Epidemiologia del parasitismo intestinal infantil en el valle del Guadalquivir, España

BACKGROUND : Intestinal parasitisms represents a public health problem that should be periodically assessed in each region. In the present paper, a study about prevalence of intestinal parasites, has been carried out in children from the natural region of the Guadalquivir Valley. METHODS: During the period 1994-1996, 1.917 children without symptoms, aging between 6 and 10, were studied by means of coprologycal analysis and Graham method, all of them living in 20 villages in the Guadalquivir valley. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitisms have been of 27,12%. The reported parasites and their prevalence are as follows: Enterobius vermicularis (20,44%), Giardia lamblia (5,05%), Entamoeba coli (2,45%), Endolimax nana (1,61%), Entamoeba histolytica (0,31%), Entamoeba hartmanni (0,05%), Iodamoeba bütschlii (0,05%). CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites is similar to that found in other spanish region, if only a little bit more favourable probably due to the long lasting drought and the improvements in health resourses, no geohelmints have been detected unlike other protozoosis, giardiasis mantains a relatively high prevalence.FUNDAMENTO: Las parasitosis intestinales en los niños constituyen un problema de salud pública que debe ser valorado periódicamente en cada región. En este trabajo se aborda, por primera vez en la región natural del Valle del Guadalquivir, un estudio amplio sobre la prevalencia del parasitismo intestinal en la población infantil de la zona. MÉTODOS: Durante el período 1994-1996, mediante análisis coprológico y método de Graham, se ha estudiado a 1.917 niños y niñas asintomáticos, con edades comprendidas entre seis y diez años, residentes en veinte localidades del Valle del Guadalquivir. RESULTADOS: El índice global de parasitación ha sido del 27,12 %. Las especies parásitas detectadas, así como sus prevalencias fueron: Enterobius vermicularis (20,44%), Giardia lamblia (5,05%), Entamoeba coli (2,45%), Endolimax nana (1,61%), Entamoeba histolytica (0,31%), Entamoeba hartmanni (0,05%), Iodamoeba bütschlii (0,05%). CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia global encontrada es similar a la de otras regiones españolas, aunque quizás pueda considerarse algo más favorable. No se detectan geohelmintos, debido posiblemente a la mejora de la infraestructura higiénico-sanitaria y a los efectos de la prolongada sequía en la zona. La giardiasis, a diferencia de las restantes protozoosis, mantiene una prevalencia relativamente alta

Carcass bone content in wild rabbits hunted in Andalusia (Spain)

Para caracterizar el contenido de hueso de la canal del conejo de monte ( Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus ) procedente de la ca- za, se analizaron 53 canales encorambradas adquiridas en mercados de abastos de Sevilla (España) con un peso medio de 767,8 g. Las canales encorambradas se desollaron y prepararon para obtener las canales de referencia, que tuvieron un peso medio de 551,2 g, Se realizó el despiece tecnológico propuesto por la World Rabbit Science Association, que rindió un 14,3% de patas delanteras, un 38,0% de patas traseras, un 32,1% de pieza lomo y un 11,4% de caja torácica. El contenido de hueso fue del 16,3% en las patas delanteras, 13,4% en las patas traseras, 9,4% en la pieza lomo, 22,5% en la caja torácica y 13,0% en el conjunto de la canal de referencia. El contenido de hueso de la pata trasera fue un predictor fiable del contenido de hueso de la canal de referencia, pues se obtuvo una R 2 =0,737 (p<0,001). No se encontró dimorfismo sexual en el contenido de hue- so ni correlación entre el peso de la canal y el contenido de hueso de la canal del conejo de monte. En comparación con los valores publicados para razas y líneas de aptitud cárnica a la edad de sacrificio habitual en España, el contenido de hueso de la canal del conejo de monte es moderado.With the aim to characterise the carcass bone content of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) obtained from hunting, 53 specimens (unskinned, eviscerated rabbits) bought in markets of Seville (Spain) were analysed. The specimens weighed 767.8 g. T he reference carcass, obtained by flaying the specimens, weighed 551.2 g, and after carrying out the technological division accord ing the method proposed by the World Rabbit Science Association, 14.3% of fore leg, 38.0% of hind part, 32.1% of loin, and 11.4% of tho ra- cic cage were obtained. Bone percentage was 16.3% in the fore leg, 13.4% in the hind part, 9.4% in the loin, 22.5% in the thora cic ca- ge, and 13.0 in the reference carcass. Bone percentage of the hind leg gave a reliable prediction of the bone percentage of the carcass, because R 2 =0,737 (p<0,001) was achieved. No sexual dimorphism was found for the bone content, nor correlation between carcass weight and bone content of the carcass of the wild rabbit. When compared to figures published for meat breeds and lines at the usual age of slaughtering in Spain, the bone content of the wild rabbit carcass is moderat

Análisis del fenómeno de la expansividad de materiales en túneles construidos en anhidrita. Consecuencias y experiencias

Los graves problemas geotécnicos sucedidos en numerosos túneles europeos excavados en materiales que generan problemas de estabilidad, como consecuencia de su expansividad, los convierten en canalizadores de aguas. Estos materiales son fácilmente lavables al disolverse los sulfatos con el agua, provocando una decompresión y remoldeo del macizo, agravando y trasladando el problema más allá del inmediato entorno del túnel. En el caso particular de presencia de capas de anhidrita entre argilitas, además de la adopción de medidas de sostenimiento y revestimiento especiales, el sostenimiento primario y el revestimiento posterior deben ser excepcionalmente resistentes a las presiones que pueden llegar a transmitir el terreno a medio y largo plazo. En este artículo se describen los aspectos más relevantes de comportamiento hidromecánico de los suelos y las rocas sulfatadas y se presentan algunas experiencias, concluyendo sobre aspectos asociados al fenómeno de hinchamiento en túneles y su posible tratamiento

Prototyping of petalets for the Phase-II Upgrade of the silicon strip tracking detector of the ATLAS Experiment

In the high luminosity era of the Large Hadron Collider, the HL-LHC, the instantaneous luminosity is expected to reach unprecedented values, resulting in about 200 proton-proton interactions in a typical bunch crossing. To cope with the resultant increase in occupancy, bandwidth and radiation damage, the ATLAS Inner Detector will be replaced by an all-silicon system, the Inner Tracker (ITk). The ITk consists of a silicon pixel and a strip detector and exploits the concept of modularity. Prototyping and testing of various strip detector components has been carried out. This paper presents the developments and results obtained with reduced-size structures equivalent to those foreseen to be used in the forward region of the silicon strip detector. Referred to as petalets, these structures are built around a composite sandwich with embedded cooling pipes and electrical tapes for routing the signals and power. Detector modules built using electronic flex boards and silicon strip sensors are glued on both the front and back side surfaces of the carbon structure. Details are given on the assembly, testing and evaluation of several petalets. Measurement results of both mechanical and electrical quantities are shown. Moreover, an outlook is given for improved prototyping plans for large structures.Comment: 22 pages for submission for Journal of Instrumentatio

Miocene evolution of the External Rif Zone (Morocco): comparison with similar and lateral southern Mediterranean Tethyan margins

The Miocene evolution of the External Rif Zone (NW Africa Plate) was determined through the multidisciplinary analysis of fourteen successions. The updated stratigraphic framework shows how Miocene sediments rest on the Cretaceous–Paleogene terrains through unconformity surfaces, whereas it rests with sedimentary continuity in two sectors. After recognition of lithofacies and three unconformities located near the Oligocene–Aquitanian, Aquitanian–Burdigalian and Serravallian–Tortonian boundaries, the Miocene sedimentary record was divided into three stratigraphic intervals representing deep to shallow marine deposits as Aquitanian–Burdigalian, Langhian and Upper Serravallian–Missinian. The two oldest unconformites are restricted to the central sector, while the upper one is generalized and probably related to the nappe tectonics registered in all sectors of the External Rif. Data from analysis of tectofacies, petrology, mineralogy, meaning and implications of unconformities, and subsidence indicate that: (i) mass flow deposits (turbidites, slumps, olistostromes) are common in all successions but more frequent during the Lower Miocene; (ii) petrology of the detrital components of the arenites indicates recycled orogen-derived sediments, with quartz coming from erosion of metamorphic rocks of the Atlas orogen and/or the African craton; (iii) mineralogy of mudstones suggests a complex erosional evolution of local emerged areas derived from a mixture of contributions coming from the erosion of Upper Jurassic to Paleogene suites, and especially from kaolinite-rich Albian–Cenomanian to Paleogene successions with absence of a clear unroofing. The conjunction of all these clues reinforce the idea of a synsedimentary tectonics affecting the margin/basin system during the Miocene. A thickness analysis of the studied sedimentary successions allows proposing the evolution of the orogenic front and main depozones (foredeep, bulges, wedge-top and intramontane sub-basins) integrated in a complex foreland system migrating from north to south with the Atlas-Mesetas area acting as foreland during MIocene. The orogenic front moved from the Internal Intrarif to Mesorif and later to Internal Prerif. The main wedge-top basin also migrated from the Internal Intrarif to External Intrarif. The foredeep migrated from the Mesorif to the Internal Prerif, while the main forebulge was located in the External Prerif and a asecondary bulge developed in the External Intrarif. Intramontane basins developed behind the orogenic front in relative extensional conditions moving from the Internal Extrarif to External Intrarif. The reconstructed Miocene evolution was inserted into a 2D paleogeographic-geodynamic evolutionary model using Gplates software, and then compared to those reported in other external margins of the western Tethys (Betic Chain, Tunisian Tell, Sicilian Maghrebids and Apennines), revealing important similarities and local differences.Research supported by PID2020-114381GB-I00 Research Project (Spanish Ministry of Education and Science), EU HORIZON project CiROCCO under Grant Agreement No 101086497, Research Groups and projects of the Generalitat Valenciana from Alicante University (CTMA-IGA), and Research Group RNM-188 of the Junta de Andalucía from EEZA–CSIC

Dense strontium hexaferrite-based permanent magnet composites assisted by cold sintering process

[EN] The use of rare-earth-based permanent magnets is one of the critical points for the development of the current technology. On the one hand, industry of the rare-earths is highly polluting due to the negative environmental impact of their extraction and, on the other hand, the sector is potentially dependent on China. Therefore, investigation is required both in the development of rare-earth-free permanent magnets and in sintering processes that enable their greener fabrication with attractive magnetic properties at a more competitive price. This work presents the use of a cold sintering process (CSP) followed by a post-annealing at 1100 °C as a new way to sinter composite permanent magnets based on strontium ferrite (SFO). Composites that incorporate a percentage ≤ 10% of an additional magnetic phase have been prepared and the morphological, structural and magnetic properties have been evaluated after each stage of the process. CSP induces a phase transformation of SFO in the composites, which is partially recovered by the post-thermal treatment improving the relative density to 92% and the magnetic response of the final magnets with a coercivity of up to 3.0 kOe. Control of the magnetic properties is possible through the composition and the grain size in the sintered magnets. These attractive results show the potential of the sintering approach as an alternative to develop modern rare-earth-free composite permanent magnets.This work has been supported by the Ministerio Español de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN), Spain, through the projects MAT2017-86540-C4-1-R and RTI2018-095303-A-C52, and by the European Commission through Project H2020 No. 720853 (Amphibian). C.G.-M. and A.Q. acknowledge financial support from MICINN through the “Juan de la Cierva” program (FJC2018-035532-I) and the “Ramón y Cajal” contract (RYC-2017-23320). S. R.-G. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation, Germany. A.S. acknowledges the financialsupport from the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain, for an “Atracción de Talento Investigador” contract (No. 2017-t2/IND5395)

Reversible temperature-driven domain transition in bistable Fe magnetic nanostrips grown on Ru(0001)

© 2015 American Physical Society. High-aspect-ratio Fe nanostrips are studied with real-space micromagnetic imaging methods. We experimentally demonstrate reversible switching from essentially homogeneous single-domain states at room temperature to multidomain diamond states at elevated temperature. This temperature-dependent magnetic bistability can be understood and modeled by accounting for the temperature dependence of the magnetocrystalline, shape, and magnetoelastic anisotropies. These results show how the transition temperature between two magnetic domain states can be tailored by controlling epitaxial strain and particle geometry, which may generate new opportunities for magnetic memory and logic device design.Peer Reviewe

Sustainable Materials and Biorefinery Chemicals from Agriwastes

This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.-- et al.Countries with economies based on agriculture generate vast amounts of low or null value wastes which may even represent an environmental hazard. In our group, agricultural industrial wastes have been converted into value added liquid substances and materials with several aims: decreasing pollution, giving added value to wastes and working in a sustainable manner in which the wastes of an industry can be used as the raw materials of the same or others, as the “cradle to cradle” philosophy states [1]. Sub-products from the agricultural food industry are being employed as renewable low cost raw materials in the preparation of Ecomaterials, designed for use in a number of industrial processes of great interest. Given their origin, these materials may compete with conventional ones since with this process a sustainable cycle is closed, in which the residues of one industry are used as raw materials in the same or other industries [2]. With regards to the composition of the residues produced from agriculture, the pH of soil is of great importance, since plants can only absorb the minerals that are dissolved in water and pH is mandatory for the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and the main cause of many agronomic questions related to nutrient assimilation [3-5]. Variations of pH modify the solubility of most elements necessary for the development of crops and also influence the microbian activity of soil, which will affect the transformation of elements that are liberated to the soil and can be assimilated to form crops or not [3]. For example at pH lower than 6 or higher than 8 bacterian activities are lowered, the oxidation of nitrogen to nitrate is reduced and the amount of nitrogen available for plant food is decreased. However Al, Fe and manganese are more soluble at low pHs, reaching even toxic concentrations. Potassium and sulphur are easily adsorbed at pH higher than 6, calcium and magnesium between 7 and 8.5 and iron at pH lower than 6. For alkaline pH in soil, the availability of H2PO4-can be reduced through precipitation of phosphorous containing salts withcations such as calcium Ca2+ or magnesium Mg2+. However when soils have acid pH other compounds with HPO42-and iron (Fe2+), aluminium (Al3+) and manganese (Mn2+) can form, with increased solubility. The main factors that influence soil pH are the mineral composition and how it meteorizes, the decomposition of organic matter, how nutrients are partitioned among the solution and aggregates and of course the pluviometryof the zone and atmospheric contamination.Lower pHs are found in places with high pluviometry, with high organic matter decomposition, young soils developed on acid substrates, and places with high atmospheric contamination (acid rain). Depending on the species, crops can benefit from calcareous soils with high calcium carbonate content such as alfalfa, but other plants prefer soils with acid pH such as potatoes, coffee or tobacco. It is clear that different seasons will produce plants with a varying composition depending on the atmospheric conditions and therefore the materials derived from them need to be characterised and analysed to determine their possible uses.Given its multidisciplinary approach, this work is being carried out through the collaboration among national (Institute of Materials Science of Madrid (ICMM, CSIC), Institute of Catalysis (ICP, CSIC), Centre of Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (UAM-CSIC), Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), University at distance (UNED), University Complutense of Madrid (UPM) and international (University of Sheffield and University of Ghent) research groups, in addition to various industries interested in the transformation of their residues and or sub-products into “value added materials”, with whom various research projects have been and are being sponsored by the MICINN and CDTI.Peer Reviewe

Antibody response in patients admitted to the hospital with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection: results from a multicenter study across Spain

Aim: To evaluate the serological response against SARS-CoV-2 in a multicenter study representative of the Spanish COVID pandemic. Methods: IgG and IgM + IgA responses were measured on 1466 samples from 1236 Spanish COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital, two commercial ELISA kits (Vircell SL, Spain) based on the detection of antibodies against the viral spike protein and nucleoprotein, were used. Results: Approximately half of the patients presented antibodies (56.8% were IgM + IgA positive and 43.0% were IgG positive) as soon as 2 days after the first positive PCR result. Serological test positivity increased with time from the PCR test, and 10 days after the first PCR result, 91.5% and 88.0% of the patients presented IgM + IgA and IgG antibodies, respectively. Conclusion: The high values of sensitivity attained in the present study from a relatively early period of time after hospitalization support the use of the evaluated serological assays as supplementary diagnostic tests for the clinical management of COVID-19