Determination of dimethyl selenide and dimethyl sulphide compounds causing off-flavours in bottled mineral waters

Sales of bottled drinking water have shown a large growth during the last two decades due to the general belief that this kind of water is healthier, its flavour is better and its consumption risk is lower than that of tap water. Due to the previous points, consumers are more demanding with bottled mineral water, especially when dealing with its organoleptic properties, like taste and odour. This work studies the compounds that can generate obnoxious smells, and that consumers have described like swampy, rotten eggs, sulphurous, cooked vegetable or cabbage. Closed loop stripping analysis (CLSA) has been used as a pre-concentration method for the analysis of off-flavour compounds in water followed by identification and quantification by means of GC-MS. Several bottled water with the aforementioned smells showed the presence of volatile dimethyl selenides and dimethyl sulphides, whose concentrations ranged, respectively, from 4 to 20 ng/L and from 1 to 63 ng/L. The low odour threshold concentrations (OTCs) of both organic selenide and sulphide derivatives prove that several objectionable odours in bottled waters arise from them. Microbial loads inherent to water sources, along with some critical conditions in water processing, could contribute to the formation of these compounds. There are few studies about volatile organic compounds in bottled drinking water and, at the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the presence of dimethyl selenides and dimethyl sulphides causing odour problems in bottled watersPostprint (published version

La integración laboral de personas con discapacidad en la empresa ordinaria en España: aproximación a través de una investigación

En este artículo se presentan algunos de los resultados de un estudio dirigido a conocer los procesos de inserción laboral realizados por servicios que trabajan para facilitar la integración laboral en la empresa ordinaria de personas con discapacidad. En primer lugar se aporta información sobre las características básicas de estos servicios y, en segundo lugar, se realiza una aproximación al colectivo de personas con discapacidad que ha sido objeto de acciones formativas e inserción laboral por parte de estos. Esta información se obtiene a partir del análisis que parte de las respuestas de un cuestionario enviado a centros de trabajo con apoyo y otras entidades que ofrecen servicios de apoyo a la inserción laboral de personas con discapacidad en el contexto del Estado español

A Neanderthal Lower Incisor from Cova del Gegant (Sitges, Barcelona, Spain)

La Cova del Gegant está localizada en el término municipal de Sitges (Barcelona, España). La cavidad está desarrollada dentro de una diaclasa en un pequeño sistema kárstico que contiene material paleontológico y arqueológico del Pleistoceno Superior (Daura, et al., 2005). El yacimiento fue excavado por primera vez en 1954 y posteriormente en la década de los ’70 (Viñas, 1972; Viñas & Villalta, 1975) y ‘80 (Martínez et al., 1985; Mora, 1988; Martínez et al., 1990). Finalmente desde el 2007 el GRQ ha reiniciado los trabajos arqueológicos (Daura, 2008; Daura et al., 2010). En la primera campaña se recuperó una mandíbula humana que fue objeto de un minucioso análisis y publicada recientemente (Daura et al., 2005), esta mandíbula pertenecería a un individuo de la especie Homo neanderthalensis. En este trabajo describimos por primera vez un diente humano que fue recuperado en los trabajos arqueológicos de los años setenta e identificado como tal durante una revisión reciente del material en el año 2010. El resto es un Incisivo Inferior Lateral Permanente. Su preservación es bastante buena, se conserva la totalidad de la corona, aunque la raíz está rota en su tercio apical. Este hecho hace muy difícil determinar si el diente ya estaba completamente formado o no. En la corona se aprecia un ligero desgaste oclusal inclinado hacia distal, pero sin exposición de dentina, además de una faceta mesial de contacto. La superficie Bucal es curvada y posee una fractura longitudinal en el esmalte. La superficie lingual muestra una forma de pala muy ligera con un ligero tubérculo lingual. La corona está cubierta por unas pequeñas manchas de concreción sedimentaria. El análisis métrico muestra que este diente es lo suficientemente grande como para pertenecer a la especie neandertal tanto de manera absoluta como relativa (Diámetro Bucolingual=7.71mm; Diámetro Mesiodistal=7.30mm). Para probar esto se realiza una aproximación gráfica y un análisis discriminante. Este último se realiza para tener la probabilidad de asignación a una especie particular. La asociación de este diente con la mandíbula recuperada previamente es muy difícil debido a la aparente diferencia de edad entre ambos elementos anatómicos. Uno representaría a un adulto (la mandíbula) y el otro representaría a un subadulto de entre 8 y 10 años

Correlación de las series neoproterozoicas del Pirineo oriental a partir de datos U-Pb (SHRIMP) en zircones

New geochronological data from pre-Variscan igneous rocks of the Eastern Pyrenees (Canigó, Roc de Frausa and Cap de Creus massifs) confirm the presence of Neoproterozoic series in the Pyrenees, as the Balaig micaschists in the Canigó massif and the Lower Series in the Roc de Frausa and Cap de Creus massifs. That is, most of the pre-Upper Ordovician sequence in these massifs has to be Late Neoproteozoic in age. These geochronological data allow the correlation of the series along the Eastern Pyrenean massifs. The data also show two different ages (Late Neoproterozoic and Early Ordovician) and significance for the large bodies of granitic orthogneisses intruded at different levels in the series.Se han obtenido nuevos datos geocronológicos en rocas ígneas pre-variscas del Pirineo oriental (macizos del Canigó, Roc de Frausa y Cap de Creus). Se han datado metavulcanitas ácidas interestratificadas en la serie y gneises que derivan de granitos prevariscos. Las rocas metavolcánicas confirman la edad neoproterozoica de los esquistos de Balaig en el macizo del Canigó y de las series inferiores de los macizos del Roc de Frausa y del Cap de Creus. Estos datos implican que la mayor parte de la serie pre-ordoviciana superior tiene edad neoproterozoica y permiten correlacionar las series de los tres macizos. Las dataciones en los gneises evidencian dos edades distintas (neoproterozoica y ordovícica inferior) para los protolitos intruidos en niveles distintos de la serie.Depto. de Mineralogía y PetrologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)Consolider-Ingenio 2010pu

Epidermal growth factor secreted from submandibular salivary glands interferes with the lipolytic effect of adrenaline in mice

We had described that epidermal growth factor (EGF) interfered with the lipolytic effect of catecholamines in isolated adipocytes. Since catecholamines stimulate the release of EGF from submandibular salivary glands to blood plasma in male mice, we studied whether EGF affected also the lipolytic response to adrenaline in whole animals. We studied the effect of adrenaline in sialoadenectomized and sham-operated mice receiving or not a high dose of EGF following adrenaline injection. There was no difference in plasma EGF concentration between sham-operated and sialoadenectomized animals receiving saline. After adrenaline administration plasma EGF increased by 20-fold in sham-operated but did not increase in sialoadenectomized mice. Indeed, the increase was much higher (more than 100-fold) in mice receiving exogenous EGF. The effect of adrenaline on plasma concentration of both glycerol and nonesterified fatty acids was higher as lower was plasma EGF concentration. Isolated adipocytes obtained from sham-operated or sialoadenectomized mice had identical lipolytic response to adrenaline. The lipolytic response of adipocytes to isoproterenol was decreased by addition of EGF. To study whether the interference with the in vivo lipolytic effect of adrenaline had further metabolic consequences, we measured plasma b-hydroxybutyrate concentration in plasma. There was no difference in the response to adrenaline between sham-operated and sialoadenectomized mice in spite of the difference in plasma nonsterified fatty acid concentration. Studies in isolated hepatocytes indicated that ketogenesis run at near maximal rate in this range of substrate concentration. These results suggest that EGF in the physiological range decreases the lipolytic effect of adrenaline but does not compromise further metabolic events like the enhancement of ketogenesis

Integrated Care Intervention Supported by a Mobile Health Tool for Patients Using Noninvasive Ventilation at Home: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Home-based noninvasive ventilation has proven cost-effective. But, adherence to therapy still constitutes a common clinical problem. We hypothesized that a behavioral intervention supported by a mobile health (mHealth) app could enhance patient self-efficacy. It is widely accepted that mHealth-supported services can enhance productive interactions among the stakeholders involved in home-based respiratory therapies. Objective: This study aimed to measure changes in self-efficacy in patients with chronic respiratory failure due to diverse etiologies during a 3-month follow-up period after the intervention. Ancillary objectives were assessment of usability and acceptability of the mobile app as well as its potential contribution to collaborative work among stakeholders. Methods: A single-blind, single-center, randomized controlled trial was conducted between February 2019 and June 2019 with 67 adult patients with chronic respiratory failure undergoing home-based noninvasive ventilation. In the intervention group, a psychologist delivered a face-to-face motivational intervention. Follow-up was supported by a mobile app that allowed patients to report the number of hours of daily noninvasive ventilation use and problems with the therapy. Advice was automatically delivered by the mobile app in case of a reported problem. The control group received usual care. The primary outcome was the change in the Self Efficacy in Sleep Apnea questionnaire score. Secondary outcomes included app usability, app acceptability, continuity of care, person-centered care, and ventilatory parameters. Results: Self-efficacy was not significantly different in the intervention group after the intervention (before: mean 3.4, SD 0.6; after: mean 3.4, SD 0.5, P=.51). No changes were observed in adherence to therapy nor quality of life. Overall, the mHealth tool had a good usability score (mean 78 points) and high acceptance rate (mean score of 7.5/10 on a Likert scale). It was considered user-friendly (mean score of 8.2/10 on a Likert scale) and easy to use without assistance (mean score of 8.5/10 on a Likert scale). Patients also scored the perception of continuity of care and person-centered care as high. Conclusions: The integrated care intervention supported by the mobile app did not improve patient self-management. However, the high acceptance of the mobile app might indicate potential for enhanced communication among stakeholders. The study identified key elements required for mHealth tools to provide effective support to collaborative work and personalized care

La ética ¿competencia transversal olvidada en las titulaciones de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad de Barcelona?

Podeu consultar la Vuitena trobada de professorat de Ciències de la Salut completa a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/66524El compromiso ético es una competencia transversal propuesta por la Universidad de Barcelona. El profesorado diseña escenarios docentes facilitadores de su adquisición que son analizados en 72 asignaturas de 5 titulaciones del área de Salud (26 en Farmacia, 12 en Medicina y Odontología y 11 en Enfermería y Psicología), mediante cuestionarios. Se determina la importancia concedida a la ética profesional, se conoce la modalidad de docencia en que es desarrollada (presencial, semipresencial o no presencial), así como las actividades y/o metodologías docentes en las que es trabajada la competencia y se determina si es evaluada o no. La competencia es trabajada en 45 asignaturas (11 en Odontología, 10 en Medicina, 9 en Farmacia, 8 en Psicología y 7 en Enfermería), siendo prioritario el formato semipresencial en Odontología, Farmacia, Psicología y Enfermería y el presencial en Medicina. Las asignaturas analizadas incluyen hasta 26 actividades docentes en las que se trabaja la ética. Las clases magistrales son el marco en el que esta competencia es trabajada con mayor frecuencia. Las prácticas de laboratorio en sus distintas modalidades y la resolución de casos y problemas, son escenarios que el profesorado considera también adecuados. La competencia es evaluada en 27 asignaturas (9 en Odontología, 6 en Medicina, 5 en Farmacia y 7 en Psicología y Enfermería). Los resultados indican que el profesorado considera importante trabajar la ética en el contexto del grado. Este esfuerzo debería ser normalizado y tener proyección en estudios de máster y doctorado de forma transversal y coherente, en continuidad con los resultados obtenidos en los grados. Trabajo realizado en el marco del proyecto 2009MQD0018

The Critical role of codon composition on the translation efficiency robustness of the Hepatitis A virus capsid

Hepatoviruses show an intriguing deviated codon usage, suggesting an evolutionary signature. Abundant and rare codons in the cellular genome are scarce in the human hepatitis A virus (HAV) genome, while intermediately abundant host codons are abundant in the virus. Genotype-phenotype maps, or fitness landscapes, are a means of representing a genotype position in sequence space and uncovering how genotype relates to phenotype and fitness. Using genotype-phenotype maps of the translation efficiency, we have shown the critical role of the HAV capsid codon composition in regulating translation and determining its robustness. Adaptation to an environmental perturbation such as the artificial induction of cellular shutoff not naturally occurring in HAV infection involved movements in the sequence space and dramatic changes of the translation efficiency. Capsid rare codons, including abundant and rare codons of the cellular genome, slowed down the translation efficiency in conditions of no cellular shutoff. In contrast, rare capsid codons that are abundant in the cellular genome were efficiently translated in conditions of shutoff. Capsid regions very rich in slowly translated codons adapt to shutoff through sequence space movements from positions with highly robust translation to others with diminished translation robustness. These movements paralleled decreases of the capsid physical and biological robustness, and resulted in the diversification of capsid phenotypes. The deviated codon usage of extant hepatoviruses compared with that of their hosts may suggest the occurrence of a virus ancestor with an optimized codon usage with respect to an unknown ancient host