Eficacia biodescontaminante obtenida mediante la aplicación de Virkon®, Perasafe® e hidróxido sódico sobre superficies de alto riesgo microbiológico

La eficacia de la actividad biodescontaminante de los productos Virkon®, Perasafe® e hidróxido sódico, ha sido evaluada. Los compuestos fueron ensayados en boxes de laboratorios de contención con bioseguridad nivel 3 (NCB3), destinados a alojar animales de experimentación para el estudio de peste porcina africana (PPA), fiebre aftosa (FA) y virus del Nilo Occidental (VNO). Las muestras procedentes de diferentes puntos fueron obtenidas mediante placas RODAC, antes y después de la aplicación del tratamiento desinfectante sobre la superficie ensayada, y los resultados obtenidos fueron expresados como unidades formadoras de colonias por mililitro (ufc/ml). Los resultados obtenidos indican que todos los compuestos ensayados demostraron un alto nivel de eficacia biodescontaminante, pero sin embargo el efecto inducido el compuesto Perasafe® aportó un nivel de eficacia superior al obtenido con los otros compuestos. Así, estos resultados permiten afirmar la idoneidad de Perasafe® para la desinfección de espacios con nivel 3 de bioseguridad.Biodecontaminant effectiveness obtained in surfaces treated with Virkon®, Perasafe®, and sodium hydroxide has been evaluated. The selected compounds were used in boxes from Biosafety Level 3 containment laboratories (NCB3) for animals exposed to classical swine fever (CSF), foot and mooth disease (FMD), and west nile virus (WNV). The samples from selected points were obtained by mean RODAC plates, before and after to the use of selected compounds on surfaces, and the results obtained were expressed as colony-forming units per milliliter (cfu/ml). Results shown that all compounds assayed demonstrated high biodecontaminant efficacy levels; but however Perasafe® was more effective than others compounds assayed. Thus, these results allow affirming that Perasafe® is suitable for the disinfection of surfaces from NCB3 spaces

Storing, reporting and comparing proteomics experiments using the miape generator tool

Comunicaciones a congreso

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in granular multilayers of COPD alloyed nanoparticles

Co-Pd multilayers obtained by Pd capping of pre-deposited Co nanoparticles on amorphous alumina are systematically studied by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, extended x-ray absorption fine structure, SQUID-based magnetometry, and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The films are formed by COPD alloyed nanoparticles self-organized across the layers, with the interspace between the nanoparticles filled by the non-alloyed Pd metal. The nanoparticles show atomic arrangements compatible with short-range chemical order of L10 strucure type. The collective magnetic behavior is that of ferromagnetically coupled particles with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, irrespective of the amount of deposited Pd. For increasing temperature three magnetic phases are identified: hard ferromagnetic with strong coercive field, soft-ferromagnetic as in an amorphous asperomagnet, and superparamagnetic. Increasing the amount of Pd in the system leads to both magnetic hardness increment and higher transition temperatures. Magnetic total moments of 1.77(4) µB and 0.45(4) µB are found at Co and Pd sites, respectively, where the orbital moment of Co, 0.40(2) µB, is high, while that of Pd is negligible. The effective magnetic anisotropy is the largest in the capping metal series (Pd, Pt, W, Cu, Ag, Au), which is attributed to the interparticle interaction between de nanoparticles, in addition to the intraparticle anisotropy arising from hybridization between the 3d-4d bands associated to the Co and Pd chemical arrangement in a L10 structure type

2D magnetic domain wall ratchet: The limit of submicrometric holes

The study of ratchet and crossed-ratchet effects in magnetic domain wall motion through 2D arrays of asymmetric holes is extended in this article to the submicrometric limit in hole size (small size regime). Therefore, the gap has been closed between the 2D ratchets in the range of tens-of-micrometers (large size regime) and the small size regime 1D ratchets based on nanowires. The combination of Kerr microscopy, X-ray PhotoEmission Electron Microscopy and micromagnetic simulations has allowed a full magnetic characterisation of both the domain wall (DW) propagation process over the whole array and the local DW morphology and pinning at the holes. It is found that the 2D small size limit is driven by the interplay between DW elasticity and half vortex propagation along hole edges: as hole size becomes comparable to DW width, flat DW propagation modes are favoured over kinked DW propagation due to an enhancement of DW stiffness, and pinned DW segments adopt asymmetric configurations related with Néel DW chirality. Nevertheless, both ratchet and crossed-ratchet effects have been experimentally found, and we propose a new ratchet/inverted-ratchet effect in the submicrometric range driven by magnetic fields and electrical currents respectively

Objectives, organization and limiting factors of selection programs for indigenous breeds in Spain

Ponencia publicada en ITEA, vol.104En esta ponencia invitada se resumen las principales características de los programas de selección de las razas autóctonas que se están llevando a cabo en España. Se describen para cada una de ellas la población controlada, los caracteres registrados, los objetivos y criterios de selección, la valoración genética de los reproductores, los aspectos organizativos, la utilización de la información por parte de los ganaderos y los factores limitantes del progreso genético. Los más antiguos de estos programa comenzaron al principio de la década de los 80 del pasado siglo, la mayoría lo hicieron al final de dicha década o en la siguiente y unos pocos en la década actual. Debido a esta disparidad de fechas de iniciación y a otros factores estructurales y organizativos, sus niveles de desarrollo y efectividad son muy variables. Entre los factores limitantes de dicho desarrollo y efectividad más frecuentemente citados se encuentran los reducidos tamaños de los núcleos de selección, la reducida implantación de la I.A. y, consecuentemente, el bajo número de sementales en prueba de descendencia y las bajas fiabilidades de las valoraciones genéticas, la escasa utilización por parte algunos de los ganaderos de las valoraciones genéticas de sus animales para elegir la reposición en los rebaños y, en un cierto número de casos, la escasa participación e interés de los mismos.This invited contribution summarizes the most important characteristics of selection programs being applied to Spanish indigenous breeds. Population and traits being recorded, selection objectives and criteria, breeding values estimation, managing aspects, diffusion to and use of genetic information by breeders and constraints to genetic progress are synthetically described for each breed. The oldest programs started at the beginning of the eighties of the last century. Most of them began at the end of the eighties or in the nineties and a few were initiated within present decade. Due to these age differences, and to other structural and managing factors, their developmental and effectiveness levels are very variable. Small number of animals being registered and, therefore, selected, low number of dams inseminated an its consequence on the capacity to sire testing and on the reliability of estimated breeding values, the scanty use that some of the breeders make of the genetic evaluations and the low participation of farmers in the programs, are among the most important factors limiting their development and their effectiveness in terms of genetic progress obtained

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Co–Pt granular multilayers

Magnetization hysteresis curves have been measured on Co granular multilayers, (Al₂O₃/Co/Pt)N (N = 1 and 25), with the applied magnetic field parallel and perpendicular to the substrate plane. In all samples perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was observed. For Co particles with average diameter 3 nm, the coercive field at low temperature is μ₀HC = 0.5 T. HC decreases for increasing temperature and disappears at ≈200 K. A soft magnetic component is also present in all samples up to the freezing temperature Tf = 365 K. Co and Pt XMCD measurements at the L2,3 edges were performed, yielding to the orbital mL and spin mS contributions to the total magnetic moment of the system. These results, in addition to XANES ones, indicate the presence of CoxPt₁₋x alloy. Particles conformed of CoPt alloy, embedded in Pt and coupled magnetically by dipolar or RKKY interaction, may explain the phenomenology observed in these systems

Ice cave reveals environmental forcing of long-term Pyrenean tree line dynamics

1. Tree lines are supposed to react sensitively to the current global change. However, the lack of a long-term (millennial) perspective on tree line shifts in the Pyrenees prevents understanding the underlying ecosystem dynamics and processes. 2. We combine multiproxy palaeoecological analyses (fossil pollen, spores, conifer stomata, plant macrofossils, and ordination) from an outstanding ice cave deposit located in the alpine belt c. 200 m above current tree line (Armeña-A294 Ice Cave, 2, 238 m a.s.l.), to assess for the first time in the Pyrenees, tree line dynamics, and ecosystem resilience to climate changes 5, 700–2, 200 (cal.) years ago. 3. The tree line ecotone was located at the cave altitude from 5, 700 to 4, 650 cal year bp, when vegetation consisted of open Pinus uncinata Ramond ex DC and Betula spp. Woodlands and timberline were very close to the site. Subsequently, tree line slightly raised and timberline reached the ice cave altitude, exceeding its today''s uppermost limit by c. 300–400 m during more than four centuries (4, 650 and 4, 200 cal year bp) at the end of the Holocene Thermal Maximum. After 4, 200 cal year bp, alpine tundra communities dominated by Dryas octopetala L. expanded while tree line descended, most likely as a consequence of the Neoglacial cooling. Prehistoric livestock raising likely reinforced climate cooling impacts at 3, 450–3, 250 cal year bp. Finally, a tree line ecotone developed around the cave that was on its turn replaced by alpine communities during the past 2, 000 years. 4. Synthesis. The long-term Pyrenean tree line ecotone sensitivity suggests that rising temperatures will trigger future P. uncinata and Betula expansions to higher elevations, replacing arctic–alpine plant species. Climate change is causing the rapid melting of the cave ice; rescue investigations would be urgently needed to exploit its unique ecological information

Sex differences in mortality in patients with COPD

Little is known about survival and clinical prognostic factors in females with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the present study was to determine the survival difference between males and females with COPD and to compare the value of the different prognostic factors for the disease. In total, 265 females and 272 males with COPD matched at baseline by BODE (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnoea, exercise capacity) and American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society/Global Initiative of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria were prospectively followed. Demographics, lung function, St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, BODE index, the components of the BODE index and comorbidity were determined. Survival was documented and sex differences were determined using Kaplan–Meier analysis. The strength of the association of the studied variables with mortality was determined using multivariate and receiver operating curves analysis. All-cause (40 versus 18%) and respiratory mortality (24 versus 10%) were higher in males than females. Multivariate analysis identified the BODE index in females and the BODE index and Charlson comorbidity score in males as the best predictors of mortality. The area under the curve of the BODE index was a better predictor of mortality than the forced expiratory volume in one second for both sexes. At similar chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity by BODE index and forced expiratory volume in one second, females have significantly better survival than males. For both sexes the BODE index is a better predictor of survival than the forced expiratory volume in one second