Norfloxacin mineralization under light exposure using Sb-SnO2 ceramic anodes coated with BiFeO3 photocatalyst

[EN] Advanced Oxidation Processes have been proven to be an efficient way to remove organic pollutants from wastewaters. In this work, a ceramic electrode of Sb-SnO2 (BCE) with a layer of the photocatalytic material BiFeO3 (BFO-BCE), has been characterized electrochemically and further tested for norfloxacin photoelectrooxidation in the presence and absence of light. The electrode photoactivity was highly enhanced thanks to the presence of BiFeO3, as confirmed by Linear Sweep Voltammetry, chronoamperometry and potentiometry, and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. Additionally, working in galvanostatic mode, a high mineralization of norfloxacin was achieved after 240 min, reaching 62% at 25 mA cm 2 under light conditions. This value is comparatively higher than the 40% achieved with the BCE. The oxidation byproducts were followed by ionic chromatography and HPLC analysis, which also allowed us to propose an oxidation pathway of the norfloxacin molecule. Finally, some indicators of the reactor performance such as the Mineralization Current Efficiency and the specific energy consumption were analyzed, revealing that lower current densities (8.3 mA cm -2) led to higher current efficiencies, and that light improved both the current efficiency and energy consumption.The authors thank the financial support through the project RTI2018-101341-B-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ (Spain) and by FEDER A way of making Europe and AICO/2021/128 funded by Generalitat Valenciana.Domingo-Torner, C.; García Gabaldón, M.; Martí Calatayud, MC.; Mestre, S.; Pérez-Herranz, V. (2023). Norfloxacin mineralization under light exposure using Sb-SnO2 ceramic anodes coated with BiFeO3 photocatalyst. Chemosphere. 313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.13751831

Hydrological heterogeneity in Mediterranean reclaimed slopes: runoff and sediment yield at the patch and slope scales along a gradient of overland flow

Hydrological heterogeneity is recognized as a fundamental ecosystem attribute in drylands controlling the flux of water and energy through landscapes. Therefore, mosaics of runoff and sediment source patches and sinks are frequently identified in these dry environments. There is a remarkable scarcity of studies about hydrological spatial heterogeneity in restored slopes, where ecological succession and overland flow are interacting. We conducted field research to study the hydrological role of patches and slopes along an "overland flow gradient" (gradient of overland flow routing through the slopes caused by different amounts of run-on coming from upslope) in three reclaimed mining slopes of Mediterranean-continental climate. We found that runoff generation and routing in non-rilled slopes showed a pattern of source and sink areas of runoff. Such hydrological microenvironments were associated with seven vegetation patches (characterized by plant community types and cover). Two types of sink patches were identified: shrub Genista scorpius patches could be considered as "deep sinks", while patches where the graminoids Brachypodium retusum and Lolium perenne dominate were classified as "surface sinks" or "runoff splays". A variety of source patches were also identified spanning from "extreme sources" (Medicago sativa patches; equivalent to bare soil) to "poor sources" (areas scattered by dwarf-shrubs of Thymus vulgaris or herbaceous tussocks of Dactylis glomerata). Finally, we identified the volume of overland flow routing along the slope as a major controlling factor of "hydrological diversity" (heterogeneity of hydrological behaviours quantified as Shannon diversity index): when overland flow increases at the slope scale hydrological diversity diminishes

Winds induce CO2 exchange with the atmosphere and vadose zone transport in a karstic ecosystem

Research on the subterranean CO dynamics has focused individually on either surface soils or bedrock cavities, neglecting the interaction of both systems as a whole. In this regard, the vadose zone contains CO-enriched air (ca. 5% by volume) in the first meters, and its exchange with the atmosphere can represent from 10 to 90% of total ecosystem CO emissions. Despite its importance, to date still lacking are reliable and robust databases of vadose zone CO contents that would improve knowledge of seasonal-annual aboveground-belowground CO balances. Here we study 2.5 years of vadose zone CO dynamics in a semiarid ecosystem. The experimental design includes an integrative approach to continuously measure CO in vertical and horizontal soil profiles, following gradients from surface to deep horizons and from areas of net biological CO production (under plants) to areas of lowest CO production (bare soil), as well as a bedrock borehole representing karst cavities and ecosystem-scale exchanges. We found that CO followed similar seasonal patterns for the different layers, with the maximum seasonal values of CO delayed with depth (deeper more delayed). However, the behavior of CO transport differed markedly among layers. Advective transport driven by wind induced CO emission both in surface soil and bedrock, but with negligible effect on subsurface soil, which appears to act as a buffer impeding rapid CO exchanges. Our study provides the first evidence of enrichment of CO under plant, hypothesizing that CO-rich air could come from root zone or by transport from deepest layers through cracks and fissures.These data were funded by the Andalusian regional government project GEOCARBO (P08-RNM-3721), including European Union ERDF funds, with support from Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation projects SOILPROF (CGL2011-15276-E), CARBORAD (CGL2011-27493), and GEISpain (CGL2014-52838-C2-1-R). This research was supported by a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme, DIESEL project (625988).Peer Reviewe

Cobertura mediática y estrategia fiscal corporativa

We analyse the relation between media coverage and corporate tax burden in a sample of non-financial firms listed in the Spanish stock market along the period 2003-2016. Our results show that media coverage reduces corporate tax burden. The results are consistent with the legitimizing role of the media so that firms with higher media coverage are more reluctant to legitimize their corporate behaviour by using tax policies. Moreover, ours results evidence that firms with higher media coverage and a negative tone of the coverage are more reluctant to adopt strategies aimed at decreasing corporate tax burden. Thus, when media coverage threatens corporate legitimization, firms resort to tax polices to legitimate their corporate behaviour.Este trabajo ha obtenido un accésit del Premio «Estudios Financieros» 2020 en la modalidad de Contabilidad y Administración de Empresas. En este trabajo analizamos la relación entre la cobertura mediática y las estrategias fiscales corporativas encaminadas a la minimización de la carga impositiva soportada en una muestra de empresas no financieras cotizadas en el mercado bursátil español a lo largo del periodo 2003-2016. Nuestros resultados evidencian que las empresas con mayor cobertura mediática son más proclives a la utilización de estrategias fiscales encaminadas a la minimización de la presión fiscal. Estos resultados son consistentes con el papel legitimador de los medios de comunicación en el contexto europeo continental, de tal modo que las empresas con mayor seguimiento mediático presentan una menor tendencia a legitimar el comportamiento corporativo a través de las políticas fiscales. Asimismo, nuestros resultados evidencian que las empresas con mayor cobertura mediática de tono negativo son menos proclives a la utilización de estrategias fiscales encaminadas a la minimización de la presión fiscal. De esta manera, cuando el seguimiento mediático amenaza la legitimación corporativa, la empresa recurre en mayor medida a las políticas fiscales como modo de legitimar la actuación corporativa

Intradermal and virosomal influenza vaccines for preventing influenza hospitalization in the elderly during the 2011–2012 influenza season: A comparative effectiveness study using the Valencia health care information system

AbstractBackgroundThe use of intradermal vaccination or virosomal vaccines could increase protection against influenza among the vulnerable population of older adults. Studies assessing the comparative effectiveness of these two influenza vaccine types in this age group are lacking.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study to estimate the comparative effectiveness of intradermal seasonal trivalent-influenza vaccine (TIV) delivered by a microneedle injection system and a virosomal-TIV intramuscularly delivered for prevention of influenza hospitalization in non-institutionalized adults aged ≥65 years. We obtained administrative data on immunization status and influenza hospitalization for the 2011–2012 influenza season, and used Cox regression models to assess comparative effectiveness. We estimated crude and adjusted (age, sex, comorbidity, pharmaceutical claims, recent pneumococcal vaccination and number of hospitalizations for all causes other than influenza between the previous and current influenza seasons) hazard ratios (HR).ResultsOverall, 164,021 vaccinated subjects were evaluated. There were 127 hospitalizations for influenza among 62,058 subjects, contributing 914,740 person-weeks at risk in the virosomal-TIV group, and 133 hospitalizations for influenza among 101,963 subjects, contributing 1,504,570 person-weeks at risk in the intradermal-TIV group. The crude HR of intradermal-TIV relative to virosomal-TIV was 0.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50–0.81), and the adjusted Cox estimated HR was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.52–0.85).ConclusionsDuring the 2011–2012 influenza season the risk of hospitalization for influenza was reduced by 33% in non-institutionalized elderly adults who were vaccinated with intradermal-TIV compared with virosomal-TIV

Características de los protocolos de investigación presentados por los cursantes de la asignatura “Metodología de la Investigación en Enfermería”, Facultad de Medicina, UNNE. Período 2005-2015

Garantizar una mayor calidad en los cuidados requiere que los profesionales de enfermería alcancen un nivel de desarrollo profesional que les permita dar soluciones más efectivas a las necesidades de salud, lo que se logra mediante la actividad investigativa. Cuando la investigación pasa a formar parte de la tarea profesional el enfermero, este desarrolla una actitud reflexiva, y creativa que le permite perfeccionar sus cuidados y la calidad de la atención, generando experiencias y aportes de diversos niveles de novedad y originalidad que pueden ser valiosos para la enfermería como ciencia.La investigación es un conjunto estructurado de procedimientos teóricos, metodológicos y técnicos que se emplean para conocer e interpretar los aspectos esenciales, las relaciones fundamentales de un determinado objeto o fenómeno de la realidad. Por lo tanto, el progreso del conocimiento, la necesidad de conocer, es el primordial motivo de toda investigación. La investigación constituye junto con la gestión, la práctica y la educación, uno de los cuatro pilares en los que se fundamenta la enfermería

A longitudinal study on perceived health in cardiovascular patients. The role of conscientiousness, subjective wellbeing and cardiac self-efficacy

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the world’s most prevalent chronic disease and the leading chronic cause of morbidity. There are several psychosocial factors associated with quality of life during CVD. Our main objectives were to analyze the roles of conscientiousness, subjective wellbeing and self-efficacy beliefs. The sample comprised 514 patients (mean age 63.57 years) who were assessed twice over a nine-month interval. At Time 1, participants answered a questionnaire assessing conscientiousness, perceived subjective wellbeing (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction), cardiac self-efficacy and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The same variables (except for conscientiousness) were re-assessed at Time 2. Results showed that conscientiousness had a positive relation with subjective wellbeing, cardiac self-efficacy, and HRQoL at Time 1. Moreover, cardiac self-efficacy at Time 1 had a positive longitudinal effect on HRQoL at Time 2, while controlling for autoregressive effects. Mediation analyses indicated that the relationship between conscientiousness and HRQoL was mediated by positive affect and cardiac self-efficacy. These results suggest the usefulness of psychosocial interventions aimed at promoting positive affect and self-efficacy beliefs among CVD patients

Polymorphisms of Pyrimidine Pathway Enzymes Encoding Genes and HLA-B*40∶01 Carriage in Stavudine-Associated Lipodystrophy in HIV-Infected Patients

Altres ajuts: Fundación para la Investigación y Prevención del SIDA en España (FIPSE 36610, 36572/06); Red de Investigación en SIDA (RIS RD12/0017/0005, RD12/0017/0014).To assess in a cohort of Caucasian patients exposed to stavudine (d4T) the association of polymorphisms in pyrimidine pathway enzymes and HLA-B*40∶01 carriage with HIV/Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-associated lipodystrophy syndrome (HALS). Three-hundred and thirty-six patients, 187 with HALS and 149 without HALS, and 72 uninfected subjects were recruited. The diagnosis of HALS was performed following the criteria of the Lipodystrophy Severity Grading Scale. Polymorphisms in the thymidylate synthase (TS) and methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes were determined by direct sequencing, HLA-B genotyping by PCR-SSOr Luminex Technology, and intracellular levels of stavudine triphosphate (d4T-TP) by a LC-MS/MS assay method. HALS was associated with the presence of a low expression TS genotype polymorphism (64.7% vs. 42.9%, OR = 2.43; 95%CI: 1.53-3.88, P<0.0001). MTHFR gene polymorphisms and HLA-B*40∶01 carriage were not associated with HALS or d4T-TP intracellular levels. Low and high expression TS polymorphisms had different d4T-TP intracellular levels (25.60 vs. 13.60 fmol/10 6 cells, P<0.0001). Independent factors associated with HALS were(OR [95%CI]: (a) Combined TS and MTHFR genotypes (p = 0.006, reference category (ref.): 'A+A'; OR for 'A+B' vs. ref.: 1.39 [0.69-2.80]; OR for 'B+A' vs. ref.: 2.16 [1.22-3.83]; OR for 'B+B' vs. ref.: 3.13, 95%CI: 1.54-6.35), (b) maximum viral load ≥5 log10 (OR: 2.55, 95%CI: 1.56-4.14, P = 0.001), (c) use of EFV (1.10 [1.00-1.21], P = 0.008, per year of use). HALS is associated with combined low-expression TS and MTHFR associated with high activity polymorphisms but not with HLA-B*40∶01 carriage in Caucasian patients with long-term exposure to stavudine

Latin Americans and Caribbeans in Europe. A cross-country analysis

With the beginning of the 21st century, there has been an acceleration of migratory flows from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to Europe. As a result, and despite the negative impact of the economic crisis, 4.6 million Latin American and Caribbean immigrants reside in Europe, half of them in Spain. This article analyses the recent evolution of these migratory flows, their territorial distribution, and their demographic profiles according to the 2011 European census data disseminated by a new tool -the Census Hub- implemented by the European Statistical System. The analysis shows the existence of a high LAC immigrant concentration in Spain and in certain European cities, a marked young and feminized demographic profile, a great variety of educational levels and a different insertion in each European labour market, although many LAC immigrants work in low-skill occupations, being overqualified and underemployed in most of the countries

Efficacy and Safety of Reslizumab in Patients with Severe Asthma with Inadequate Response to Omalizumab : A Multicenter, Open-Label Pilot Study

Funding: This study was endorsed by the Asthma Research Program of the Spanish Respiratory Society (PII de Asma de SEPAR) supported by a grant from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.Background: Patients with severe allergic and eosinophilic asthma could qualify for different biologic therapies. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of weight-based intravenous reslizumab dosing in patients who have previously failed therapy with omalizumab. Methods: We carried out a 24-week prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-group, self-controlled study in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma who had previously failed to respond to omalizumab. The main objective was to determine whether treatment with reslizumab significantly improved asthma symptoms assessed by the Asthma Control Test (ACT) at week 24. Secondary objectives were to evaluate symptoms at weeks 4 and 12, change in FEV at week 24, and the incidence of severe exacerbations over the study period. Results: Twenty-nine patients (62.1% women, median age, 50.8 years) were included in the study. The median ACT score significantly increased from 13.0 (interquartile range, 8.0-18.0) at baseline to 21.0 (interquartile range, 14.0-24.0) at 24 weeks (P =.002). Only 2 of 29 patients developed at least 1 severe exacerbation during follow-up and none of them required hospitalization. Overall, 15 of 25 patients (60%) were considered as being controlled (ACT score of ≥20 and no exacerbations) at week 24. The percentage of patients who were receiving daily systemic corticosteroids significantly decreased from 72.4% to 52.0% (P =.019). Adverse events were mostly moderate and within the range of previously reported side effects with reslizumab. Conclusion: Reslizumab is an effective and safe option for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma and a history of omalizumab failure