Determination of the Biomass Content of End-of-Life Tyres

Studies have been conducted in France and Spain for (1) the validation of sampling methods to achieve representative samples of end‐of‐life tyre (ELT) materials and (2) the comparison and validation of test methods to quantify their biomass content. Both studies conclude that the 14C techniques are the most reliable techniques for determining the biomass content of end‐of‐life tyres. Indeed, thermogravimetry and pyrolysis‐GC/MS do not lead to results consistent with the theoretical content of biogenic materials present in tyres, and results in both cases differ considerably from the known natural rubber content of the reference samples studied using thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, in the two last techniques, natural isoprene cannot be distinguished from synthetic isoprene. Results obtained with radiocarbon analysis based on 14C contents could be used as reference values of the biomass content of the ELTs: in the ranges of 18–22% for passenger car tyres and 29–34% for truck tyres, in line with actual natural rubber and other components content. Additionally, the presence of textile fibres and stearic acid, which are known sources of biomass in the tyre, cannot be evaluated by thermogravimetry and pyrolysis‐GC/MS techniques

The Spanish SpaceWeather Service SeNMEs. A Case Study on the Sun-Earth Chain

Comunicación presentada en el Coimbra Solar Physics Meeting, 5-9 October 2015, Coimbra, PortugalThe Spanish Space Weather Service SeNMEs, www.senmes.es, is a portal created by the SRG-SW of the Universidad de Alcalá, Spain, to meet societal needs of near real-time space weather services. This webpage-portal is divided in different sections to fulfill users needs about space weather effects: radio blackouts, solar energetic particle events, geomagnetic storms and presence of geomagnetically induced currents. In less than one year of activity, this service has released a daily report concerning the solar current status and interplanetary medium, informing about the chances of a solar perturbation to hit the Earth’s environment. There are also two different forecasting tools for geomagnetic storms, and a daily ionospheric map. These tools allow us to nowcast a variety of solar eruptive events and forecast geomagnetic storms and their recovery, including a new local geomagnetic index, LDiñ, along with some specific new scaling. In this paper we also include a case study analysed by SeNMEs. Using different high resolution and cadence data from space-borne solar telescopes SDO, SOHO and GOES, along with ionospheric and geomagnetic data, we describe the Sun-Earth feature chain for the event.MINECO project AYA2013-47735PPeer reviewe

COMPETENCIAS BÁSICAS RELACIONADAS CON LA EVALUACIÓN. UN ESTUDIO SOBRE LA PERCEPCIÓN DE LOS ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS

This study, framed under the Re-Evalúa Research Project, describes andanalyzes university students’ perceptions of ten assessment-related basic competences.These competences, which were selected as basic competences inthe e-Learning Oriented Assessment framework, are: knowledge application, reasoning, problem solving, information analysis, communication, autonomous learning, sense of ethics, creativity, teamwork and assessment. These competences were selected and defined by 67 researchers from ten Spanish public universities participating in the project, considering the RD 1393/2007 on the organization of official university studies in Spain. The sample for this study, 2,556 students from ten Spanish public universities, rated their level of competence through the COMPES questionnaire, a self-assessment tool where students rate 37 academia-related actions that are strongly linked to the ten competences stated above. The results show a high perceived competence in teamwork and knowledge application and low perceived competence in assessment and creativity. Furthermore, significant differences were found by gender, course and branch of knowledge. These results highlight the importanceof taking these differences into account when educating students, sothat they can all develop their basic competences regardless of gender, course or branch of knowledge.El presente estudio, enmarcado en el contexto del Proyecto de excelencia Re-Evalúa1, pretende analizar y describir la percepción que tienen los estudiantes universitarios sobre su nivel competencial en diez competencias seleccionadas como básicas en relación a los procesos de e-evaluación orientada al aprendizaje: aplicación de conocimientos, argumentación, resolución de problemas, analizar información, comunicación, aprendizaje autónomo, sentido ético, creatividad, trabajo en equipo y evaluación. Estas competencias fueron seleccionadas y definidas por 67 investigadores procedentes de diez universidades públicas españolas participantes en el proyecto, teniendo en cuenta el RD 1393/2007 por el que se establece la ordenación de las enseñanzas universitarias oficiales. La muestra de este estudio, 2.556 estudiantes pertenecientes a diez universidades públicas españolas, ha valorado su nivel competencial a través del autoinforme COMPES, un instrumento que permite la autoevaluación de los estudiantes en 37 actuaciones referidas al ámbito académico y vinculadas con las diez competencias básicas relacionadas con la evaluación.Los resultados obtenidos muestran una percepción competencial alta en las competencias trabajo en equipo y aplicación de conocimientos y baja en las competencias evaluación y creatividad. Además se presentan diferencias existentes en el nivel competencial percibido por los estudiantes en función del sexo, curso y rama de conocimiento a la que pertenecen. En este sentido, se manifiesta la necesidad de tener en cuenta estas diferencias de cara a la formación de los estudiantes para que todos ellos, independientemente del sexo, curso y titulación a la que pertenezcan, puedan desarrollar y mejorar sus competencias básicas para enfrentarse al complejo panorama laboral actual

Results of salt intake restriction monitored with the new sodium control biosensor

Adherence to a low sodium (Na) diet is crucial in patients under hemodialysis, as it improves cardiovascular outcomes and reduces thirst and interdialytic weight gain. Recommended salt intake is lower than 5 g/day. The new 6008 CareSystem monitors incorporate a Na module that offers the advantage of estimating patients' salt intake. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary Na restriction for 1 week, monitored with the Na biosensor.A prospective study was conducted in 48 patients who maintained their usual dialysis parameters and were dialyzed with a 6008 CareSystem monitor with activation of the Na module. Total Na balance, pre/postdialysis weight, serum Na (sNa), changes in pre- to post-dialysis sNa (ΔsNa), diffusive balance, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were compared twice, once after 1 week of patients' usual Na diet and again after another week with more restricted Na intake.Restricted Na intake increased the percentage of patients on a low-sodium diet (<85 Na mmol/day) from 8% to 44%. Average daily Na intake decreased from 149 ± 54 to 95 ± 49 mmol and interdialytic weight gain was reduced by 460 ± 484 g per session. More restricted Na intake also decreased pre-dialysis sNa and increased both intradialytic diffusive balance and ΔsNa. In hypertensive patients, reducing daily sodium by more than 3 g Na/day lowered their systolic blood pressure.The new Na module allowed objective monitoring of Na intake, which in turn could permit more precise personalized dietary recommendations in patients under hemodialysis.S. Karger AG, Basel

Recensiones [Revista de Historia Económica Año XII Primavera-Verano 1994 n. 2 pp. 437-472]

Editada en la Universidad Carlos IIIRobert C. Allen. Enclosure and the Yeoman. The Agricultural Development of the SouthMidlands 1410-1850 (Por Gaspar Feliú).-- Ruggiero Romano. Conjonctures opposées. La «crise» du XVII siècle: en Europe et en Amérique ibérique (Por Gaspar Feliú).-- Simposio de Historia de las Mentalidades. Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, México. Familia y poder en Nueva España (Por Juan Carlos Sola Corbacho).-- Leandro Prados de la Escosura y Samuel Amaral (Eds.). La independencia americana: consecuencias económicas (Por Javier Cuenca).-- M.ª Cruz Romeo Mateo. Entre el orden y la revolución. La formación de la burguesía liberal en la crisis de la monarquía absoluta (1814-1833) (Por Ricardo Robledo).-- José G. Cayuela Fernández. Bahía de ultramar. España y Cuba en el siglo XIX. El control de las relaciones coloniales (Por Candelaria Sáiz Pastor).-- José Manuel Pose Antelo. La economía y la sociedad compostelanas a finales del siglo XIX (Por Carlos Larrinaga Rodríguez).-- Frank Broeze. Mr Brooks and the Australian Trade. Imperial Business in the Nineteenth Century (Por Jesús M.ª Valdaliso).-- Robert H. Bremner. Desde lo más bajo. El descubrimiento de la pobreza en Estados Unidos / James T. Patterson. La lucha contra la pobreza en los Estados Unidos de América, 1900-1985 (Por Nuria Puig).-- Justo Navarro Clari. Curso de Historia Económica (Por Antonio Santamaría)Publicad

Immuno-Electrophysiological Mechanisms of Functional Electrical Connections Between Recipient and Donor Heart in Patients With Orthotopic Heart Transplantation Presenting With Atrial Arrhythmias

[EN] BACKGROUND: The formation of recipient-to donor atrio-atrial connections (AAC) in patients after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) is poorly understood. We sought to investigate the mechanisms of atrial tachyarrhythmias after OHT, the role of AACs, and their relationship to the immunologic match. METHODS: In a large series of OHT patients, we performed a retrospective review of 42 patients who underwent catheter ablation for atrial arrhythmias. A realistic 3-dimensional computer model of human atria was used to study AAC conductivity. RESULTS: Patient age was 55 +/- 15 years (71% male). Biatrial anastomosis was present in 24/42 patients (57%). An AAC was found in 9/42 patients (21%, right-sided in 5 patients with biatrial anastomosis, left-sided in 4 patients). The AAC became apparent at the time of the electrophysiology study 10.1 +/- 7.6 years after OHT (range, 0.3-22.2 years). Donor-specific antibodies were present in no patient with AAC but were present in 69% of patients without AAC, P=0.002. In all patients with AAC, a recipient atrial tachycardia propagated via AAC to the donor atrium (4 patients presented with atrial fibrillation). Simulations showed AAC conduction requires an isthmus of >= 2 mm and is cycle length and location dependent. Patients without AAC (n=13) frequently presented with donor atrial arrhythmias, in 77% cavo-tricuspid isthmus flutter was ablated. The procedural success was high, although, 12 patients (29%) required reablation. CONCLUSIONS: AACs are found in 21% of OHT patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias and can manifest very early after OHT. Immune privilege characterized by the absence of donor-specific antibodies may facilitate AAC formation. Propagation across an AAC is width, cycle length, and location dependent. Patients with AAC present with focal atrial tachycardias or atrial fibrillation originating from the recipient atria; patients without most frequently present with cavo-tricuspid isthmus dependent atrial flutter. While multiple arrhythmias frequently require reablation, ablative therapy is highly effective.This study was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants R21HL138064, and R01HL129136 to Dr Noujaim. This work was partially supported by the Direccion General de Politica Cientifica de la Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEU2020/043).Herweg, B.; Nellaiyappan, M.; Welter-Frost, AM.; Tran, T.; Mabry, G.; Weston, K.; Tobón, C.... (2021). Immuno-Electrophysiological Mechanisms of Functional Electrical Connections Between Recipient and Donor Heart in Patients With Orthotopic Heart Transplantation Presenting With Atrial Arrhythmias. Circulation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. 14(4):412-423. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCEP.120.008751S41242314

Consensus of experts from the Spanish pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics society and the Spanish society of medical oncology for the genotyping of DPYD in cancer patients who are candidates for treatment with fluoropyrimidines

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and oral fluoropyrimidines, such as capecitabine, are widely used in the treatment of cancer, especially gastrointestinal tumors and breast cancer, but their administration can produce serious and even lethal toxicity. This toxicity is often related to the partial or complete deficiency of the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme, which causes a reduction in clearance and a longer half-life of 5-FU. It is advisable to determine if a DPD deficiency exists before administering these drugs by genotyping DPYD gene polymorphisms. The objective of this consensus of experts, in which representatives from the Spanish Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Society and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology participated, is to establish clear recommendations for the implementation of genotype and/or phenotype testing for DPD deficiency in patients who are candidates to receive fluoropyrimidines. The genotyping of DPYD previous to treatment classifies individuals as normal, intermediate, or poor metabolizers. Normal metabolizers do not require changes in the initial dose, intermediate metabolizers should start treatment with fluoropyrimidines at doses reduced to 50%, and poor metabolizers are contraindicated for fluoropyrimidinesThis project has been financed with SEOM and SEFF resource

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care of cancer patients in Spain

Background: Studies evaluating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on public healthcare systems are limited, particularly in cancer management. As no such studies have been carried out in Spain, our objective is to describe and quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients in Spanish hospitals during the first wave of the pandemic. Materials and methods: This retrospective, multicenter, nationwide study collected information from hospital departments treating oncology patients. An electronic questionnaire comparing outcomes and management of oncohematological patients for the March-June 2019 and March-June 2020 periods was used. Results: Information from 78 departments (36 tertiary hospitals) was analyzed. Forty-four departments implemented adapted protocols during March 2020. Most of these (n = 38/44; 86.4%) carried out COVID-19 triage, while 26 of 44 (59.1%) carried out onsite polymerase chain reaction tests for clinically suspected cases. A shift from in-person to telephone visits was observed in 43 of 44 (97.7%) departments. Comparing the March-June 2019 and March-June 2020 periods, the number of new patients decreased by 20.8% (from 160.2 to 126.4). Decreases were also seen in the mean number of total (2858.2 versus 1686.1) and cancer (465.5 versus 367.2) biopsies, as well as the mean number of bone marrow biopsies (30.5 versus 18.6). Concerning the number of patients visiting specific cancer care departments, a decrease from 2019 to 2020 was seen for mean number of chemotherapy treatments (712.7 versus 643.8) and radiation therapy (2169.9 versus 2139.9). Finally, a reduction from 2019 to 2020 of 12.9% (from 8.6 to 7.4) in the mean number of patients included in clinical trials was noted. Conclusions: This study provides the first comprehensive data concerning the impact of COVID-19 on cancer care in Spain. The pandemic caused a 20.8% decrease in newly diagnosed patients, which may impact future outcomes. Measures must be taken to ensure cancer management receives priority in times of healthcare emergencies

Consensus of experts from the Spanish Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Society and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology for the genotyping of DPYD in cancer patients who are candidates for treatment with fluoropyrimidines

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and oral fluoropyrimidines, such as capecitabine, are widely used in the treatment of cancer, especially gastrointestinal tumors and breast cancer, but their administration can produce serious and even lethal toxicity. This toxicity is often related to the partial or complete deficiency of the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme, which causes a reduction in clearance and a longer half-life of 5-FU. It is advisable to determine if a DPD deficiency exists before administering these drugs by genotyping DPYD gene polymorphisms. The objective of this consensus of experts, in which representatives from the Spanish Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Society and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology participated, is to establish clear recommendations for the implementation of genotype and/or phenotype testing for DPD deficiency in patients who are candidates to receive fluoropyrimidines. The genotyping of DPYD previous to treatment classifies individuals as normal, intermediate, or poor metabolizers. Normal metabolizers do not require changes in the initial dose, intermediate metabolizers should start treatment with fluoropyrimidines at doses reduced to 50%, and poor metabolizers are contraindicated for fluoropyrimidines