Globalisation: Recent traits and challenges

This special issue gathers together twelve papers that revisit a range of core topics in the field of international economics. These papers were presented at the XIX Conference on International Economics (CIE) held in Vila‐Real (Spain) on 28th–29th June 2018. The Conference was co‐organized by researchers from the Spanish Association of International Economics and Finance (AEEFI) and the Institute of International Economics (IEI). The selected papers are stimulating pieces that shed new light on recent trends in globalization as well as some of the main challenges that need to be faced in the presence of the multiple yield curves that emerged after the credit crunch. The CIE also included two keynote lectures by Laura Alfaro (Harvard Business School) and Gabriel Quirós (IMF) as well as 64 selected contributions

Scalable linear solver for thermo-hydro-mechanics with a second gradient of dilation regularization problems

We are interested in the modelling of thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) problems that describe the behaviour of a soil in which a weakly compressible fluid evolves. The soil is represented as a porous medium and the fluid is subjected to various mechanical, thermal and hydraulic stresses. This model is used for the simulation of the THM impact of the high level activity radioactive waste exothermicity within a deep geological disposal facility build in a clay-based host rock. To avoid the loss of uniqueness of the numerical solution and, more importantly, problems with the strain localization which are often encountered in soil computations, we shall consider non-locally regularized equations based on a second gradient theory. In this approach, a new primal unknown, modelling the trace of the displacement gradient, is introduced. The objective of this work is to find a parallel and scalable iterative solver for the system of equations after linearization. While extensive research has been carried on linear solvers for poroelasticity, this is not, to our knowledge, the case for the second gradient formulation. In this thesis, we shall present a block preconditioner for the fully coupled THM equations with a second gradient of dilation regularization. It is a block Gauss-Seidel approach, in which a multigrid method is used to precondition the blocks of the displacement, pressure, temperature and micro volume changes. Furthermore, we use a weighted mass matrix as preconditioner for the Lagrange multipliers block. We present numerical results that reflect the good performance of the proposed preconditioner in terms of iteration count of the iterative solver, the robustness of the preconditioner in terms of parameter variation and that is furthermore independent of the mesh size

Manejo de la mucositis oral en pacientes que reciben quimioterapia, radioterapia o quimioradiación

La mucositis oral es exclusivamente la inflamación y ulceración de la mucosa bucal, secundario a tratamiento anticancerígeno y ocurre en el 40-90% de pacientes. Ocasionando atrasos, suspensiones o reducciones en la intensidad del tratamiento; disminuye el control de la enfermedad y aumenta la morbimortalidad. Se trata de un artículo de actualización que revisa el manejo de la mucosistis oral secundaria a tratamiento quimio/radioterapeútico o ambos

Benefícios das Plantas Alimentícias não ConvencionaisPANCs: Caruru (Amaranthus Viridis), Moringa Oleífera Lam. e Ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia Aculeata Mill)

As PANCs são Plantas Alimentícias não convencionais, muitas vezes denominadas como “ervas-daninhas”. Anteriormente à globalização e crescimento da industria de alimentos, essas plantas eram utilizadas na culinária, porém com esse cenário, as PANCs perderam a sua popularidade. Essas plantas, que podem ser desde hortaliças até frutos, são uma alternativa altamente nutritiva, quando comparadas à vegetais tradicionalmente utilizados. São de fácil cultivo e sustentáveis, uma vez que não necessitam de grande alteração da flora para sua produção, e são adaptáveis aos diferentes tipos de solo e clima. O objetivo desse artigo de revisão foi buscar, através de pesquisa bibliográfica, conhecimento sobre as propriedades nutricionais das PANCs, em destaque o Caruru (Amaranthus viridis), Moringa oleífera Lam. e ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.), por conterem um aporte nutricional diferenciado das demais plantas pesquisadas, principalmente no perfil de aminoácidos essenciais. Diante dos achados científicos, concluiu-se que as PANCs Caruru (Amaranthus viridis), Moringa oleífera Lam. e ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.) se destacam por serem importantes fontes de nutrientes essenciais à manutenção da saúde, como cálcio, potássio, ferro, e também por seu perfil de aminoácidos essenciais diferenciado mais elevado que as plantas convencionais

Oil Extraction from Spent Coffee Grounds: Experimental Studies and Exergoeconomic Analysis

Currently, the spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are considered an agro-industrial waste with a high oil content that can be used as a feedstock in biorefineries. Therefore, the oil extraction from SCGs is considered a main stage, that should be sustainable and low-cost. The aim of this study is to determine and compare the exergetic and economic indicators of two SCGs oil extraction processes: soxhlet extraction (SE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The exergoeconomic balances were performed by using Engineering Equation Solver (ESS). In addition, the effects of the solvent to SCGs ratio on the extraction yield and on the exergoeconomic indicators were studied. The analysis aided by computational tools determined that the exergy destruction rate of the SE process (14.3 kJ/kg) is higher compared with the UAE process (4.50 kJ/kg). Therefore, the oil specific cost is reduced to 86% when using UAE process. Furthermore, in the UAE process, the increase in the hexane to SCGs ratio from 5 mL/g to 20 mL/g, reduces the oil specific cost by 68.5 % and increases the oil extraction yield from 10.5 % to 18.8 %. Future studies should focus on the ultrasound-assisted extraction process scale-up

Inactivation of indicator microorganisms and biological hazards by standard and/or alternative processing methods in Category 2 and 3 animal by-products and derived products to be used as organic fertilisers and/or soil improvers

The European Commission requested EFSA to assess if different thermal processes achieve a 5 log10 reduction in Enterococcus faecalis or Salmonella Senftenberg (775W) and (if relevant) a 3 log10 reduction in thermoresistant viruses (e.g. Parvovirus) as well as if different chemical processes achieve a 3 log10 reduction of eggs of Ascaris sp., in eight groups of Category 2 and 3 derived products and animal by-products (ABP). These included (1) ash derived from incineration, co-incineration and combustion; (2) glycerine derived from the production of biodiesel and renewable fuels; (3) other materials derived from the production of biodiesel and renewable fuels; (4) hides and skins; (5) wool and hair; (6) feathers and down; (7) pig bristles; and (8) horns, horn products, hooves and hoof products. Data on the presence of viral hazards and on thermal and chemical inactivation of the targeted indicator microorganisms and biological hazards under relevant processing conditions were extracted via extensive literature searches. The evidence was assessed via expert knowledge elicitation. The certainty that the required log10 reductions in the most resistant indicator microorganisms or biological hazards will be achieved for each of the eight groups of materials mentioned above by the thermal and/or chemical processes was (1) 99–100% for the two processes assessed; (2) 98–100% in Category 2 ABP, at least 90–99% in Category 3 ABP; (3) 90–99% in Category 2 ABP; at least 66–90% in Category 3 ABP; (4) 10–66% and 33–66%; (5) 1–33% and 10–50%; (6) 66–90%; (7) 33–66% and 50–95%; (8) 66–95%, respectively. Data generation on the occurrence and reduction of biological hazards by thermal and/or chemical methods in these materials and on the characterisation of the usage pathways of ABP as organic fertilisers/soil improvers is recommended

Update of the list of QPS-recommended microbiological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 16: suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until March 2022

The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach was developed to provide a regularly updated generic pre-evaluation of the safety of microorganisms, intended for use in the food or feed chains, to support the work of EFSA's Scientific Panels. The QPS approach is based on an assessment of published data for each agent, with respect to its taxonomic identity, the body of relevant knowledge, safety concerns and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance. Safety concerns identified for a taxonomic unit (TU) are, where possible, confirmed at the species/strain or product level and reflected by 'qualifications'. In the period covered by this statement, no new information was found that would change the status of previously recommended QPS TUs. Of the 50 microorganisms notified to EFSA in October 2021 to March 2022 (inclusive), 41 were not evaluated: 10 filamentous fungi, 1 Enterococcus faecium, 1 Clostridium butyricum, 3 Escherichia coli and 1 Streptomyces spp. because are excluded from QPS evaluation, and 25 TUs that have already a QPS status. Nine notifications, corresponding to seven TUs were evaluated: four of these, Streptococcus salivarius, Companilactobacillus formosensis, Pseudonocardia autotrophica and Papiliotrema terrestris, being evaluated for the first time. The other three, Microbacterium foliorum, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Ensifer adhaerens were re-assessed. None of these TUs were recommended for QPS status: Ensifer adhaerens, Microbacterium foliorum, Companilactobacillus formosensis and Papiliotrema terrestris due to a limited body of knowledge, Streptococcus salivarius due to its ability to cause bacteraemia and systemic infection that results in a variety of morbidities, Pseudonocardia autotrophica due to lack of body of knowledge and uncertainty on the safety of biologically active compounds which can be produced, and Pseudomonas fluorescens due to possible safety concerns

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Intra-Abdominal Hypertension in Critically Ill Patients-A Prospective Multicenter Study (IROI Study)

To identify the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of intra-abdominal hypertension in a mixed multicenter ICU population. Prospective observational study. Fifteen ICUs worldwide. Consecutive adult ICU patients with a bladder catheter. None. Four hundred ninety-one patients were included. Intra-abdominal pressure was measured a minimum of every 8 hours. Subjects with a mean intra-abdominal pressure equal to or greater than 12 mm Hg were defined as having intra-abdominal hypertension. Intra-abdominal hypertension was present in 34.0% of the patients on the day of ICU admission (159/467) and in 48.9% of the patients (240/491) during the observation period. The severity of intra-abdominal hypertension was as follows: grade I, 47.5%; grade II, 36.6%; grade III, 11.7%; and grade IV, 4.2%. The severity of intra-abdominal hypertension during the first 2 weeks of the ICU stay was identified as an independent predictor of 28-and 90-day mortality, whereas the presence of intra-abdominal hypertension on the day of ICU admission did not predict mortality. Body mass index, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score greater than or equal to 18, presence of abdominal distension, absence of bowel sounds, and positive end-expiratory pressure greater than or equal to 7 cm H2O were independently associated with the development of intra-abdominal hypertension at any time during the observation period. In subjects without intra-abdominal hypertension on day 1, body mass index combined with daily positive fluid balance and positive end-expiratory pressure greater than or equal to 7 cm H2O (as documented on the day before intra-abdominal hypertension occurred) were-associated with the development of intraabdominal hypertension during the first week in the ICU. In our mixed ICU patient cohort, intra-abdominal hypertension occurred in almost half of all subjects and was twice as prevalent in mechanically ventilated patients as in spontaneously breathing patients. Presence and severity of intra-abdominal hypertension during the observation period significantly and independently increased 28-and 90-day mortality. Five admission day variables were independently associated with the presence or development of intra-abdominal hypertension. Positive fluid balance was associated with the development of intra-abdominal hypertension after day 1474535542NIGMS NIH HHSUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USANIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) [U54 GM104940

How useful is the assessment of lymphatic vascular density in oral carcinoma prognosis?

Abstract Background Lymphatic vessels are major routes for metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) are difficult to recognize in tumor histological sections. D2-40 stains podoplanin, a molecule expressed in LECs, however, the potential prognostic usefulness of this molecule is not completely understood in HNSCC. We aimed to investigate the value of assessing peritumoral and intratumoral lymphatic vessel density (LVD) as prognostic marker for HNSCC. Methods Thirty-one cases of HNSCC were stained for D2-40 and CD31. LVD and blood vessel density (BVD) were assessed by counting positive reactions in 10 hotspot areas at ×200 magnification. Results D2-40 was specific for lymphatic vessels and did not stain blood vascular endothelial cells. LECs showed more tortuous and disorganized structure in intratumoral lymphatic vessels than in peritumoral ones. No statistical differences were observed between peritumoral-LVD and intratumoral-LVD or between peritumoral-BVD and intratumoral-BVD. Tumor D2-40 staining was positively associated with lymphatic vessel invasion (p = 0.011). Conclusion LVD is a powerful marker for HNSCC prognosis. We found significant differences in peritumoral and intratumoral D2-40 immunoreactivity, which could have important implications in future therapeutic strategies and outcome evaluation