The deterioration and environmental impact of binary cements containing thermally activated coal mining waste due to calcium leaching

Calcium-leaching processes can potentially degrade the structure of a concrete matrix. This problem is studied here through the progressive dissolution of Ca2+ in both ordinary Portland cement pastes (C-0) and binary cement blends (C-20) containing 20% thermally Activated Coal Mining Waste (ACMW).1 A series of accelerated tests are conducted that involve the immersion of these cement pastes in a 6 M ammonium nitrate solution at a temperature of 20  C for 7 and for 21 days. A rise in paste porosity was observed, due to increased capillary pore sizes of between 5 and 0.1 μm. In the case of the 20% ACMW pastes (C-20), calcium leaching decreased, probably as a consequence of the pozzolanic effect of the ACMW, while potassium and magnesium leaching increased, due to the presence of the phyllosilicates in the ACMW. The paste compounds most affected by leaching were Ca(OH)2, C6AS3H32, and C4AC¯H12. In general terms, it can be concluded that the incorporation of ACMW into binary cements slightly reduces the calcium leaching phenomena. Concerning the environmental impact assessment, the substitution of 20% OPC by ACMW reduced CO2 emissions by as much as 12% and improved energy efficiency by using approximately 19% fewer fossil resources.This research was developed in the framework of the MATCON Associated Unit (CSICTecnalia, Madrid, Spain) with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project Ref. MAT2012-37005-CO3-01/02/03) and the European Regional Development Fund (MINECO/FEDER) (Project Ref.BIA2015-65558-C3- 1,2,3-R. The authors are also grateful to the Sociedad Anónima Hullera Vasco-Leonesa and to the Spanish Cement Institute (IECA) for providing us with raw materials

Transcultural adaptation and validation of the Spanish language version of the questionnaire OQLQ for the assessment of quality of life in orthognathic patients

Orthognathic surgery is the cornerstone of the treatment of dentofacial deformities, which have a great psychological and social impact on the life of the patient. Patient satisfaction and the impact on quality of life have recently become clinical parameters of growing importance. The aim of this study was to undertake a transcultural adaptation, translation to Spanish and validation of this version of the questionnaire OQLQ, used to measure quality of life in the context of Spanish culture. Validation of the OQLQ questionnaire to the Spanish language was carried out through the methodology of translation and back translation, conceptual equivalence and piloting. The Spanish version was applied through a cross-sectional study to a total of 50 patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. The adapted and validated version showed adequate metric properties of reliability, change sensitivity and validity. In this study, a positive impact of orthognathic surgery on the specific quality of life was evident in 96% of patients, with an average improvement of 58% with respect to the initial score. Dentofacial deformities have a marked negative impact on the lives of patients, with orthognathic surgery being a therapeutic tool of great value in improving the quality of life in social, functional and aesthetic terms. The pilot test of this Spanish language version of the OQLQ proved valid for the assessment of quality of life in Spanish-speaking orthognathic patients or those with a Spanish culture

Antioxidant and antimicrobial assessment of licorice supercritical extracts

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) is a plant used widely in herbal medicines due to their several biological potentials. The supercritical extraction of licorice roots was investigated to assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the extracts. Extraction conditions were pressures from 15 to 40 MPa, 313.15 and 333.15 K, and ethanol cosolvent in the range of 0 to 20% mass. In the case of high-pressure extractions using pure carbon dioxide (CO2) fractionation of the supercritical extract was accomplished in a two-cell decompression system. Fractionation was carried out with the aim to examine the potential separation of the antioxidant and antimicrobial licorice compounds and thus increase the bioactive properties of the fractions obtained in each separation cell. Main licorice bioactive compounds, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, glycyrrhizin, isoliquiritigenin and glabridin, were identified by HPLC and quantified using standards. Extracts obtained with supercritical CO2 and ethanol cosolvent contain the higher amounts of phenolic compounds and also the higher antioxidant activity but exhibit low or even no antimicrobial activity. Using pure CO2 at high pressure coupled with the on-line fractionation of the extract, two samples were obtained which showed, respectively, lower phenolic compounds content and good antimicrobial capacity (first fraction) and higher phenolic compounds content and antioxidant capacity (second fraction). Thus, the advantages of supercritical on-line fractionation are demonstrated in the extraction of Licorice rootsThe authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (Projects AGL2016-76736-C3-1-R and AGL2015-64522-C2-R

The adrenal medulla modulates mechanical allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain

We have investigated whether the stress response mediated by the adrenal medulla in rats subjected to chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve (CCI) modulates their nocifensive behavior. Treatment with SK29661 (300 mg/kg; intraperitoneal (I.P.)), a selective inhibitor of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) that converts noradrenaline (NA) into adrenaline (A), fully reverted mechanical allodynia in the injured hind paw without affecting mechanical sensitivity in the contralateral paw. The effect was fast and reversible and was associated with a decrease in the A to NA ratio (A/NA) in the adrenal gland and circulating blood, an A/NA that was elevated by CCI. 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-7-sulfonamide (SKF29661) did not a ect exocytosis evoked by Ca2+ entry as well as major ionic conductances (voltage-gated Na+, Ca2+, and K+ channels, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) involved in stimulus-secretion coupling in chroma n cells, suggesting that it acted by changing the relative content of the two adrenal catecholamines. Denervation of the adrenal medulla by surgical splanchnectomy attenuated mechanical allodynia in neuropathic animals, hence confirming the involvement of the adrenal medulla in the pathophysiology of the CCI model. Inhibition of PNMT appears to be an effective and probably safe way to modulate adrenal medulla activity and, in turn, to alleviate pain secondary to the injury of a peripheral nerveThis research was funded by the SPANISH MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION, grants BFU2011-26253, BFU2015-70067-REDC to A.R.A., and SAF2016-78892 to A.G.G, and by UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID, grant PR75/18-21593 to A.R.A

Síndrome poliuria-polidipsia : ¿Como abordaría el diagnóstico?

El síndrome poliuria-polidipsia (PU/PD) es una entidad clínica que se presenta como signo predominante de numerosos procesos del perro y del gato. Tras un recuerdo fisiológico de los factores reguladores de la homeostasis del agua, presentamos las distintas etiologías responsables del síndrome PU/PD y los mecanismos fisiopatológicos implicados. Posteriormente se indican las pruebas laboratoriales más adecuadas para el diagnóstico y se recomienda una sistemática para abordar el diagnóstico diferencial. Terminamos exponiendo 8 casos clínicos en los que se plantean las historias, exploración y pruebas laboratoriales, discutiéndose finalmente el diagnóstico de los mismos.The polyuria-polydipsia syndrorne (PU/PD) is a clinical picture that is present in a lot of diseases of dog and cat. Firstly we study a physiologycal revision of mechanisms that control the homeostasis of the water, and after we describe the different causes of its physiopathology. The laboratory test more adecuated for the diagnosis are indicated and so the best way to do the differential diagnosis. Eventually we finish with clinical history, symptonms and laboratory findings are studied to arrive a diagnosis

Magnetotactic bacteria for cancer therapy

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are aquatic microorganisms that are able to biomineralize membrane-enclosed magnetic nanoparticles called magnetosomes. Inside the MTB, magnetosomes are arranged in a chain that allows MTB to align and navigate along the Earth's magnetic field. When isolated from the MTB, magnetosomes display a number of potential applications for targeted cancer therapies, such as magnetic hyperthermia, localized drug delivery, or tumor monitoring. The characteristics and properties of magnetosomes for these applications exceed in several aspects those of synthetic magnetic nanoparticles. Likewise, the whole MTB can also be considered as promising agents for cancer treatment, taking advantage of their self-propulsion capability provided by their flagella and the guidance capabilities ensured by their magnetosome chain. Indeed, MTB are envisaged as nanobiots that can be guided and manipulated by external magnetic fields and are naturally attracted toward hypoxic areas, such as the tumor regions, while retaining the therapeutic and imaging capacities of the isolated magnetosomes. Moreover, unlike most of the bacteria currently tested in clinical trials for cancer therapy, MTB are not pathogenic but could be engineered to deliver and/or express specific cytotoxic molecules. In this article, we will review the progress and perspectives of this emerging research field and will discuss the main challenges to overcome before the use of MTB can be successfully applied in the clinic.The Spanish and Basque Governments are acknowledged for funding under Project Nos. MAT2017-83631-C3-R and IT-1245-19, respectively

Integral Field Spectroscopy Of The Brightest Knots Of Hh 223 In L723

HH 223 is the optical counterpart of a larger scale H2 outflow, driven by the protostellar source VLA 2A, in L723. Its poorly collimated and rather chaotic morphology suggested the Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) as an appropriate option to map the emission for deriving the physical conditions and the kinematics. Here we present new results based on the IFS observations made with the INTEGRAL system at the WHT. The brightest knots of HH 223 (\sim16 arcsec, 0.02 pc at a distance of 300 pc) were mapped with a single pointing in the spectral range 6200-7700 A. We obtained the emission-line intensity maps for Halpha, [NII] 6584 A and [SII] 6716, 6731 A, and explored the distribution of the excitation and electron density from [NII]/Halpha, [SII]/Halpha, and [SII] 6716/6731 line-ratio maps. Maps of the radial velocity field were obtained. We analysed the 3D-kinematics by combining the knot radial velocities, derived from IFS data, with the knot proper motions derived from multi-epoch, narrow-band images. The intensity maps built from IFS data reproduced well the morphology found in the narrow-band images. We checked the results obtained from previous long-slit observations with those derived from IFS spectra extracted with a similar spatial sampling. At the positions intersected by the slit, the physical conditions and kinematics derived from IFS are compatible with those derived from long-slit data. In contrast, significant discrepancies were found when the results from long-slit data were compared with the ones derived from IFS spectra extracted at positions shifted a few arcsec from those intersected by the slit. This clearly revealed IFS observations as the best choice to get a reliable picture of the HH emission properties.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures; Accepted for MNRA

Trece años de evaluación compartida en Educación Física

En este trabajo realizamos una revisión de trece años de experiencia docente e investigación educativa sobre la Autoevaluación y la Evaluación Compartida en Educación Física. En una primera parte llevamos a cabo una revisión del estado de la cuestión, describimos el objeto de estudio y la metodología utilizada, para pasar posteriormente a analizar los resultados generales de estos trece años de experimentación. Los resultados los hemos organizado en dos grandes apartados: a-ventajas y posibilidades y b- inconvenientes, dificultades y posibles soluciones, de modo que puedan ser de utilidad para el profesorado interesado en el estudio y la puesta en práctica de este tipo de sistemas de evaluación

Proof-of-concept trial of the combination of lactitol with Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus for the eradication of intestinal OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Background: The major reservoir of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) is the gastrointestinal tract of colonized patients. Colonization is silent and may last for months, but the risk of infection by CPE in colonized patients is significant. Methods: Eight long-Term intestinal carriers of OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae (OXA-PE) were treated during 3 weeks with daily oral lactitol (Emportal®), Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus (Infloran®). Weekly stool samples were collected during the treatment period and 6 weeks later. The presence of OXA-PE was investigated by microbiological cultures and qPCR. Results: At the end of treatment (EoT, secondary endpoint 1), four of the subjects had negative OXA-PE cultures. Three weeks later (secondary endpoint 2), six subjects were negative. Six weeks after the EoT (primary endpoint), three subjects had negative OXA-PE cultures. The relative intestinal load of OXA-PE decreased in all the patients during treatment. Conclusions: The combination of prebiotics and probiotics was well tolerated. A rapid reduction on the OXA-PE intestinal loads was observed. At the EoT, decolonization was achieved in three patients

Calidad de carne de 7 razas españolas de ganado bovino vinculadas a su sistema de producción

En España, de modo general, el consumidor de carne de vacuno le da poca importancia a la raza en comparación con otros países Europeos, a pesar de que la misma influye en otras características que sí considera relevantes como el aspecto (color, grasa intramuscular) o la terneza. Las razas bovinas rústicas y locales españolas están ligadas a una región geográfica particular y a un sistema de erra tradicional, donde varios factores como la edad y peso al sacrificio, el sexo, el grado de engrasamiento, el manejo, la alimentación y el tratamiento post-sacrificio intervienen conjuntamente en la definición de cada producto. Estos productos suelen promocionarse a través de denominaciones de origen o marcas de calidad que, por otro lado, permiten al consumidor reducir la incertidumbre cuando compran alimentos, ya que están asociadas a ciertas características sensoriales y/o procesos productivos distintivos. Algunos autores han descrito la calidad de canal (Piedraflta et al., 2003) y las características bioquímicas (Gil et al., 2001) y sensoriales (Serra et al., 2008) de varias razas españolas vinculadas al sistema de producción, de modo que este trabajo se centra en la textura de la carne evaluada instrumentalmente y en algunas de sus características químicas. En: https://calidadcarnecita.wordpress.com/2016/02/12/calidad-de-la-carne-de-7-razas-espanolas-vinculadas-a-sus-sistema-de-produccion