90Sr uptake in the freshwater liverwort Riccia fluitans L.

90Sr is a radioactive isotope of strontium produced by nuclear fission, with a half-life of 28.8 years. This artificial radioisotope is present in natural ecosystems as the results of radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons or releases during nuclear power plants accidents; because of its similarity with Ca*2 is quickly incorporated into the biota. The high mobility of Sr+2 in aquatic compared with terrestrial ecosystems makes the uptake and accumulation of 90Sr+2 higher in aquatic than in terrestrial plants. Here we analyse the uptake rate, kinetics and retention, concentration factor (CF) of 90Sr in the freshwater liverwort Riccia fluiants. 90Sr uptake by R. fluitnas shows a bi-phasic kinetics that fits the Michaelis & Menten model in both micro and milimolar concentration ranges. Apparent semi-saturation constants (KM) were 15 µM and 2 mM for the high and low affinity ranges, respectively. The presence of the K+ channels blocker tetraethyamonium (10 mM TEA) inhibits 90Sr uptake by a 25%. However, the presence of 1 mM La+3 completely inhibits 90Sr uptake in this plant. Maximum incorporation rate occurs at alkaline external pH (8.3), either in plants grown in the presence of K+ or in the absence. Finally, gradual increases of the Ca2+ concentration in the medium progressively inhibits 90Sr uptake. CF values are higher in K+ -deficient plants, CF maximum of 1500, than in K+ -sufficient, (maximum CF of 600) and show similar responses to inhibitors, pH or Ca2+. CF values progressively decrease at increasing external Ca2+ concentrations, higher CF values are found at pH 8.3 but lower values are observed in the presence of TEA, being close to zero in the presence of La+3. The different 90Sr uptake rates in K+-sufficient and K+-deficient plants and TEA sensitivity indicate that one part of 90Sr would be transported through non-selective cation channels. Furthermore, Ca2+ and La3+ sensitivities suggest that 90Sr could be incorporated through Ca2+ channels.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Spanish MINECO: BFU2017-85117-R and BIO2016-81957-RED

Ultrasonic characterization of the pulmonary venous wall: echographic and histological correlation

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation with radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques is used to prevent recurrences of human atrial fibrillation. Visualization of the architecture at the venoatrial junction could be crucial for these ablative techniques. Our study assesses the potential for intravascular ultrasound to provide this information. Methods and Results: We retrieved 32 pulmonary veins from 8 patients dying from noncardiac causes. We obtained cross-sectional intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images with a 3.2F, 30-MHz ultrasound catheter at intervals on each vein. Histological cross-sections at the intervals allowed comparisons with ultrasonic images. The pulmonary venous wall at the venoatrial junction revealed a 3-layered ultrasonic pattern. The inner echogenic layer represents both endothelium and connective tissue of the media (mean maximal thickness, 1.4±0.3 mm). The middle hypoechogenic stratum corresponds to the sleeves of left atrial myocardium surrounding the external aspect of the venous media. This layer was thickest at the venoatrial junction (mean maximal thickness, 2.6±0.8 mm) and decreased toward the lung hilum. The outer echodense layer corresponds to fibro-fatty adventitial tissue (mean maximal thickness, 2.15±0.36 mm). We found a close agreement among the IVUS and histological measurements for maximal luminal diameter (mean difference, -0.12±1.3 mm) and maximal muscular thickness (mean difference, 0.17±0.13 mm) using the Bland and Altman method. Conclusions: Our experimental study demonstrates for the first time that IVUS images of the pulmonary veins can provide information on the distal limits and thickness of the myocardial sleeves and can be a valuable tool to help accurate targeting during ablative procedures

Modelling and Simulation of a Solar Power Plant with a Distributed Collectors System

IF AC Power Systems Modelling and Control Applicatio ns, Brussels, Belgium 1988This paper presents a model and computer simulation results of the distributed collectors field of a solar power plant. This plant is located in Tabernas (Almeria - Spain). The dynamic behaviour of the distributed collectors field is simulated by 100 lumped parameter submodels. Temperatures of the oil and the tube walls are modelled separately. The model also takes into account sun position, field geometry, mirrors reflectivity, solar radiation, and the inlet field oil temperature.Junta de Andalucía 07/CLM/MD

SORPTION OF LINEAR ALKYLBENZENE SULFONATES AND SULFOPHENYLCARBOXYLIC ACIDS ON MARINE SEDIMENTS

The sorption of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) and of their main biodegradation intermediates, sulfophenylcarboxylic acids (SPC) has been characterized in marine sediments. The required equilibrium time for undecylbenzene sulfonate (C11LAS) sorption is 12 h, and 24 h for sulfophenyl undecanoic acid (C11SPC). C11LAS sorption decreases with temperature due to the exothermic character of this process. C11SPC sorption is less complete and less homogeneous than for C11LAS. The alkylic or carboxylic chain length (C10-C13) is correlated positively with the partition coefficient, and the effect of the carboxylic group is more significant than that of the additional methylene group. Sorption of LAS and SPC homologues (C10-C13) are reversible processes. Desorption of SPC homologues is almost complete, but the desorption percentage of LAS homologue decreases with alkylic chain length. Small fractions of sorbed LAS homologues could take longer to be desorbed than the times covered by this study.This research has been supported by the Environmental and Climate Program of the European Commission PRISTINE (Contract ENV4-CT97-494) from Waste Water Cluster and by the Spanish Inter-Ministerial Science and Technology Commission “BALAS” project (CICYT, REN2001-2980-C02-01/HID)

Identification and molecular biodiversity of autochthonous grapevine cultivars in the ‘Comarca del Bierzo’, León, Spain

[EN] A prospecting work at the ‘Comarca del Bierzo’ in Spain has been carried out in order to evaluate the existing biodiversity and detect the neglected and endangered minor grapevine cultivars of the zone. As a result, a total of 79 different accessions were collected and studied using STMS markers for preliminary variety identification, that was confirmed on the base of ampelographic observations. Several synonymies and homonymies were detected. A total of 33 different cultivars were identified. Comparison of the genotypes, allelic frequencies and allelic sizes are presented. Conservation of the endangered cultivars is highly recommended.SIThis work has been financially supported by the Spanish ‘Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia’, under the research projects RF02-004-C

Expression of p53 Protein and Tumor Angiogenesis as Prognostic Factors in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible prognostic significance of p53 protein overexpression and tumor angiogenesis (TA) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, together with other clinicopathological variables. Forty-two NPC patients were evaluated in relation to survival. Nuclear p53 overexpression in neoplastic and endothelial cells was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) with the monoclonal antibody DO-7 and the polyclonal antibody against factor VIII-related antigen, respectively. Thereafter, we evaluated p53 cases in order to determine their nuclear immunoreactivity from negative (-) to positive (+, ++, +++). In addition, microvessels were counted in the most active areas of tumor neovascularization or hotspots using an image computer analyzer (MicroImage®). A Cox multiple regression survival analysis was used to determine the best prognostic indicators in NPC patients. As a result, tumor microvessel count, considered as a continuous variable, was the most important independent prognostic indicator in relation to survival (p = 0.0273), with a relative risk of death of 2,4399 [95% confidence interval = 1.1051 ; 5.3871] associated with the highest microvessel counts. Moreover, the only clinicopathological variable that demonstrated prognostic value in a Cox multiple regression survival analysis was histological type (p = 0.05). In addition, we did not observe any statistical association between intratumoral microvessel density (IMD), clinicopathological variables and p53 protein expression. Key words: p53 protein - Angiogenesis - Morphometry - Prognosis - Nasopharyngeal carcinom

Safety risk assessment for vertical concrete formwork activities in civil engineering construction

BACKGROUND: The construction sector has one of the worst occupational health and safety records in Europe. Of all construction tasks, formwork activities are associated with a high frequency of accidents and injuries. OBJECTIVE: This paper presents an investigation of the activities and related safety risks present in vertical formwork for in-situ concrete construction in the civil engineering sector. METHODS: Using the methodology of staticized groups, twelve activities and ten safety risks were identified and validated by experts. Every safety risk identified in this manner was quantified for each activity using binary methodology according to the frequency and severity scales developed in prior research. A panel of experts was selected according to the relevant literature on staticized groups. RESULTS: The results obtained show that the activities with the highest risk in vertical formwork tasks are: Plumbing and leveling of forms, cutting of material, handling materials with cranes, and climbing or descending ladders. The most dangerous health and safety risks detected were falls from height, cutting and overexertion. CONCLUSIONS: The research findings provide construction practitioners with further evidence of the hazardous activities associated with concrete formwork construction and a starting point for targeting worker health and safety programmes

Integration of CLIP experiments of RNAbinding proteins: a novel approach to predict context-dependent splicing factors from transcriptomic data

Background: Splicing is a genetic process that has important implications in several diseases including cancer. Deciphering the complex rules of splicing regulation is crucial to understand and treat splicing-related diseases. Splicing factors and other RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play a key role in the regulation of splicing. The specific binding sites of an RBP can be measured using CLIP experiments. However, to unveil which RBPs regulate a condition, it is necessary to have a priori hypotheses, as a single CLIP experiment targets a single protein. Results: In this work, we present a novel methodology to predict context-specific splicing factors from transcriptomic data. For this, we systematically collect, integrate and analyze more than 900 CLIP experiments stored in four CLIP databases: POSTAR2, CLIPdb, DoRiNA and StarBase. The analysis of these experiments shows the strong coherence between the binding sites of RBPs of similar families. Augmenting this information with expression changes, we are able to correctly predict the splicing factors that regulate splicing in two gold-standard experiments in which specific splicing factors are knocked-down. Conclusions: The methodology presented in this study allows the prediction of active splicing factors in either cancer or any other condition by only using the information of transcript expression. This approach opens a wide range of possible studies to understand the splicing regulation of different conditions. A tutorial with the source code and databases is available at https://gitlab.com/fcarazo.m/sfprediction

Phase Velocity Method for Guided Wave Measurements in Composite Plates

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer is a well-recognized material for aeronautic applications. Its plane structure has been widely used where anisotropic characteristics should be evaluated with flaw detection. A phase velocity method of ultrasonic guided waves based on a pitch-catch configuration is presented for this purpose. Both shear vertical (SV) and shear horizontal (SH) have been studied. For SV (Lamb waves) the measurements were done at different frequencies in order to evaluate the geometrical dispersion and elastic constants. The results for SV are discussed with an orthotropic elastic model. Finally experiments with lamination flaws are presented

Experiencia en el tratamiento quirúrgico del angiofibroma nasal juvenil en Hospital de Especialidades No 2 Lic. Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social de Ciudad Obregón, Sonora

Objective: To present our experience and assess the recurrence of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma after a surgical treatment (open versus endoscopic approach) in the country’s northwestern Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Materials and methods: An observational, retrospective, analytical study. The medical records of patients diagnosed with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, who were treated at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery of this institution from 2014 to 2017, were reviewed. Results: A total of 19 patients diagnosed with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma underwent a surgical procedure, out of which 14 had an open surgery and 5 an endoscopic one. Recurrence accounted for 50 % and 40 %, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.88). However, other variables were compared, such as the need for admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which was represented by 71 % in the case of the open approach and 20 % for the endoscopic approach, where a significant difference was found (p = 0.04). Conclusions: The study shows no statistically significant advantage of the endoscopic approach versus the open approach, but demonstrates less need for ICU admissions, which would reduce healthcare costs