Optimum cork stopper diameter for a proper wine sealing performance when modifying bottleneck diameter: a first approach

Aim of study: This study present a theoretical model that allow establishing the proper relationship between forces and diameters that take part in sealing for ensuring an adequate closure during storage time, and obtained the optimum stopper diameter for a proper sealing performance when modifying bottleneck diameter.Area of study: The proposed model is of interested to the whole cork value chain from forest owners to natural cork stoppers manufacturers.Material and methods: The optimum cork stopper diameter depends mainly on stopper quality and the compression rate applied in the bottling operation. In this study, we establish the stopper diameter when reducing bottleneck diameter, applying a compression rate of 33% when corking, and for natural cork stoppers which quality allows to recover its initial diameter to 96% after 24 h since compression.Main results: For a bottleneck diameter of 18 mm, the value of the stopper diameter should be at least of 22.3 mm, and for a bottleneck diameter of 17 mm, the value of the stopper diameter should be at least of 20.3 mm.Research highlights: These results try to solve one of the main worries of natural cork stopper manufacturers, which is the scarcity of raw cork suitable for manufacturing them. However this study is also of interested to forest owners because the increment of cork suitable for natural cork stoppers manufacturing means an increment in cork value.Key words: bottling; corking; compression force; compression rate; diameter recovery; relaxation force; relaxation ratio.Abbreviations used: Ds (Cork Stopper Diameter); Dg (Caliper Diameter the Corking Machine); Db (Bottleneck Diameter); Dr (Recovered Diameter); Fc (Compression Force); Fr (Relaxation Force);  CR (Compression Rate); RR (Relaxation Ratio); RD (Diameter Recovery)

Modeling sapling distribution over time using a functional predictor in a generalized additive model

INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL FROM AN ORDER DENYING THE APPELLANTS MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE MADE AND ENTERED BY THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, IN AND FOR SEVIER COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH. THE HONORABLE DON V. TIBBS, PRESIDING

Interlocking Modular Insulation Panels Manufactured with Mediterranean Pinewood and Cork

[EN] Economic profitability of harvested softwood in Southwestern Europe is limited for low quality logs. Some social and environmental consequences of low incomes of rural activities are rural depopulation and accumulation of biomass in unmanaged forests. The energy efficiency of buildings could be improved as construction material employing local bioresources that are currently used to manufacture products of low added value. Here, the IMIP project (Innovative Eco-Construction System Based on Interlocking Modular Insulation Wood & Cork-Based Panels) aimed to support the change towards a low carbon economy using bioproducts (pinewood and cork) for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth with a special focus on the public construction sector is presented. The main objective of the IMIP project is to design, validate and implement an innovative ecological construction system based on natural biological materials to improve energy efficiency in public buildings from the construction, use and demolition phases. The project also develops a tool to professionals from the construction sector (architects and engineers) and researchers to assess the carbon footprint of buildings. The products of the project have the ambition to improve the economic, social and environmental situation of rural areas of Southwestern Europe.This research was funded by the Interreg SUDOE program as part of the European Regional Development Found (ERDF), grant number SOE3/P3/E0963.Brunet-Navarro, P.; Gilabert Sanz, S.; Monleón Doménech, M.; Redón-Santafé, M.; Hermoso, E.; Sánchez-González, M.; Luengo, E.... (2020). Interlocking Modular Insulation Panels Manufactured with Mediterranean Pinewood and Cork. Environmental Sciences Proceedings. 3(1):1-4. https://doi.org/10.3390/IECF2020-08072S143

Assessing site quality using the National Forest Inventory

A pre-print version of the same manuscript is also available, which entitles "Assessing site quality using the National Forest Inventory"Sustainable production of wood is one of the main services provided by forest systems. Site productivity in the case of forests is often evaluated through the site quality. However, most of the works addressing the site quality have been done at local or regional scale. In this work, we aim to develop site quality models for five dominant species in Spanish forests (Fagus sylvatica, Pinus pinaster atlantica, Quercus pyrenaica, Pinus nigra, Pinus sylvestris) and create site quality maps at a national-scale from these models. First, we develop site quality models using site form (height-diameter relationship) as the reference index and the Spanish National Forest Inventory as dataset. Then, we fit spatial additive models entering physiographic and climatic variables in order to predict the site quality over the whole country. Additionally, we plot site form maps for the five species in order to describe spatial pattern in site quality at a national scale. Altitude and aspect appeared to be fundamental variables in the assessment of site quality. The accuracy of the spatial additive models ranged from 38.2% to 47.9%. The correspondence between the predicted and observed maps of site qualities is clear. Our results provide a tool which could be used by forest managers in land use planning as well as in forest policy decision-making at a national scale. We suggest that this method could be used in other countries and that the maps could be expanded to the European scale to assessing the way in which site quality varies across Europe always considering that the relationships between forest productivity and environmental variables could vary among biogeoclimatic zonesMarie Sklodowska-Curie Action, Towards a worldwide quantification of forest degradation (QUAFORD) 699884 AEI/FEDER, UE, AGL, AGL2016-76769-C2-2-R AEI/FEDER, UE, IJCI-2014-20614S

Synthesis, antibacterial and antifungal activities of naphthoquinone derivatives: a structure–activity relationship study

The synthesis of 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives is of great interest since these compounds exhibit strong activity as antimalarial, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer agents. A series of 50 naphthoquinone derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis and Cryptococcus neoformans using the broth microdilution method. The Candida species were the most susceptible microorganisms. Halogen derivatives of 1,4-naphthoquinone presented strong activity, e.g., 2-bromo-5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, which exhibited inhibition at an MIC of 16 lg/ mL in S. aureus, and 2-chloro-5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, with an MIC of 2 lg/mL in C. krusei. These compounds showed higher activity against fungi, but the antibacterial activities were very low. The study of structure–activity relationships is very important in the search for new antimicrobial drugs due to the limited therapeutic arsenal

Assessing the risk of cardiovascular events in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors

Funding Information: This article is part of the CLARIFY project, supported by the European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under grant agreement number 875160. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Torrente, Blanco, Franco, Garitaonaindia, Calvo, Collazo-Lorduy, Gutiérrez, Sánchez, González-del-Alba, Hernández, Méndez, Cantos, Núñez, Sousa and Provencio.Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment. However, despite their excellent therapeutic effect, these medications typically result in a broad spectrum of toxicity reactions. Immune-related cardiotoxicity is uncommon but can be potentially fatal, and its true incidence is underestimated in clinical trials. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence and identify risk factors for developing a cardiac event in patients treated with ICIs. Methods: We conducted a single-institution retrospective study, including patients treated with ICIs in our center. The main outcomes were cardiac events (CE) and cardiovascular death. Results: A total of 378 patients were analyzed. The incidence of CE was 16.7%, during a median follow-up of 50.5 months. The multivariable analysis showed that age, a history of arrhythmia or ischemic heart disease, and prior immune-related adverse events were significantly associated with CE. Conclusion: CE during ICI treatment are more common than currently appreciated. A complete initial cardiovascular evaluation is recommended, especially in high-risk patients, being necessary a multidisciplinary approach of a specialized cardio-oncology team.publishersversionpublishe

Social Representation of Dementia: An Analysis of 5,792 Consecutive Cases Evaluated in a Memory Clinic

Abstract. Background: Different interpretations of cognitive impairment and dementia due to differences in health structures, such as cultural differences could affect the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. it is reasonable to expect that the social and family impact of the disease and coping strategies will differ among societies. Objective: The general aim of this study is to understand the social representations of dementia, its associated practices, and the effects they imply. Methods: People diagnosed with clinical dementia and their families were assessed from 2005 to 2015 in the memory clinic of the Fundacio ́ ACE, Institut Catala` de Neurocie`ncies Aplicades in Barcelona, Spain. Results: 9,898 people were examined and 5,792 were diagnosed with dementia. For those with a caregiver (71%), the decision-making fell on the person with dementia in 16.2% of the cases; and for those without a caregiver, in 26.4% of the cases the family did not perceive the deficits as a disease, which led to multiple risk situations (74.6%). Conclusions: The recognition of dementia as part of aging is common among families. Consequently, risk situations may arise and diagnosis and access to treatment may be delayed. The incorporation of a social appraisal to the diagnostic process is a necessity to evaluate these situations

The Role of Premorbid IQ and Age of Onset as Useful Predictors of Clinical, Functional Outcomes, and Recovery of Individuals with a First Episode of Psychosis

Background: premorbid IQ (pIQ) and age of onset are predictors of clinical severity and long-term functioning after a first episode of psychosis. However, the additive influence of these variables on clinical, functional, and recovery rates outcomes is largely unknown. Methods: we characterized 255 individuals who have experienced a first episode of psychosis in four a priori defined subgroups based on pIQ (low pIQ < 85; average pIQ ≥ 85) and age of onset (early onset < 18 years; adult onset ≥ 18 years). We conducted clinical and functional assessments at baseline and at two-year follow-up. We calculated symptom remission and recovery rates using the Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia Schedule (PANSS) and the Global Assessment Functioning (GAF or Children-GAF). We examined clinical and functional changes with pair-wise comparisons and two-way mixed ANOVA. We built hierarchical lineal and logistic regression models to estimate the predictive value of the independent variables over functioning or recovery rates. Results: early-onset patients had more severe positive symptoms and poorer functioning than adult-onset patients. At two-year follow-up, only early-onset with low pIQ and adult-onset with average pIQ subgroups differed consistently, with the former having more negative symptoms (d = 0.59), poorer functioning (d = 0.82), lower remission (61% vs. 81.1%), and clinical recovery (34.1% vs. 62.2%). Conclusions: early-onset individuals with low pIQ may present persistent negative symptoms, lower functioning, and less recovery likelihood at two-year follow-up. Intensive cognitive and functional programs for these individuals merit testing to improve long-term recovery rates in this subgroup

The Role of Premorbid IQ and Age of Onset as Useful Predictors of Clinical, Functional Outcomes, and Recovery of Individuals with a First Episode of Psychosis

Background: premorbid IQ (pIQ) and age of onset are predictors of clinical severity and long-term functioning after a first episode of psychosis. However, the additive influence of these variables on clinical, functional, and recovery rates outcomes is largely unknown. Methods: we characterized 255 individuals who have experienced a first episode of psychosis in four a priori defined subgroups based on pIQ (low pIQ < 85; average pIQ ≥ 85) and age of onset (early onset < 18 years; adult onset ≥ 18 years). We conducted clinical and functional assessments at baseline and at two-year follow-up. We calculated symptom remission and recovery rates using the Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia Schedule (PANSS) and the Global Assessment Functioning (GAF or Children-GAF). We examined clinical and functional changes with pair-wise comparisons and two-way mixed ANOVA. We built hierarchical lineal and logistic regression models to estimate the predictive value of the independent variables over functioning or recovery rates. Results: early-onset patients had more severe positive symptoms and poorer functioning than adult-onset patients. At two-year follow-up, only early-onset with low pIQ and adult-onset with average pIQ subgroups differed consistently, with the former having more negative symptoms (d = 0.59), poorer functioning (d = 0.82), lower remission (61% vs. 81.1%), and clinical recovery (34.1% vs. 62.2%). Conclusions: early-onset individuals with low pIQ may present persistent negative symptoms, lower functioning, and less recovery likelihood at two-year follow-up. Intensive cognitive and functional programs for these individuals merit testing to improve long-term recovery rates in this subgroup