient's requirements. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the use of polymeric solutions allows carrying out impregnation process at mild conditions. In this work, Gemcitabine impregnation in PLGA foams from polymeric solutions of ethyl lactate has been studied. The effect of polymer lactide to glycolide ratio (50:50 or 75:25), pressure (120 or 200 bar) and temperature (25 or 40 °C) were studied for three initial drug ratios (175, 105 or 35 mg GEM/g PLGA). Cell size of the foams varied between 35 μm and 158 μm, achieving an impregnation efficiency higher than 90 %. Finally, a study of the release profile of Gemcitabine in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) was investigated and a mathematical modelling was carried out. In this model it was considered that the release process was divided into three different steps controlled by the external diffusion in the first place, by the internal transfer of mass in the second and then by the degradation of the polymer.El uso de la tecnología de fluidos supercríticos, en particular el uso de CO2, es una importante ventaja frente a otras técnicas de producción de sistemas de liberación controlada. El proceso de impregnación y espumado se puede realizar en un solo paso. Ajustando las condiciones de presión, temperatura, tiempo de despresurización o tipo de polímero utilizado, se pueden obtener andamios microcelulares con las características deseadas y adaptados a los requerimientos del paciente. Además, se ha demostrado que el uso de soluciones poliméricas permite llevar a cabo el proceso de impregnación en condiciones suaves. En este trabajo se ha estudiado la impregnación de gemcitabina en espumas de PLGA a partir de soluciones poliméricas de lactato de etilo. El efecto de la relación entre la lactida y el glicólido del polímero (50:50 o 75:25), Se estudiaron la presión (120 o 200 bar) y la temperatura (25 o 40 °C) para tres proporciones iniciales de fármaco (175, 105 o 35 mg GEM/g PLGA). El tamaño de celda de las espumas varió entre 35 μm y 158 μm, logrando una eficiencia de impregnación superior al 90 %. Finalmente, se investigó un estudio del perfil de liberación de gemcitabina en solución salina tamponada con fosfato (PBS) y se llevó a cabo un modelo matemático. En este modelo se consideró que el proceso de liberación se dividía en tres pasos diferentes controlados por la difusión externa en primer lugar, por la transferencia interna de masa en el segundo y luego por la degradación del polímero. Se investigó un estudio del perfil de liberación de gemcitabina en solución salina tamponada con fosfato (PBS) y se llevó a cabo un modelo matemático. En este modelo se consideró que el proceso de liberación se dividía en tres pasos diferentes controlados por la difusión externa en primer lugar, por la transferencia interna de masa en el segundo y luego por la degradación del polímero. Se investigó un estudio del perfil de liberación de gemcitabina en solución salina tamponada con fosfato (PBS) y se llevó a cabo un modelo matemático. En este modelo se consideró que el proceso de liberación se dividía en tres pasos diferentes controlados por la difusión externa en primer lugar, por la transferencia interna de masa en el segundo y luego por la degradación del polímero

Dependence of Induced Biological Damage on the Energy Distribution and Intensity of Clinical Intra-Operative Radiotherapy Electron Beams

The survival fraction of epithelial HaCaT cells was analysed to assess the biological damage caused by intraoperative radiotherapy electron beams with varying energy spectra and intensities. These conditions were achieved by irradiating the cells at different depths in water using nominal 6 MeV electron beams while consistently delivering a dose of 5 Gy to the cell layer. Furthermore, a Monte Carlo simulation of the entire irradiation procedure was performed to evaluate the molecular damage in terms of molecular dissociations induced by the radiation. A significant agreement was found between the molecular damage predicted by the simulation and the damage derived from the analysis of the survival fraction. In both cases, a linear relationship was evident, indicating a clear tendency for increased damage as the averaged incident electron energy and intensity decreased for a constant absorbed dose, lowering the dose rate. This trend suggests that the radiation may have a more pronounced impact on surrounding healthy tissues than initially anticipated. However, it is crucial to conduct additional experiments with different target geometries to confirm this tendency and quantify the extent of this effect

Production of biodegradable PLGA foams processed with high pressure CO2

Microcellular scaffolds were prepared using high pressure fluids. Solutions of biodegradable material Poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) in a green solvent such as ethyl lactate was used as the scaffold matrix. To carry out polymer foaming from polymer solutions allows the possibility of reducing the working temperature. The effect of the ratio lactide to glycolide of the polymer, the working pressure, the initial concentration of the polymer in the solvent and the depressurization time were the variables studied at a temperature of 25 °C. The morphology of the foams obtained was characterized based on the cell diameter and its standard deviation, indicator of the homogeneity of the scaffolds obtained, as well as the density of cells. In addition, a study was performed on how the glass transition temperature (Tg) of a polymer is modified by the plasticizing effect of CO2 pressure.Los andamios microcelulares se prepararon utilizando fluidos a alta presión. Como matriz de andamiaje se utilizaron soluciones de material biodegradable ácido poli (láctico-co-glicólico) (PLGA) en un disolvente verde como el lactato de etilo. Llevar a cabo la espumación de polímeros a partir de soluciones de polímeros permite la posibilidad de reducir la temperatura de trabajo. El efecto de la relación láctido a glicólido del polímero, la presión de trabajo, la concentración inicial del polímero en el solvente y el tiempo de despresurización fueron las variables estudiadas a una temperatura de 25 °C. La morfología de las espumas obtenidas se caracterizó en base al diámetro de celda y su desviación estándar, indicador de la homogeneidad de los andamios obtenidos, así como la densidad de celdas. Además,2 presiones

Measurement, correlation and modelling of high-pressure phase equilibrium of PLGA solutions in CO2

Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a copolymer used as drug carrier in controlled release systems as microparticles or scaffolds. Foamed structures are industrially obtained by injecting gas at temperatures above the melting point of the polymer that may promote PLGA degradation. High temperatures are avoidable in this foaming process if a polymer dissolution is used. Ethyl acetate and ethyl lactate are suitable solvents for the PLGA since the polymer is easily solubilised, is environmentally friendly and highly recommendable for medical purposes. CO2 is proposed as antisolvent because is environmentally benign, non-flammable and non-toxic. The knowledge of the solubility of these solvents in CO2 is essential to find the most appropriate working conditions for the foaming process. In this work, the solubility of ethyl acetate and ethyl lactate in CO2 in the presence of different initial concentrations of PLGA has been studied at 298.15 K and at pressures up to 150 bar using a high-pressure variable volume view cell.El poli (ácido láctico-co-glicólico) (PLGA) es un copolímero que se utiliza como transportador de fármacos en sistemas de liberación controlada como micropartículas o andamios. Las estructuras espumadas se obtienen industrialmente mediante la inyección de gas a temperaturas superiores al punto de fusión del polímero que pueden promover la degradación del PLGA. Las altas temperaturas se pueden evitar en este proceso de formación de espuma si se utiliza una disolución de polímero. El acetato de etilo y el lactato de etilo son disolventes adecuados para el PLGA ya que el polímero se solubiliza fácilmente, es respetuoso con el medio ambiente y muy recomendable para fines médicos. El CO2 se propone como antidisolvente porque es ambientalmente benigno, no inflamable y no tóxico. El conocimiento de la solubilidad de estos disolventes en CO 2es fundamental encontrar las condiciones de trabajo más adecuadas para el proceso de espumado. En este trabajo se ha estudiado la solubilidad del acetato de etilo y lactato de etilo en CO 2 en presencia de diferentes concentraciones iniciales de PLGA a 298,15 K y presiones de hasta 150 bar utilizando una celda de visión de volumen variable de alta presión

Nanopatterns of surface-bound ephrinB1 produce multivalent ligand-receptor interactions that tune EphB2 receptor clustering

Here we present a nanostructured surface able to produce multivalent interactions between surface-bound ephrinB1 ligands and membrane EphB2 receptors. We created ephrinB1 nanopatterns of regular size (<30 nm in diameter) by using self-assembled diblock copolymers. Next, we used a statistically enhanced version of the Number and Brightness technique, which can discriminate with molecular sensitivity the oligomeric states of diffusive species to quantitatively track the EphB2 receptor oligomerization process in real time. The results indicate that a stimulation using randomly distributed surface-bound ligands was not sufficient to fully induce receptor aggregation. Conversely, when nanopatterned onto our substrates, the ligands effectively induced a strong receptor oligomerization. This presentation of ligands improved the clustering efficiency of conventional ligand delivery systems, as it required a 9-fold lower ligand surface coverage and included faster receptor clustering kinetics compared to traditional cross-linked ligands. In conclusion, nanostructured diblock copolymers constitute a novel strategy to induce multivalent ligand-receptor interactions leading to a stronger, faster, and more efficient receptor activation, thus providing a useful strategy to precisely tune and potentiate receptor responses. The efficiency of these materials at inducing cell responses can benefit applications such as the design of new bioactive materials and drug-delivery systems

Physical activity and amyloid beta in middle-aged and older adults:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: One of the pathological hallmarks distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other dementias is the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ). Higher physical activity is associated with decreased dementia risk, and one potential path could be through Aβ levels modulation. We aimed to explore the relationship between physical activity and Aβ in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SPORTDiscus was performed from inception to the 28th of April 2022. Studies were eligible if they included physical activity and Aβ data in adults aged 45 years or older. Multi-level meta-analyses of intervention and observational studies were performed to examine the role of physical activity in modulating Aβ levels. Results: In total, 37 articles were included (8 randomized controlled trials, 3 non-randomized controlled trials, 4 prospective longitudinal studies, and 22 cross-sectional studies). The overall effect size of physical activity interventions on changes in blood Aβ was medium (pooled standardized mean difference = –0.69, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): –1.41 to 0.03; I2 = 74.6%). However, these results were not statistically significant, and there were not enough studies to explore the effects of physical activity on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain Aβ. Data from observational studies were examined based on measurements of Aβ in the brain using positron emission tomography scans, CSF, and blood. Higher physical activity was positively associated with Aβ only in the CSF (Estimate r = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.05–0.18; I2 = 38%). Conclusion: Physical activity might moderately reduce blood Aβ in middle-aged and older adults. However, results were only near statistical significance and might be interpreted with caution given the methodological limitations observed in some of the included studies. In observational studies, higher levels of physical activity were positively associated with Aβ only in CSF. Therefore, further research is needed to understand the modulating role of physical activity in the brain, CSF, and blood Aβ, as well as its implication for cognitive health.</p

Functional insight into the reciprocal paracrine crosstalk of stromal fibroblasts in the head and neck cancer microenvironment

Trabajo presentado en el 18th ASEICA International Congress, celebrado en Santiago de Compostela (España) del 16 al 18 de noviembre de 2022