Effect of the Purification Treatment on the Valorization of Natural Cellulosic Residues as Fillers in PHB-Based Composites for Short Shelf Life Applications

This is a pre-print of an article published in Waste and Biomass Valorization. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01192-1In this work the effect of a combined NaOH + peracetic acid (PAA) purification treatment on the valorization of almond shell (AS) and rice husk (RH) lignocellulosic residues as fillers in PHB-based composites for short shelf life applications has been studied. The efficiency of the treatment at removing the non-cellulosic components of the fibers has been evaluated by SEM, FTIR, WAXS and TGA taking a commercial cellulose as reference. The influence of the untreated and treated fibers on the morphology, thermal, crystallization, tensile properties, fracture toughness and dynamo mechanical behavior of the PHB/fiber composites has been studied. The treatment has demonstrated its ability at removing the lignin, hemicelluloses and waxes allowing the obtention of fibers with relative crystallinity, thermal stability and composition similar to the commercial cellulose. The different agro-food based lignocellulosic residues used resulted in two suitable reinforcing fillers for a PHB matrix. Hence, composites prepared with the treated fibers presented better thermal and mechanical performance than those prepared with the untreated ones. Therefore, the so-obtained purified residue fibers are comparable to a pure cellulose as a filler for PHB composites

Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate)/ Purifi ed Cellulose Fiber Composites by Melt Blending: Characterization and Degradation in Composting Conditions

Novel biodegradable composites based on poly(3-hydroxybutirate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and different contents of purifi ed alpha-cellulose fi bers (3, 10, 25 and 45%) were prepared by melt blending and characterized. The composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) experiments, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanic analysis (DMA) and Shore D hardness measurements. Disintegrability under composting conditions was studied according to the ISO 20200 standard. Morphological results showed that high dispersion of the fi bers was achieved during mixing. Good adhesion on the fi ber-matrix interface was also detected by SEM. The addition of low and medium cellulose contents did not result in lower thermal resistance with respect to the neat PHBV. A reinforcing effect of the cellulose fi bers was detected in all samples, this effect being more pronounced at high temperatures. The composting results show that the addition of the fi bers did not affect the disintegrability of the PHBV, and thus compostable “green” low-cost PHBV/cellulose composites can be obtained

The role of serum biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of oral cancer: a systematic review

Introduction: Oral cancer is one of the causes of major morbidity and mortality in the world although incidence varies in the different geographical locations and races. Advances in molecular biology and cancer research have allowed elucidating serum biomarkers to improve diagnostic methods. The aim of this article systematic review is to highlight the utility and clinical value of serum biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of oral cancer. Material and Methods: A systematic literature review using PubMed (MEDLINE databases) revealed a total of 140 articles related to this topic. Of those articles, 29 were included in the final review. We included articles published in English in the last five years, developed in human as cases and controls studies, retrospective or prospective studies and specific studies that analyzed a certain biomarker in serum. Results: All of the studies include in this systematic review found significant differences in patients. Of those articles included, 2 used biomarkers to determinate cancerous phenotype, 11 mentioned their results were associated with worse prognosis and overall survival, 4 correlated biomarker concentration to clinical stages, 4 concluded it could be a helpful in diagnosis and 8 studies did not find a clear utility of the analysed biomarker. Due to differences in the presentation of data, meta-analysis was not possible. Conclusions: Biomarker use for diagnosis and prognosis is supported by clinical and scientific evidence is relevant. Nevertheless, after selecting a certain biomarker, monitoring protocols should be established in oral and maxillofacial surgeons teams so as we have a correct understanding of biological values

Service-learning by PhD students to aid socially neglected people

In recent years, there have been calls for change in higher education to meet the needs of today's society. A higher education that enables our students to offer solutions to struggling areas of our society. Innovative and differentiating solutions from what we have been used to until now. In view of these needs, it is necessary to unite the society, which reveals its main needs, and the university community, which offers solutions on the knowledge acquired. One of the ways to carry out this integration is based on developing a methodology called "Service-Learning" (SL). This learning method is based on a strategy of collaboration between educational centers and society itself. At present, this methodology is spreading within higher education institutions worldwide. This learning strategy emerged as a learning methodology in America, to be later extended to Europe, from the United Kingdom to the rest of the continent, and from there, reaching a global impact. Throughout this long road, this methodology has been improving, encouraging the creation of increasingly strong links between educational institutions and universities, and society, by promoting the improvement of student training as well as the development of certain areas of society. This paper presents a SL project where two apparently disparate areas are related, such as doctoral students in the area of chemical engineering and sectors of society at risk of exclusion. Specifically, the objective is for the students to present some of the technological developments they have achieved to a neglected sector of society, which should participate not only in the developments, but also learning about the technical base of such technologies.This work has been carried out with the financial support of the SL UCM 2018/19_16 project and the Madrid City Council.Torrecilla, J.; Buitrón Ruiz, S.; Sánchez, M.; Cancilla, JC.; Pradana López, S.; Perez Calabuig, AM. (2020). Service-learning by PhD students to aid socially neglected people. En 6th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'20). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. (30-05-2020):831-837. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd20.2020.11153OCS83183730-05-202

Energy recovery in wastewater treatment systems through hydraulic micro-machinery. Case study

[EN] The wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) treat the water from domestic and industrial use so that its discharge, once it passes through them, is harmless to the environment. However, large amounts of energy are necessary to carry out this process. Therefore, energy and process optimization are a key issue within these type of plant. One of the possibilities within the WWTPs is the recovery of hydraulic energy. This paper presents alternatives for the recovery of hydraulic energy, through the use of hydraulic micro-machinery such as PATs or hydrostatic pressure wheels. This type of machinery is capable of recovering a part of that energy that until now it was not possible to recover, in a more economical way and assuming an improvement for plants that have the possibility of installing it. In the here described case study, savings of over 4% were achieved with periods of return on investment of less than 5 years.Llácer Iglesias, RM.; Perez Diaz, JM.; Satorre Aznar, JR.; López Jiménez, PA.; Pérez Sánchez, M. (2020). Energy recovery in wastewater treatment systems through hydraulic micro-machinery. Case study. Journal of Applied Research in Technology & Engineering. 1(1):15-21. https://doi.org/10.4995/jarte.2020.13766OJS15211

Fortalecimiento competencias ciudadanas desde una perspectiva de género en una institución educativa pública de Floridablanca

En el presente manuscrito se pretende mostrar los resultados de la implementación de una propuesta pedagógica -talleres-, en una institución educativa (IE) pública de Floridablanca/Colombia. Dichos talleres se implementaron con el fin de apoyar a la academia en la formación de estudiantes para la ciudadanía y, también, repensar el rol de la mujer en la sociedad colombiana en el marco del posconflicto. Para ello, se empalmaron los Estándares Básicos de Competencias Ciudadanas (series guías N°6) (EBCC), con la teoría de perspectiva de género (PG) y la novela literaria Los Niños de Carolina Sanín. La investigación se realizó desde un enfoque cualitativo (acción-participación). Mas aun, en la etapa de diagnóstico se aplicaron los instrumentos de: observación no participante, encuestas a padres y estudiantes. De esta forma, se determina que los estudiantes desconocen el significado y la importancia de la perspectiva de género y de las competencias ciudadanas dentro de las aulas y en específico, dentro del área de lengua castellana. Luego de la aplicación de los talleres se realiza una prueba de salida que señala primordialmente la alta posibilidad de fortalecer las competencias ciudadanas desde una perspectiva de género y también desde el área de lengua castellana.This manuscript aims to show the results of the implementation of a pedagogical proposal -workshops- in a public educational institution (IE) in Floridablanca/Colombia. These workshops were implemented in order to support the academy in the training of students for citizenship and, also, to rethink the role of women in Colombian society in the post-conflict context. For that purpose, the Basic Standards of Citizenship Competencies (guide series No. 6) (EBCC) were combined with the gender perspective theory (PG) and the literary novel Los Niños by Carolina Sanín. The research was conducted with a qualitative approach (action-participation). Moreover, in the diagnostic stage, the following instruments were applied: non-participant observation, surveys to parents and students. In this way, it was discovered that students are unaware of the meaning and importance of the gender perspective and citizenship competencies in the classroom, specifically around the Spanish language. After the application of the workshops, a test was carried out, which pointed out the significant possibility of strengthening citizenship competencies from a gender perspective and the area of Spanish language.Introducción. -- Resumen. -- Capítulo i. -- Planteamiento del problema. -- Pregunta problema. -- Preguntas directrices. -- Objetivos. -- Objetivo general. -- Objetivos específicos. -- Referente teórico. -- Competencia. -- Competencias ciudadanas. -- Perspectiva de género. -- Referente histórico. -- Referente epistemológico. -- Análisis literario. -- Generalidades literarias. -- Elementos de la narración. -- Estado del arte. -- Investigación nacional. -- Investigaciones internacionales. -- Capitulo ii. -- Referente metodológico. -- Diagnóstico y análisis. -- Observación. -- Encuesta a los estudiantes. -- Encuesta a los padres de familia. -- Capitulo iii. -- Introducción. -- Objetivos. -- Objetivo general. -- Objetivos específicos. -- Justificación. -- Etapas. -- Sensibilización. -- Diagnostico. -- Diseño. -- Implementación. -- Evaluación. -- Socialización. -- Indicadores. -- Impacto. -- Cronograma. -- Conclusiones. -- Recomendaciones. -- Referencias. -- Anexos. -

Caracterização das Explorações Agrícolas e Pecuárias de Castela e Leão e da Região Centro de Portugal

O presente trabalho foi financiado pelos projetos Interreg 0340_SYMBIOSIS_3_E e 0745_SYMBIOSIS_II_3_E.The objective of this work was to characterize agricultural and livestock holdings in the regions of Castilla and León (Salamanca and Zamora) in Spain and the Centro Region in Portugal. In order to carry out this work, the available statistical databases were used, according to the themes related to the social, economic, environmental and technological structure. Thus, it was intended to deepen aspects such as the use of energy, use/treatment of agricultural wastes, soil fertilization systems, management of water resources, mobilization practices, among others, in order to have a comprehensive view of these regions as a background information to find agronomic sustainable solutions. This characterization was carried out based on the NUT III, as it offers greater availability of statistical data. In the case of Spain, the NUT III territorial base is considered to be very vast, and it was preferable to carry out this work with some data obtained from agricultural areas. However, statistical data are not available for all these areas under consideration. Even so, in some cases municipal data are presented, which are considered to be more representative. This book consists of two parts, the first describes the state of the art in the cooperation area of Castile and León and the second part in the Central Region of Portugal. The present work was supported by the Interrreg projects 0340_SYMBIOSIS_ 3_E and 0745_SYMBIOSIS_II_3_E. Thus, the publication is bilingual with texts written in Portuguese or Spanish.Resumen: El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido caracterizar las explotaciones agrarias y ganaderas de la Región Transfronteriza de Castilla y León (Salamanca y Zamora) e de la Región Centro de Portugal, sobre la base de datos estadísticos disponibles, así como mediante revisión bibliográfica de publicaciones sobre las diferentes áreas temáticas de interés para los proyectos que lo financiaron: estructura social, económica, ambiental y tecnológica (uso de la energía, aprovechamiento/ tratamiento de residuos, sistemas de fertilización y abonado, gestión de recursos hídricos, laboreo del suelo, etc.). La caracterización se ha hecho sobre la base territorial NUTS III en ambos países, por ser la base con mayor disponibilidad de datos estadísticos. En el caso de España se considera que la base territorial NUTS III es bastante grande, y se hubiera preferido hacer todo el estudio en base a las comarcas agrarias, sin embargo, no se han encontrado datos estadísticos de todas las áreas de trabajo estudiadas. En algunos casos se presentan datos comarcales por considerarse más adecuados en cuanto a su representatividad. El libro consta de dos partes, en la primer de ellas se describe el estado del arte en el espacio de cooperación de Castilla y León, y en la segunda parte en la Región Centro de Portugal. El trabajo fue financiado bajo los proyectos Interrreg 0340_SYMBIOSIS_3_E y 0745_SYMBIOSIS_II_3_E. Así, la publicación es bilingüe con textos escritos en Portugués y Español.Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de caracterizar as explorações agrícolas e pecuárias nas regiões de Castela e Leão (Salamanca e Zamora) em Espanha e da Região Centro em Portugal. Para realizar este trabalho, utilizaram-se as bases de dados estatísticas disponíveis sobre os temas relativos à estrutura social, económica, ambiental e tecnológica. Deste modo, pretendeu-se aprofundar aspetos como o do uso da energia, aproveitamento/tratamento de resíduos agropecuários, sistemas de fertilização do solo, gestão dos recursos hídricos, práticas de mobilização entre outros, de forma a ter uma visão abrangente destas regiões como base de trabalho para encontrar soluções agronómica e ambientalmente mais sustentáveis. Esta caracterização realizou-se com base nas NUT III, por oferecer maior disponibilidade de dados estatísticos. No caso de Espanha considera-se que a base territorial NUT III é muito vasta, tendo sido preferível realizar este trabalho com alguns dados obtidos de zonas agrárias. No entanto, não se encontram disponíveis dados estatísticos sobre todas essas zonas em apreciação. Ainda assim, nalguns casos apresentam-se dados municipais, considerados mais representativos. Este livro consta de duas partes, na primeira descreve-se o estado da arte no espaço de cooperação de Castela e Leão e, na segunda parte na Região Centro de Portugal. O presente trabalho foi financiado pelos projetos Interreg 0340_SYMBIOSIS_ 3_E e 0745_SYMBIOSIS_II_3_E. Assim, a publicação é bilingue com textos escritos em Português ou em Espanhol.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prevalence of healthy lifestyles against cancer in Spanish women

Modifying behavior towards healthier lifestyles could prevent a significant number of malignant tumors. We evaluated the prevalence of healthy habits against cancer in Spanish women free of this disease, taking as a reference the recommendations for cancer prevention included in the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC), and we explored the characteristics associated with it. Our population comprised 3,584 women recruited in a population-based cross-sectional study carried out in 7 breast cancer screening programs. Information was directly surveyed and used to calculate a score based on ECAC recommendations referred to bodyweight, physical activity, diet, breastfeeding, tobacco, alcohol and hormone replacement therapy use. The degree of adherence was estimated with a score that evaluated null (0 points), partial (0.5 points) and full adherence (1 point) of each specific recommendation. Associations were explored using binary and ordinal logistic regression models. The median score was 5.7 out of 9 points. Recommendations with lower adherence were those related to intake of red/processed meat and foods high in salt (23% of total adherence), physical activity (24%) and body weight (29%), and recommendations with greater adherence where those related to hormone replacement therapy use (91%), vegetable intake (84%), alcohol (83%) and tobacco (61%). Overall adherence was better among older women, parous women, and in those living in rural areas, and worse among women with higher caloric intake. These recommendations should be evaluated periodically. Screening programs can be an appropriate place to disseminate this information.This study was supported by the Spanish Public Health Research Fund (FIS PI060386 & PS09/0790); by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality (EC11-273), by the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII) (AESI PI15CIII/00013); by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Juan de la Cierva de Incorporación grant (IJCI-2014-20900); by the EPY 1306/06 Collaboration Agreement between Astra-Zeneca and the Carlos III Institute of Health; and a grant from the Spanish Federation of Breast Cancer patients (FECMA EPY 1169/10). The authors wish to thank the participants in the DDM-Spain study for their contribution to breast cancer research.S

SEOM clinical guideline for treatment of kidney cancer (2017)

The goal of this article is to provide recommendations about the management of kidney cancer. Based on pathologic and molecular features, several kidney cancer variants were described. Nephron-sparing techniques are the gold standard of localized disease. After a randomized trial, sunitinib could be considered in adjuvant treatment in high-risk patients. Patients with advanced disease constitute a heterogeneous population. Prognostic classification should be considered. Both sunitinib and pazopanib are the standard options for first-line systemic therapy in advanced renal cell carcinoma. Based on the results of two randomized trials, both nivolumab and cabozantinib should be considered the standard for second and further lines of therapy. Response evaluation for present therapies is a challenge

Exploiting the potential of autophagy in cisplatin therapy: a new strategy to overcome resistance

Resistance to cisplatin is a major challenge in the current cancer therapy. In order to explore new therapeutic strategies to cisplatin resistance, we evaluated, in a model of lung cancer (H1299 and H460 cell lines), the nature of the pathways leading to cell death. We observed that H1299 displayed a natural resistance to cisplatin due to an inability to trigger an apoptotic response that correlates with the induction of autophagy. However, pharmacological and genetic approaches showed how autophagy was a mechanism associated to cell death rather than to resistance. Indeed, pro-autophagic stimuli such as mTOR or Akt inhibition mediate cell death in both cell lines to a similar extent. We next evaluated the response to a novel platinum compound, monoplatin, able to promote cell death in an exclusive autophagy-dependent manner. In this case, no differences were observed between both cell lines. Furthermore, in response to monoplatin, two molecular hallmarks of cisplatin response (p53 and MAPKs) were not implicated, indicating the ability of this pro-autophagic compound to overcome cisplatin resistance. In summary, our data highlight how induction of autophagy could be used in cisplatin resistant tumours and an alternative treatment for p53 mutated patient in a synthetic lethally approach