Análisis de la reactividad del hollín emitido por un motor diésel operando con diferentes biocarburantes

Las estrictas normativas anticontaminantes impuestas a los vehículos diésel (EURO 6) han obligado al uso de complejos sistemas de post-tratamiento para reducir la emisión de NOx y partículas. En relación a estas últimas, el uso de filtros de partículas (DPF) se ha establecido como la única técnica capaz de cumplir con las comentadas normativas, a pesar de los problemas derivados de la regeneración de los mismos. Dicha regeneración provoca tanto un aumento en el consumo del vehículo (y por tanto mayor emisión de CO2) como posibles problemas operacionales derivados de la acumulación excesiva de partículas en el filtro. Unido a lo anterior, la aparición de combustibles alternativos de elevado potencial, como el HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), GTL (Gas-to-Liquid) y las mezclas de diésel con etanol (e-diésel), obligan a conocer las propiedades de las partículas emitidas con el objetivo de optimizar el diseño del DPF y determinar las necesidades térmicas requeridas para una correcta regeneración. En este trabajo se analiza la reactividad (temperaturas características del proceso de oxidación) de las partículas emitidas por un motor diésel operando tanto con combustible diésel como con diferentes biocarburantes (biodiésel convencional, HVO, GTL y e-diésel). Los ensayos para la recolección de partículas se han llevado a cabo sobre un motor comercial instalado en banco de ensayos, y se han evaluado varias modificaciones en el proceso de inyección. El análisis de reactividad de las partículas recogidas se ha efectuado empleando una balanza termogravimétrica (TGA) y un calorímetro diferencial de barrido (DSC), ambas técnicas habituales en bibliografía. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que ambas técnicas de caracterización (TGA y DSC) conducen a conclusiones similares y que los combustibles con oxígeno en su estructura molecular (biodiésel y e-diésel) generan partículas más reactivas que aquellos que no lo poseen. También se ha comprobado que la presencia de oxígeno en forma de alcohol (e-diésel) posibilita la regeneración a menor temperatura que cuando se emplea biodiésel convencional (oxígeno en forma de éster).Se agradece a Nissan la cesión del motor, y a Repsol, Stock del Vallés, Sasol, Neste Oil y Abengoa la de los combustibles. Agradecimientos al Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad por la financiación de este trabajo a través del proyecto CINBIOLT (TRA2010-18876). Se agradece a la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha – JCCM la concesión de una ayuda para la Formación de Personal Investigador [ref. 2014/10620] para la contratación de Jesús Sánchez-Valdepeñas García- Moreno

Concordance between circulating tumor cells and clinical status during follow-up in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) non-small-cell lung cancer patients

Background: The identification of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements is found in approximately 5% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). However, the development of liquid biopsies as a diagnostic tool is less developed in these cases. This study investigates the use of CTCs during treatment, together with an extended follow-up to correlate with clinical evolution. Patients and Methods: A total of 13 patients out of a cohort of 212 patients with lung adenocarcinoma, presented ALK rearrangements (6%) confirmed by tumor biopsy. A total of 60 serial blood samples were collected from these patients who were prospectively enrolled in the study. Results: All patients had a positive CTC count at baseline (mean = 3). The median follow-up was 9 months (range 1-17 months). Three patients underwent surgery and their CTC counts decreased after the procedure but still remained detectable. After radiotherapy, 3 cases showed an average decrease of 5 CTCs. A total of 6 patients were treated with ALK inhibitors and a partial response was observed in 3 of them, who also presented decreased CTC counts. The other 3 patients presented primary resistance, and their CTC counts were higher than those obtained prior to progression. Conclusion: We believe that the use of CTCs for dynamic monitoring of NSCLC with ALK rearrangement and to detect disease persistence or recurrence may be a reliable technique. CTC counts may also have potential use to monitor the efficacy of ALK inhibitors, facilitating detection of resistance to treatmentThis study was supported by Carlos III Institute of Health, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and European Regional Development Fund (grant number: PI16/01818 and PIE14/00064), D. Pérez-Callejo is supported by SEOM-Río-Hortega contract, A Romero is supported by Joan Rodés fellowship (grant number: JR14/00017) and M Sánchez-Beato is supported by Miguel Servet contract (CP11/00018 and CPII16/00024

Next-generation sequencing in bone marrow failure syndromes and isolated cytopenias: experience of the spanish network on bone marrow failure sundromes

© 2021 the Author(s).Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFSs) are a group of congenital rare diseases characterized by bone marrow failure, congenital anomalies, high genetic heterogeneity, and predisposition to cancer. Appropriate treatment and cancer surveillance ideally depend on the identification of the mutated gene. A next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel of genes could be 1 initial genetic screening test to be carried out in a comprehensive study of IBMFSs, allowing molecular detection in affected patients. We designed 2 NGS panels of IBMFS genes: version 1 included 129 genes and version 2 involved 145 genes. The cohort included a total of 204 patients with suspected IBMFSs without molecular diagnosis. Capture-based targeted sequencing covered > 99% of the target regions of 145 genes, with more than 20 independent reads. No differences were seen between the 2 versions of the panel. The NGS tool allowed a total of 91 patients to be diagnosed, with an overall molecular diagnostic rate of 44%. Among the 167 patients with classified IBMFSs, 81 patients (48%) were diagnosed. Unclassified IBMFSs involved a total of 37 patients, of whom 9 patients (24%) were diagnosed. The preexisting diagnosis of 6 clinically classified patients (6%) was amended, implying a change of therapy for some of them. Our NGS IBMFS gene panel assay is a useful tool in the molecular diagnosis of IBMFSs and a reasonable option as the first tier genetic test in these disorders

Next-generation Sequencing in Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes and Isolated Cytopenias : Experience of the Spanish Network on Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes

Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFSs) are a group of congenital rare diseases characterized by bone marrow failure, congenital anomalies, high genetic heterogeneity, and predisposition to cancer. Appropriate treatment and cancer surveillance ideally depend on the identification of the mutated gene. A next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel of genes could be 1 initial genetic screening test to be carried out in a comprehensive study of IBMFSs, allowing molecular detection in affected patients. We designed 2 NGS panels of IBMFS genes: version 1 included 129 genes and version 2 involved 145 genes. The cohort included a total of 204 patients with suspected IBMFSs without molecular diagnosis. Capture-based targeted sequencing covered > 99% of the target regions of 145 genes, with more than 20 independent reads. No differences were seen between the 2 versions of the panel. The NGS tool allowed a total of 91 patients to be diagnosed, with an overall molecular diagnostic rate of 44%. Among the 167 patients with classified IBMFSs, 81 patients (48%) were diagnosed. Unclassified IBMFSs involved a total of 37 patients, of whom 9 patients (24%) were diagnosed. The preexisting diagnosis of 6 clinically classified patients (6%) was amended, implying a change of therapy for some of them. Our NGS IBMFS gene panel assay is a useful tool in the molecular diagnosis of IBMFSs and a reasonable option as the first tier genetic test in these disorders

Time Course of Recovery Following Resistance Exercise with Different Loading Magnitudes and Velocity Loss in the Set

The aim of this study was to compare the time course of recovery following four different resistance exercise protocols in terms of loading magnitude (60% vs. 80% 1RM—one-repetition maximum) and velocity loss in the set (20% vs. 40%). Seventeen males performed four different protocols in full squat exercise, which were as follows: (1) 60% 1RM with a velocity loss of 20% (60-20), (2) 60% 1RM with a velocity loss of 40% (60-40), (3) 80% 1RM with a velocity loss of 20% (80-20), and (4) 80% 1RM with a velocity loss of 40% (80-40). Movement velocity against the load that elicited a 1 m·s−1 velocity at baseline measurements (V1-load), countermovement jump (CMJ) height, and sprint time at 20 m (T20) were assessed at Pre, Post, 6 h-Post, 24 h-Post, and 48 h-Post. Impairments in V1-load were significantly higher for 60-40 than other protocols at Post (p < 0.05). The 60-20 and 80-40 protocols exhibited significant performance impairments for V1-load at 6 h-Post and 24 h-Post, respectively (p < 0.05). CMJ height remained decreased for 60-20 and 60-40 until 24 h-Post (p < 0.001–0.05). Regarding T20, the 80-40 protocol resulted in higher performance than 60-40 at 24 h-Post and the 80-20 protocol induced a greater performance than 60-40 protocol at 48 h-Post (p < 0.05). A higher velocity loss during the set (40%) and a lower relative load (60% 1RM) resulted in greater fatigue and slower rate of recovery than lower velocity loss (20%) and higher relative load (80% 1RM)

Analysis of soot from the use of butanol blends in a Euro 6 diesel engine

4 Tablas,18 Figuras.The use of advanced fuels must increase from 0.5 to 3.6% of the total fuel consumption in internal combustion engines according to the forthcoming European directive. In this regard, alcohols that can be obtained from waste or lignocellulosic materials with advanced production techniques may play an important role in the future. This work focuses on the effect of the use of butanol as a blend component on the properties of soot emitted from compression ignition engines. This knowledge is essential to decide the strategy to carry out a proper regeneration process in a diesel particle filter. The study was performed in a Euro 6 diesel engine. The engine operating condition used to collect particulate matter was selected as a typical steady mode in urban driving. The blends tested were baseline diesel, Bu10D (10% butanol and 90% diesel v/v), Bu20D (20% butanol and 80% diesel v/v), and Bu10B10D (10% butanol, 10% biodiesel, and 80% diesel v/v). The techniques used to characterize the soot were X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, surface area analysis, X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Among the results shown, most of the structural parameters related to the soot carbon layers did not correlate with reactivity, whereas others such as the concentration of oxygenated functional groups, the surface area (both increasing with butanol content), and the average primary particle diameter, which is reduced with the increasing butanol content, showed good consistency with soot reactivity obtained with TGA and DSC.This research was funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement no.640462 (ButaNexT project). Nissan, Repsol, and Green Biologics are gratefully acknowledged for the donation of the vehicle, the diesel fuel, and the n-butanol fuel, respectively. Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha is also acknowledged for financing the fellowship of Jesús Sánchez-Valdepeñas. T.G. would also like to thank the Regional Government of Aragon (DGA) for the support provided under the research groups support programme.Peer reviewe

Specific Adaptations to 0%, 15%, 25%, and 50% Velocity-Loss Thresholds During Bench Press Training

Purpose: To compare the effect of 4 velocity-loss (VL) thresholds—0% (VL0), 15% (VL15), 25% (VL25), and 50% (VL50)—on strength gains, neuromuscular adaptations, and muscle hypertrophy during the bench press (BP) exercise using intensities ranging from 55% to 70% of 1-repetition maximum (1RM). Methods: Fifty resistance-trained men were randomly assigned to 4 groups that followed an 8-week (16 sessions) BP training program at 55% to 70% 1RM but differed in the VL allowed in each set (VL0, VL15, VL25, and VL50). Assessments performed before (pre) and after (post) the training program included (1) cross-sectional area of pectoralis major muscle, (2) maximal isometric test, (3) progressive loading test, and (4) fatigue test in the BP exercise. Results: A significant group × time interaction was found for 1RM (P = .01), where all groups except VL0 showed significant gains in 1RM strength (P < .001). The VL25 group attained the greatest gains in 1RM strength and most load–velocity relationship parameters analyzed. A significant group × time interaction was observed for EMG root mean square in pectoralis major (P = .03) where only the VL25 group showed significant increases (P = .02). VL50 showed decreased EMG root mean square in triceps brachii (P = .006). Only the VL50 group showed significant increases in cross-sectional area (P < .001). Conclusions: These findings indicate that a VL threshold of about 25% with intensities from 55% to 70% 1RM in BP provides an optimal training stimulus to maximize dynamic strength performance and neuromuscular adaptations, while higher VL thresholds promote higher muscle hypertrophy

Effects of different phenylcapsaicin doses on resistance training performance, muscle damage, protein breakdown, metabolic response, ratings of perceived exertion, and recovery: a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial

Background The aim of this study was to explore the effects of a low dose (LD) of 0.625 mg and a high dose (HD) of 2.5 mg of phenylcapsaicin (PC) on full squat (SQ) performance, active muscle (RPE-AM) and overall body (RPE-OB) ratings of perceived exertion, muscle damage, protein breakdown, metabolic response, and 24-h recovery in comparison to placebo (PLA). Method Twenty-five resistance-trained males (age = 21.00 ± 2.15 years, SQ 1-repetition maximum [1RM] normalized = 1.66 ± 0.22 kg) were enrolled in this randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Participants completed 2 weekly sessions per condition (LD, HD, and PLA). The first session consisted of pre-blood testing of lactate, urea, and aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and 2 SQ repetitions with 60% 1RM followed by the resistance exercise protocol, which consisted of SQ sets of 3 × 8 × 70% 1RM monitoring lifting velocity. RPE-OB and RPE-AM were assessed after each set. After the first session, 2 SQ repetitions with 60% 1RM were performed, and blood lactate and urea posttests were collected. After 24 h, AST posttest and 1 × 2 × 60% 1RM were determined as biochemical and mechanical fatigue outcomes. Results HD reported significant differences for RPE-AM, AST, and SQ performance compared to LD and PLA. Post-hoc analyses revealed that HD attained faster velocities in SQ than LD (p = 0.008). HD induced a lower RPE-AM when compared with LD (p = 0.02) and PLA (p = 0.004). PLA resulted in higher AST concentrations at 24-h post than HD (p = 0.02). No significant differences were observed for the rest of the comparisons. Conclusions This study suggests that PC may favorably influence SQ performance, RPE-AM, and muscle damage compared to PLA. However, HD exhibited most of the biochemical and mechanical anti-fatigue effects instead of LD