Dynamic Permittivity Measurement of Ground-Tire Rubber (GTR) during Microwave-Assisted Devulcanization

[EN] Many efforts are being made to find innovative ways of recycling rubber from end-of-life tires (ELTs), also called ground tire Rubber (GTR). Recycling through devulcanization allows the reintroduction of rubber back into the manufacturing industry. Such a process requires providing enough energy to break the sulfur links, while preventing damage to the polymeric chain. Microwave heating is controllable, efficient, and it does not rely on conventional heating mechanisms (conduction, convection) which may involve high heating losses, but rather on direct dielectric heating. However, to adequately control the microwave-assisted devulcanization performance, a thorough knowledge of the GTR permittivity versus temperature is required. In this work, GTR permittivity was monitored during its devulcanization. A resonant technique based on a dual-mode cylindrical cavity was used to simultaneously heat rubber and measure its permittivity at around 2 GHz. The results show sharp changes in the GTR permittivity at 160 and 190 degrees C. After the GTR cooled down, a shifted permittivity evidences a change in the GTR structure caused by the devulcanization process. Microwave-assisted devulcanization effectiveness is proven through time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, by verifying the decrease in the cross-link density of processed GTR samples compared to the original sample.This research project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement number 870,000. More information at https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/870000 (accessed on 27 August 2022) and https://valuerubber.eu/(accessed on 27 August 2022). JLV and FMS also thanks the funding from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (PID2020-119047RB-I00 y PLEC2021-007793), Gobierno de Aragon (EC-22-2021) and CSIC (201860E045).Pérez-Campos, R.; Fayos-Fernández, J.; Monzó-Cabrera, J.; Martín Salamanca, F.; López Valentín, J.; Catalá Civera, JM.; Plaza González, PJ.... (2022). Dynamic Permittivity Measurement of Ground-Tire Rubber (GTR) during Microwave-Assisted Devulcanization. Polymers. 14(17):1-21. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14173543121141

mpMRI-US Fusion-Guided Targeted Cryotherapy in Patients with Primary Localized Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Analysis of Oncological and Functional Outcomes.

Targeted therapy (TT) for prostate cancer (PCa) aims to ablate the malignant lesion with an adequate margin of safety in order to obtain similar oncological outcomes, but with less toxicity than radical treatments. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the recurrence rate (RR) in patients with primary localized PCa undergoing mpMRI/US fusion targeted cryotherapy (FTC). A secondary objective was to evaluate prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a predictor of recurrences. We designed a prospective single-center single-cohort study. Patients with primary localized PCa, mono or multifocal lesions, PSA 15 ng/mL, and a Gleason score (GS) 4 + 3 undergoing FTC were enrolled. RR was chosen as the primary outcome. Recurrence was defined as the presence of clinically significant prostate cancer in the treated areas. PSA values measured at different times were tested as predictors of recurrence. Continuous variables were assessed with the Bayesian t-test and categorical assessments with the chix-squared test. Univariate and logistic regression assessment were used for predictions. A total of 75 cases were included in the study. Ten subjects developed a recurrence (RR: 15.2%), while fifty-six (84.8%) patients showed a recurrence-free status. A %PSA drop of 31.5% during the first 12 months after treatment predicted a recurrence with a sensitivity of 53.8% and a specificity of 79.2%. A PSA drop of 55.3% 12 months after treatment predicted a recurrence with a sensitivity of 91.7% and a specificity of 51.9%. FTC for primary localized PCa seems to be associated with a low but not negligible percentage of recurrences. Serum PSA levels may have a role indicating RR.post-print644 K

Dendritic cell deficiencies persist seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection induces an exacerbated inflammation driven by innate immunity components. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the defense against viral infections, for instance plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), have the capacity to produce vast amounts of interferon-alpha (IFN-α). In COVID-19 there is a deficit in DC numbers and IFN-α production, which has been associated with disease severity. In this work, we described that in addition to the DC deficiency, several DC activation and homing markers were altered in acute COVID-19 patients, which were associated with multiple inflammatory markers. Remarkably, previously hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients remained with decreased numbers of CD1c+ myeloid DCs and pDCs seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the expression of DC markers such as CD86 and CD4 were only restored in previously nonhospitalized patients, while no restoration of integrin β7 and indoleamine 2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO) levels were observed. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the immunological sequelae of COVID-19

Alternativas de desarrollo agropecuario con proyección sostenible para el distrito de riego del Zulia y su zona de influencia

La asociación de usuarios del Distrito de Adecuación de Tierras de Gran Escala del Río Zulia (ASOZULIA) Norte de Santander, con un área de influencia de 45.536 hectáreas, está interesada en la planificación productiva de su territorio. Dentro de sus actividades agropecuarias se encuentran el arroz (12.000 a 17.000 ha), la palma de aceite (1.534 ha), cítricos (limón, naranja; 346 ha), caña de azúcar (100 ha) y la ganadería. Su principal sistema de producción durante más de 50 años es el cultivo de arroz, sistema que presenta reducción de la productividad (7 a 3 tha), degradación del suelo y problemas de plagas y enfermedades, debido entre otros al uso continuo del fangueo como sistema de preparación de suelos. Adicionalmente, a pesar de tener el distrito de riego del río Zulia una concesión de 13,5 m3.s1, en épocas de verano la oferta hidrica es mucho menor como, por ejemplo, la correspondiente a los meses de febrero a marzo de 2016, con un caudal en la bocatoma del distrito de 10,8 m3s'y una captación real del distrito de solo 6 m.s' Asimismo, la construcción del nuevo acueducto para el área metropolitana de la ciudad de Cúcuta tomará 2,95 m3s del caudal antes de la bocatoma que provee agua al distrito, lo que disminuirá aún más la disponibilidad de agua para riego en esa región. Por lo anterior, se requiere la recuperación de los suelos para el establecimiento de nuevos sistemas productivos que demanden un menor consumo de agua y sean una alternativa viable para los productores.Acelga-Remolacha de hoja, Beta vulgaris var. Cicl

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Design of optimal filters to detect and characterize clusters of galaxies with images of CMB polarization

Trabajo fin de Máster defendido en el Instituto de Física de Cantabria, el 29 de septiembre de 2019 - Curso 2018-2019 - Máster Interuniversitario en Física de Partículas y del Cosmos (UIMP-UC-CSIC).[ES] Los cúmulos de galaxias son las estructuras gravitacionalmente ligadas más grandes y masivas del Universo y, por tanto, constituyen uno de los principales objetos de estudio de la Cosmología moderna. En este trabajo se estudiarán los principales efectos físicos mediante los cuales los cúmulos de galaxias dejan su huella en la Radiación del Fondo Cósmico de Microondas, tanto en temperatura y polarización. Una vez caracterizados estos efectos, procederemos a desarrollar una nueva herramienta de detección estadística de cúmulos de galaxias utilizando de forma combinada su señal en temperatura y polarización, en contraposición a las herramientas actuales que solo tienen en cuenta la temperatura.[EN] Clusters of galaxies are the most enormous structures that are bounded by gravitational interaction and, because of that, they are some of the most important objects of study in modern Cosmology. In this work some physical effects that leave its own trace in Cosmic Microwave Radiation will be studied, both temperature and polarization. Once these effects are characterized, we will perform a new statistical tool to detect galaxy clusters taking into account its temperature and polarization signal, opposed to nowadays tools that only take into account the temperature contribution.Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)Peer reviewe

Memoria 2011: Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (IRNASA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)

108 páginasMemoria anual de la actividad científico-técnica del Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca: estructura y personal, grupos de investigación, proyectos y convenios de investigación, producción científica, formación, divulgación científica, cooperación científica, otras actividades y unidades de apoyo a la investigaciónN

Dynamic Permittivity Measurement of Ground-Tire Rubber (GTR) during Microwave-Assisted Devulcanization

Many efforts are being made to find innovative ways of recycling rubber from end-of-life tires (ELTs), also called ground tire Rubber (GTR). Recycling through devulcanization allows the reintroduction of rubber back into the manufacturing industry. Such a process requires providing enough energy to break the sulfur links, while preventing damage to the polymeric chain. Microwave heating is controllable, efficient, and it does not rely on conventional heating mechanisms (conduction, convection) which may involve high heating losses, but rather on direct dielectric heating. However, to adequately control the microwave-assisted devulcanization performance, a thorough knowledge of the GTR permittivity versus temperature is required. In this work, GTR permittivity was monitored during its devulcanization. A resonant technique based on a dual-mode cylindrical cavity was used to simultaneously heat rubber and measure its permittivity at around 2 GHz. The results show sharp changes in the GTR permittivity at 160 and 190 °C. After the GTR cooled down, a shifted permittivity evidences a change in the GTR structure caused by the devulcanization process. Microwave-assisted devulcanization effectiveness is proven through time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, by verifying the decrease in the cross-link density of processed GTR samples compared to the original sample.This research project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement number 870,000. More information at https: //cordis.europa.eu/project/id/870000 (accessed on 27 August 2022) and https://valuerubber.eu/ (accessed on 27 August 2022). JLV and FMS also thanks the funding from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (PID2020-119047RB-I00 y PLEC2021-007793), Gobierno de Aragón (EC-22-2021) and CSIC (201860E045