Valorization of By-Products from Biofuel Biorefineries: Extraction and Purification of Bioactive Molecules from Post-Fermentation Corn Oil

The aim of this work was to develop innovative and sustainable extraction, concentration, and purification technologies aimed to recover target substances from corn oil, obtained as side stream product of biomass refineries. Residues of bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, phytosterols, tocopherols, and polyphenols could be extracted from this matrix and applied as ingredients for food and feeds, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic products. These molecules are well known for their antioxidant and antiradical capacity, besides other specific biological activities, generically involved in the prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases. The project involved the development of methods for the selective extraction of these minor components, using as suitable extraction technique solid phase extraction. All the extracted and purified fractions were evaluated by NMR spectroscopic analyses and UV–Vis spectrophotometric techniques and characterized by quali-quantitative HPLC analyses. TPC (total phenolic content) and TFC (total flavonoid content) were also determined. DPPH and ABTS radical were used to evaluate radical quenching abilities. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), amylase, glucosidase, and tyrosinase were selected as enzymes in the enzyme inhibitory assays. The obtained results showed the presence of a complex group of interesting molecules with strong potential in market applications according to circular economy principles

Combined body mass index and waist-to-height ratio and its association with lifestyle and health factors among Spanish children: the PASOS study

Background and Aims: The World Health Organization recommended simultaneous measurement of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) and suggested joint use to predict disease risks. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of BMI and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) categories among Spanish children and adolescents, as well as their associations with several lifestyle factors. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 8–16-year-old children and adolescents (n = 3772) were included in the PASOS nationwide representative study. Children/adolescents and their mothers/female caregivers answered a questionnaire on lifestyle and health factors. Child/adolescent anthropometrics were measured. Four combined BMI-WHtR disease risk categories were built. Results: A third of participants showed combined BMI-WHtR categories with high disease risk (12.3% ‘increased risk’, 9.7% ‘high risk’, 14.3% ‘very high risk’). Participants in the ‘very high risk’ group were less likely to be females (odds ratio 0.63; 95% CI: 0.52–0.76) and adolescents (0.60; 95% CI: 0.49–0.72), to practice ≥60 min/day of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (0.73; 95% CI: 0.57–0.93), and to watch <120 min/day of total screen time on weekdays (0.61; 95% CI: 0.49–0.76). Mothers of participants in the ‘very high risk’ group were less likely to have a high educational level, be in the overweight or normal range, have never smoked or were former smokers, and watch <120 min/day of total screen time on weekends. Participants in the ‘increased’ and ‘high risk’ categories had mothers with normal weight and ≥60 min/day of MVPA. Participants in the ’high risk’ group did not achieve ≥60 min/day of MVPA and showed lower adherence to the mediterranean diet. Conclusions: Adherence to a healthy lifestyle in children and adolescents, but also in their mothers/female caregivers during offspring’s childhood and adolescence, is associated with low BMI-WHtR disease risk.The PASOS study was funded by Fundación PROBITAS and the Gasol Foundation. Additional funds were received from the Barça Foundation, Banco Santander, IFA, Vienna and the Fundación Deporte Joven (no references are applicable). J.A.T., C.B., M.M.G., and M.d.M.B. were funded by CIBEROBN (CB12/03/30038) of the Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund

Cannabinoid pharmacology in cancer research: A new hope for cancer patients?

Cannabinoids have been used for many centuries to ease pain and in the past decade, the endocannabinoid system has been implicated in a number of pathophysiological conditions, such as mood and anxiety disorders, movement disorders such as Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension, glaucoma, obesity, and osteoporosis. Several studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids also have anti-cancer activity and as cannabinoids are usually well tolerated and do not produce the typical toxic effects of conventional chemotherapies, there is considerable merit in the development of cannabinoids as potential anticancer therapies. Whilst the presence of psychoactive effects of cannabinoids could prevent any progress in this field, recent studies have shown the value of the non-psychoactive components of cannabinoids in activating apoptotic pathways, inducing anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic effects. The aforementioned effects are suggested to be through pathways such as ERK, Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways and hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF1), all of which are important contributors to the hallmarks of cancer. Many important questions still remain unanswered or are poorly addressed thus necessitating further research at basic pre-clinical and clinical levels. In this review, we address these issues with a view to identifying the key challenges that future research needs to address

Supplement: "Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914" (2016, ApJL, 826, L13)

This Supplement provides supporting material for Abbott et al. (2016a). We briefly summarize past electromagnetic (EM) follow-up efforts as well as the organization and policy of the current EM follow-up program. We compare the four probability sky maps produced for the gravitational-wave transient GW150914, and provide additional details of the EM follow-up observations that were performed in the different bands

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914

A gravitational-wave (GW) transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors on 2015 September 14. The event, initially designated G184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminary estimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 63 teams of observers covering radio, optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths with ground- and space-based facilities. In this Letter we describe the low-latency analysis of the GW data and present the sky localization of the first observed compact binary merger. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 25 teams via private Gamma-ray Coordinates Network circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the GW sky localization coverage, the timeline, and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binary black hole merger, there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic (EM) signature. Nevertheless, this first broadband campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone and highlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that have been developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events. Detailed investigations of the EM data and results of the EM follow-up campaign are being disseminated in papers by the individual teams

Localization and Broadband Follow-up of the Gravitational-wave Transient GW150914

A gravitational-wave (GW) transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors on 2015 September 14. The event, initially designated G184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminary estimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 63 teams of observers covering radio, optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths with ground- and space-based facilities. In this Letter we describe the low-latency analysis of the GW data and present the sky localization of the first observed compact binary merger. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 25 teams via private Gamma-ray Coordinates Network circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the GW sky localization coverage, the timeline, and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binary black hole merger, there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic (EM) signature. Nevertheless, this first broadband campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone and highlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that have been developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events. Detailed investigations of the EM data and results of the EM follow-up campaign are being disseminated in papers by the individual teams. </p

Implantación de software para el registro y gestión centralizada de proveedores

Este Trabajo Final de Grado mostrará cuál proceso que se sigue en el desarrollo de un proyecto de implantación de una herramienta ERP, en este caso SAP Ariba Network, centrándose en uno de sus módulos, orientado al registro y gestión centralizada de los proveedores. A lo largo del trabajo, se mostrarán cuáles son las necesidades y requerimientos del cliente, que conducirán a una propuesta detallada por parte de la consultora que desarrolla este proyecto. En esta propuesta se atacarán todos los frentes solicitados por el cliente y se plantearán escenarios y alternativas para el desarrollo del proyecto. Una vez comprendido el origen, las motivaciones y las propuestas de proyecto, se explicará cómo es el funcionamiento del mismo, su organización y los pasos y etapas a seguir. Se mostrará también el resultado del proyecto, explicando por un lado el flujo diseñado para el registro y gestión de proveedores del cliente, con sus pasos y la utilidad de cada uno de ellos; por el otro lado, en los anexos, se mostrarán imágenes de este mismo flujo en la herramienta implantada. Estas dos ramas de la explicación facilitarán una comprensión más amplia y aportarán una visión más completa del trabajo realizado y el resultado del proyecto. Con esta serie de explicaciones, se aporta al lector una perspectiva amplia del origen, el funcionamiento, el desarrollo, y el resultado de un proyecto de implantación de SAP Ariba, con todas las conclusiones que se pueden sacar tras completar un proyecto de estas característicasAquest Treball Final de Grau mostrarà el procés que es segueix en el desenvolupament d'un projecte d'implantació d'una eina ERP, en aquest cas SAP Ariba Network, centrant- se en un dels seus mòduls, orientat al registre i gestió centralitzada dels proveïdors. Al llarg del treball, es mostraran les necessitats i requeriments del client, que conduiran a una proposta detallada per part de la consultora que desenvolupa aquest projecte. En aquesta proposta s'abordaran tots els fronts sol·licitats pel client i es plantejaran escenaris i alternatives per al desenvolupament del projecte. Un cop entès l'origen, les motivacions i les propostes de projecte, s'explicarà com és el funcionament del mateix, la seva organització i els passos i etapes a seguir. També es mostrarà el resultat del projecte, explicant per una banda el flux dissenyat per al registre i gestió de proveïdors del client, amb els seus passos i la utilitat de cadascun d'ells; per l'altra banda, en els annexos, es mostraran imatges d'aquest mateix flux a la eina implantada. Aquestes dues branques de l'explicació facilitaran una comprensió més àmplia i aportaran una visió més completa del treball realitzat i el resultat del projecte. Amb aquesta sèrie d'explicacions, s'aporta al lector una perspectiva àmplia de l'origen, el funcionament, el desenvolupament i el resultat d'un projecte d'implantació de SAP Ariba, amb totes les conclusions que es poden extreure després de completar un projecte d'aquestes característiquesThis Bachelor's Final Project will demonstrate the process followed in the development of an implementation project for an ERP tool, in this case, SAP Ariba Network, focusing on one of its modules, aimed at the centralized registration and management of suppliers. Throughout the project, the needs and requirements of the client will be presented, leading to a detailed proposal by the consulting firm responsible for this project. This proposal will address all the requested aspects by the client and will propose scenarios and alternatives for the project's development. Once the origin, motivations, and project proposals are understood, the functioning of the project, its organization, and the steps and stages to be followed will be explained. The project's outcome will also be showcased, explaining on one hand the designed flow for the client's supplier registration and management, with its steps and the usefulness of each one; on the other hand, in the appendices, images of this same flow in the implemented tool will be displayed. These two branches of explanation will provide a broader understanding and a more comprehensive view of the work carried out and the project's outcome. With this series of explanations, the reader is provided with a broad perspective of the origin, functioning, development, and outcome of an SAP Ariba implementation project, along with all the conclusions that can be drawn after completing a project of this natur

Effect of origin, breeding and processing conditions on the isotope ratios of bioelements in dry-cured ham

The stable isotope ratios (IR) of the bioelements (2H/1H, 13C/12C, 15N/14N, 18O/16O, 34S/32S) of the defatted dry matter (DFDM) and of two different fat fractions, marbling (FAT) and subcutaneous (SCF), were assessed on 86 ham samples belonging to six different types, with the aim of ascertaining the effect of origin and production system on 11 isotopic parameters. The six ham types were obtained from pigs reared in three regions, examining in every location one different production factor at two levels of expression: pig genotype (local breed vs. industrial hybrid) in Friuli (Italy), pig feeding regime (Bellota vs. Campo) in Extremadura (Spain) and ham seasoning time (mid vs. end) in Emilia (Italy). Both pig origin and husbandry or processing conditions had a significant effect on IR variability. By applying the stepwise linear discriminant analysis, 98.8% of hams were correctly assigned and 97.7% correctly cross-validated into the six different classes