The demand of business services in Spain

The growth in the outsourcing of services has become one of the most relevant features of the changes in manufacturing firms¿ behaviour. This paper provides empirical evidence about the extent and evolution of services outsourcing by Spanish manufacturing firms in 1990-1998. A general increase in outsourcing of services has been detected among firms in this period, although with strong differences across sectors and kind of services. Additionally, this paper studies the decision to outsource, devoting particular attention to the relationship between outsourcing and productivity. The results show the influence of variables such as firm size, ownership and location, among others

Antioxidant activity of alkyl gallates and glycosyl alkyl gallates in fish oil in water emulsions: Relevance of their surface active properties and of the type of emulsifier

The antioxidant activity of gallic acid and a series of alkyl gallates (C4-C18) and glycosylated alkyl gallates (C4-C18) on fish oil-in-water emulsions was studied. Three types of emulsifiers, lecithin, Tween-20 and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) were tested. A nonlinear behavior of the antioxidant activity of alkyl gallates when increasing alkyl chain length was observed for emulsions prepared with lecithin. Medium-size alkyl gallates (C6-C12) were the best antioxidants. In contrast, for emulsions prepared with Tween-20, the antioxidants seem to follow the polar paradox. Glucosyl alkyl gallates were shown previously to be better surfactants than alkyl gallates. Nevertheless, they exhibited a worse antioxidant capacity than their corresponding alkyl gallates, in emulsions prepared with lecithin or Tween-20, indicating the greater relevance of having three OH groups at the polar head in comparison with having improved surfactant properties but just a di-ortho phenolic structure in the antioxidant

Validation of smart nanoparticles as controlled drug delivery systems: loading and pH-dependent release of pilocarpine

Micelles are good devices for use as controlled drug delivery systems because they exhibit the ability to protect the encapsulated substance from the routes of degradation until they reach the site of action. The present work assesses loading kinetics of a hydrophobic drug, pilocarpine, in polymeric micellar nanoparticles (NPs) and its pH-dependent release in hydrophilic environments. The trigger pH stimulus, pH 5.5, was the value encountered in damaged tissues in solid tumors. The new nanoparticles were prepared from an amphiphilic block copolymer, [(HEMA19%-DMA31%)-(FMA5%-DEA45%)]. For the present research, three systems were validated, two of them with cross-linked cores and the other without chemical stabilization. A comparison of their loading kinetics and release profiles is discussed, with the support of additional data obtained by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The drug was loaded into the NPs within the first minutes; the load was dependent on the degree of cross-linking. All of the systems experienced a boost in drug release at acidic pH, ranging from 50 to 80% within the first 48 h. NPs with the highest degree (20%) of core cross-linking delivered the highest percentage of drug at fixed times. The studied systems exhibited fine-tuned sustained release features, which may provide a continuous delivery of the drug at specific acidic locations, thereby diminishing side effects and increasing therapeutic rates. Hence, the studied NPs proved to behave as smart controlled drug delivery systems capable of responding to changes in pH.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Efficacy of perineal massage during the second stage of labor for the prevention of perineal injury: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

[EN] Background: Numerous interventions to reduce perineal trauma during childbirth have been studied in recent years, including perineal massage. Objective: To determine the efficacy of perineal massage during the second stage of labor to prevent perineal damage. Search Strategy: Systematic search in PubMed, Pedro, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, BioMed, SpringerLink, EBSCOhost, CINAHL, and MEDLINE with the terms Massage, Second labor stage, Obstetric delivery, and Parturition. Selection Criteria: The articles must have been published in the last 10 years; the perineal massage was administered to the study sample; and the experimental design consisted of randomized controlled trial. Data Collection and Analysis: Tables were used to describe both the studies' characteristics and the extracted data. The PEDro and Jadad scales were used to assess the quality of studies. Main Results: Of the 1172 total results identified, nine were selected. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis and indicated a statistically significant decreased number of episiotomies in perineal massage. Conclusions: Massage during the second stage of labor appears to be effective in preventing episiotomies and reducing the duration of the second stage of labor. However, it does not appear to be effective in reducing the incidence and severity of perineal tears.S

Fungicidas evaluados para combatir el añublo polvoriento en pimiento

The effectiveness of benomyl, chlorothalonil, copper hydroxide, dinocap, sulfur and triadimefon for the control of the fungus Leveillula taurica, causal agent of the powdery mildew of peppers (Capsicum annuum), was evaluated under field conditions. Results from two experiments indicate that weekly applications of benomyl and triadimefon reduced disease incidence and increased pepper yield. In the first experiment, plots treated with triadimefon (0.35 L/ha) and benomyl (0.55 kg/ha) produced 20.2 and 17.2 kg fruit/plot, respectively, whereas the nontreated plots yielded 13,9 kg/plot. A similar trend but with higher yields was obtained in the second experiment. Treatments with triadimefon (0.70 L/ha) and benomyl (0.55 kg/ha) produced 41.0 and 41.3 kg of fruit/plot, respectively, as compared with the control treatments which yielded 29.0 kg/plot.Se evaluó bajo condiciones de campo la eficacia de los fungicidas benomyl, hidróxido de cobre, dinocap, azufre y triadimefon para combatir el añublo polvoriento del pimiento (Leveillula taurica). Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que las aplicaciones semanales de los fungicidas benomyl y triadimefon reprimieron el patógeno, aminoraron la severidad de infección y aumentaron significativamente el rendimiento. En la primera prueba se obtuvieron rendimientos de 20.2 y 17.2 kg./parcela con aplicaciones de triadimefon (0.35 L./ha.) y benomyl (0.55 kg./ha.), respectivamente, mientras que en las parcelas sin tratar el rendimiento obtenido fue de 13.9 kg. En la segunda prueba, aun cuando los resultados fueron similares a los anteriores, se obtuvieron mejores rendimientos. Se obtuvieron rendimientos de 41.0 y 41.3 kg. en parcelas tratadas con triadimefon (0.70 L./ha.) y benomyl (0.55 kg./ha.); en las parcelas sin tratar se obtuvo un rendimiento de 29.0 kg./ha

Detection of mecC-Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in river water : a potential role for water in the environmental dissemination

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a public health concern due to limited treatment options. The recent description of a mecA homologue, mecC in human and cattle, led to studies to detect this new variant in human and other animal species. Detection of mecC in wild boar and fallow deer in a Spanish game estate led us to further investigate the presence of mecC-MRSA at this location. Samples from cattle, wild animals, workers and river water were tested. A further three mecC-MRSA isolates were obtained from river water. Molecular characterization (multilocus sequence typing and spa typing) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (broth microdilution) showed that isolates were similar to those detected in wild animals. Whole genome sequencing confirmed that the isolates from the river water and wild animals in the same geographic area were all closely related isolates of ST425 mecC-MRSA. The presence of mecC-MRSA in the river water highlights the potential role of water in the dissemination of mecC-MRSA

An instrumental puzzle: the modular integration of AOLI

The Adaptive Optics Lucky Imager, AOLI, is an instrument developed to deliver the highest spatial resolution ever obtained in the visible, 20 mas, from ground-based telescopes. In AOLI a new philosophy of instrumental prototyping has been applied, based on the modularization of the subsystems. This modular concept offers maximum flexibility regarding the instrument, telescope or the addition of future developments.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, Proc. SPIE 9908, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI, 99082Z (August 9, 2016

Nanostructured Chitosan-Based Biomaterials for Sustained and Colon-Specific Resveratrol Release

In the present work, we demonstrate the preparation of chitosan-based composites as vehicles of the natural occurring multi-drug resveratrol (RES). Such systems are endowed with potential therapeutic effects on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis, through the sustained colonic release of RES from long-lasting mucoadhesive drug depots. The loading of RES into nanoparticles (NPs) was optimized regarding two independent variables: RES/polymer ratio, and temperature. Twenty experiments were carried out and a Box–Behnken experimental design was used to evaluate the significance of these independent variables related to encapsulation efficiency (EE). The enhanced RES EE values were achieved in 24 h at 39 °C and at RES/polymer ratio of 0.75:1 w/w. Sizes and polydispersities of the optimized NPs were studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Chitosan (CTS) dispersions containing the RES-loaded NPs were ionically gelled with tricarballylic acid to yield CTS-NPs composites. Macro- and microscopic features (morphology and porosity studied by SEM and spreadability), thermal stability (studied by TGA), and release kinetics of the RES-loaded CTS-NPs were investigated. Release patterns in simulated colon conditions for 48 h displayed significant differences between the NPs (final cumulative drug release: 79–81%), and the CTS-NPs composites (29–34%)