Izquierdo Brichs, Ferran (ed). "Poder y regímenes en e mundo árabe contemporáneo"

RESEÑA Autor del libro: Izquierdo Brichs, Ferran (Editor) Título: Poder y regímenes en el mundo árabe contemporáneo Lugar, editorial, páginas y año de publicación: Barcelona: CIDOB y Bellaterra. 415 páginas. 2009   Autor de la reseña: Joan Coma i Roura Filiación institucional: Estudiante de 4rto curso de Sociología, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Correo electrónico: [email protected] Extensión: 2.495 palabra

Biosafety steps in the manufacturing process of spray-dried plasma : a review with emphasis on the use of ultraviolet irradiation as a redundant biosafety procedure

Ajuts: Secretaria de Universitats i Recerca del Departament d'Economia i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya 014 DI 066Spray dried plasma (SDP) is a functional protein source obtained from blood of healthy animals, approved by the veterinary authorities from animals declared to be fit for slaughter for human consumption. Blood of these animals is collected at the slaughterhouse, treated with an anticoagulant, chilled and transported to industrial facilities in which blood is centrifuged to separate the red blood cells from the plasma fraction. Plasma is then concentrated, and spray dried at high temperatures (80 °C throughout its substance) to convert it in a powder. Such method preserves the biological activity of its proteins, mainly albumins and globulins. SDP is mainly used in pig feed diets to significantly improve daily gain, feed intake, production efficiency, and to reduce post-weaning lag caused by the appearance of post-weaning diarrhea. Although SDP is considered a safe product and its manufacturing process consists of several biosafety steps, the security of the SDP is often questioned due to its nature as raw blood by-product, especially when emergent or re-emergent pathogens appear. This review provides an evaluation and validation of the different safety steps present in the manufacturing process of SDP, with special focus on a new redundant pathogen inactivation step, the UV-C irradiation, that may be implemented in the manufacturing process of the SDP. Overall results showed that the manufacturing process of SDP is safe and the UV-C radiation was effective in inactivating a wide range of bacteria and viruses spiked and naturally present in commercially collected liquid animal plasma and it can be implemented as a redundant biosafety step in the manufacturing process of the SDP

Estimated quantity of swine virus genomes based on quantitative PCR analysis in spray-dried porcine plasma samples collected from multiple manufacturing plants

This survey was conducted to estimate the incidence and level of potential viral contamination in commercially collected porcine plasma. Samples of spray dried porcine plasma (SDPP) were collected over a 12- month period from eight spray drying facilities in Spain, England, Northern Ireland, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. In this survey, viral load for several porcine pathogens including SVA, TGEV, PRRSV (EU and US strains), PEDV, PCV-2, SIV, SDCoV and PPV were determined by qPCR. Regression of Ct on TCID of serial diluted stock solution of each virus allowed the estimate of potential viral level in SDPP and unprocessed liquid plasma (using typical solids content of commercially collected porcine plasma). In this survey SVA, TGEV or SDCoV were not detected in any of the SDPP samples. Brazil SDPP samples were free of PRRSV and PEDV. Samples of SDPP from North America primarily contained the PRRSV-US strain while the European samples contained the PRRSV-EU strain (except for one sample from each region containing a relatively low estimated level of the alternative PRRSV strain). Estimated viral level tended to be in the range from <1.0 log TCID to <2.5 log TCID. Estimated level of SIV was the exception with a very low incidence rate but higher estimated viral load <3.9 log TCID. In summary, the incidence of potential viral contamination in commercially collected porcine plasma was variable and estimated virus level in samples containing viral DNA/RNA was relatively low compared with that occurring at the peak viremia during an infection for all viruses or when considering the minimal infectious dose for each of them

Cross-National comparison of antiepileptic drug use: Catalonia, Denmark and Norway, 2007-2011

Background: Antiepileptic drug &nbsp;(AED)consumption has increased in recent years mainly from those AEDs marketed since 1990. The purpose is to describe and compare AED consumption in Catalonia, Denmark and Norway. Methods: Population-based descriptive study set in the outpatient healthcare sector. Data were retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Register, Danish Register of Medicinal Product Statistics and DATAMART® in Catalonia, for 2007-2011. We calculated defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day (DID), by age and gender. AEDs were defined according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification (N03A). We reviewed the population covered by the databases, the drug data source and the definition of outpatient healthcare sector to compare the results across the three settings. Results: Total AED use steadily increased over the study period in the three settings. In 2011, consumption was highest in Catalonia (15.20 DID), followed by Denmark (15.06 DID) and Norway (14.24 DID). The “other AEDs” (N03AX) subgroup represented 60% of all AED use. The N03A pattern by gender did not differ across the three settings. Marked differences by age and gender appeared when studying lamotrigine, topiramate, gabapentin, pregabalin and levetiracetam.&nbsp; Differences among the databases were mainly in the definition of outpatient healthcare setting. Conclusions: There was a rapid increase in “other AEDs” in all three settings. Although we did not have information on the indication for the use of AEDs, the drug data source, population coverage of the database and definition of the healthcare setting helped us interpret the results

Influence of spray dried porcine plasma in starter diets associated with a conventional vaccination program on wean to finish performance

Conventional vaccination programs using a single injection of a combined vaccine against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHYO) can promote a strong immune response that reduces feed intake for 24 to 48 h post injection. Often such vaccines are given around the time of weaning during a critical stress period in which feed intake is already compromised. Spray dried porcine plasma (SDPP) is a protein source used in starter diets that increases post-weaning feed intake of pigs. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of a conventional vaccination program along with feeding SDPP in a starter diet on antibody development and wean to finish performance of pigs. Pigs fed the starter diet with SDPP had improved body weight, average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake during the initial 14 d after weaning along with improved feed efficiency during the initial 7 d after weaning and these responses were independent of vaccination. Vaccination at 3 d after weaning had no significant effect on performance during the initial 14 d after weaning. Cumulative mortality was reduced for pigs fed the starter diet with SDPP, while vaccinated pigs had reduced mortality from d 48 to 145. Both vaccinated pigs and those fed the starter diet with SDPP had heavier carcass weight. One pig per pen was challenged with PCV2 at d 63. A higher percentage of vaccinated pigs were sero-positive for antibodies against PCV2 and MHYO at d 35, 63 and 78. Antibody values against PCV2 were higher for vaccinated pigs at d 35 and 63, but lower at d 146. Percentage of positive samples for PCV2 genome in serum was reduced for vaccinated pigs at d 117 and 146. Antibody values against MHYO were increased for vaccinated pigs at d 35, 63 and 78. Vaccination supported a long term antibody response against PCV2 and a moderate but weaker antibody response against MHYO for early finishing pigs challenged with PCV2. Using SDPP in the starter diet along with vaccination supported the best long-term beneficial effects on survival to market and carcass weight

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the surepure turbulator ultraviolet-C irradiation equipment on inactivation of different enveloped and non-enveloped viruses inoculated in commercially collected liquid animal plasma

This study was partly supported by Secretaria de Universitats i Recerca del Departament d'Economia i Coneixement of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Author who received the award:EB. Grant number: 2014 DI 066. Full name of funder: Secretaria de Universitats i Recerca del Departament d'Economia i Coneixement of the Generalitat de Catalunya. URL funder website: universitatsirecerca.gencat.cat/ca/inici. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. APC EUROPE provided support in the form of salaries for authors EB, CR, JR and JPolo retrospectively, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. We want to thank the Secretaria de Universitats i Recerca del Departament d'Economia i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya (2014 DI 066) for its colaboration.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the SurePure Turbulator ultraviolet-C (UV-C, 254 nm wavelength) irradiation equipment on inactivation of different enveloped and non-enveloped viruses in commercially collected liquid animal plasma. Specifically, Pseudorabies virus (PRV), Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), Classical swine fever virus (CSFV), Swine influenza virus (SIV) as enveloped viruses and Porcine parvovirus (PPV), Swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV), Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) and Senecavirus A (SVA) as non-enveloped viruses, were inoculated in bovine or porcine plasma and subjected to different UV-C irradiation doses (0, 750, 1500, 3000, 6000 and 9000 J/L) using an UV-C device developed for opaque liquid working under turbulent flow. The enveloped viruses tested were inactivated at < 3000 J/L of UV-C, being the dose needed to inactivate 4 log TCID (4D) of 1612 J/L for PRV,1004 J/L for PRRSV, 1953 J/L for PEDV, 1639 J/L for SIV, 1641 J/L for CSFV and 1943 J/L for BVDV. The non-enveloped viruses tended to have higher 4D values: 2161 J/L for PPV, 3223 J/L for SVA and 3708 J/L for SVDV. Because the initial viral concentration was <4.0 Log for PCV-2, it was not possible to calculate the 4D value for this virus. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that the SurePure Turbulator UV-C treatment system is capable of inactivating significant levels of swine viruses inoculated in commercially collected porcine or bovine plasma. It was concluded that irradiation with UV-C can provide an additional redundant biosafety feature in the manufacturing process of spray-dried animal plasma

3D characterization of a Boston Ivy double-skin green building facade using a LiDAR system

On the way to more sustainable and resilient urban environments, the incorporation of urban green infrastructure (UGI) systems, such as green roofs and vertical greening systems, must be encouraged. Unfortunately, given their variable nature, these nature-based systems are difficult to geometrically characterize, and therefore there is a lack of 3D objects that adequately reflect their geometry and analytical properties to be used in design processes based on Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies. This fact can be a disadvantage, during the building's design phase, of UGIs over traditional grey solutions. Areas of knowledge such as precision agriculture, have developed technologies and methodologies that characterize the geometry of vegetation using point cloud capture. The main aim of this research was to create the 3D characterization of an experimental double-skin green facade, using LiDAR technologies. From the results it could be confirmed that the methodology used was precise and robust, enabling the 3D reconstruction of the green facade's outer envelope. Detailed results were that foliage volume differences in height were linked to plant growth, whereas differences in the horizontal distribution of greenery were related to the influence of the local microclimate and specific plant diseases on the south orientation. From this research, along with complementary previous research, it could be concluded that, generally speaking, with vegetation volumes of 0.2 m3/m2, using Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus Tricuspidata) under Mediterranean climate, reductions in external building surface temperatures of around 13 °C can be obtained and used as analytic parameter in a future 3D-BIM-object.The authors at GREiA research group would like to thank the Catalan Government for the quality accreditation given to their research group (2017 SGR 1537). GREiA is a certified agent TECNIO in the category of technology developers from the Government of Catalonia. The authors at GRAP research group would like to thank the Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Empresa i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya (grant 2017 SGR 646), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (project AGL2013-464 48297-C2-2-R) and the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (project RTI2018-094222-B-I00). This work is partially supported by ICREA under the ICREA Academia programme. The authors also wish to thank Dr. Jaume Arnó for his contribution in the statistical analysis of the results

Combined effects of spray-drying conditions and postdrying storage time and temperature on Salmonella choleraesuis and Salmonella typhimurium survival when inoculated in liquid porcine plasma

Altres ajuts: GC/2014DI066The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the spray-drying process on the inactivation of Salmonella choleraesuis and Salmonella typhimurium spiked in liquid porcine plasma and to test the additive effect of immediate postdrying storage. Commercial spray-dried porcine plasma was sterilized by irradiation and then reconstituted (1:9) with sterile water. Aliquots of reconstituted plasma were inoculated with either S. choleraesuis or S. typhimurium, subjected to spray-drying at an inlet temperature of 200°C and an outlet temperature of either 71 or 80°C, and each spray-drying temperature combinations were subjected to either 0, 30 or 60 s of residence time () as a simulation of residence time typical of commercial dryers. Spray-dried samples were stored at either 4·0 ± 3·0°C or 23·0 ± 0·3°C for 15 days. Bacterial counts of each Salmonella spp., were completed for all samples. For both Salmonella spp., spray-drying at both outlet temperatures reduced bacterial counts about 3 logs at 0 s, while there was about a 5·5 log reduction at 60 s. Storage of all dried samples at either 4·0 ± 3·0°C or 23·0 ± 0·3°C for 15 days eliminate all detectable bacterial counts of both Salmonella spp. Safety of raw materials from animal origin like spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) may be a concern for the swine industry. Spray-drying process and postdrying storage are good inactivation steps to reduce the bacterial load of Salmonella choleraesuis and Salmonella typhimurium. For both Salmonella spp., spray-drying at 71°C or 80°C outlet temperatures reduced bacterial counts about 3 log at residence time (RT) 0 s, while there was about a 5.5 log reduction at RT 60 s. Storage of all dried samples at either 4.0 ± 3.0°C or 23.0 ± 0.3°C for 15 days was effective for eliminating detectable bacterial counts of both Salmonella spp. Significance and Impact of the Study: Safety of raw materials from animal origin like spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) may be a concern for the swine industry. Spray-drying process and postdrying storage are good inactivation steps to reduce the bacterial load of Salmonella choleraesuis and Salmonella typhimurium. For both Salmonella spp., spray-drying at 71°C or 80°C outlet temperatures reduced bacterial counts about 3 log at residence time (RT) 0 s, while there was about a 5.5 log reduction at RT 60 s. Storage of all dried samples at either 4.0 ± 3.0°C or 23.0 ± 0.3°C for 15 days was effective for eliminating detectable bacterial counts of both Salmonella spp