Fractionation and fluxes of metals and radionuclides during the recycling process of phosphogypsum wastes applied to mineral CO2 sequestration

The industry of phosphoric acid produces a calcium-rich by-product known as phosphogypsum, which is usually stored in large stacks of millions of tons. Up to now, no commercial application has been widely implemented for its reuse because of the significant presence of potentially toxic contaminants. This work confirmed that up to 96% of the calcium of phosphogypsum could be recycled for CO2 mineral sequestration by a simple two-step process: alkaline dissolution and aqueous carbonation, under ambient pressure and temperature. This CO2 sequestration process based on recycling phosphogypsum wastes would help to mitigate greenhouse gasses emissions. Yet this work goes beyond the validation of the sequestration procedure; it tracks the contaminants, such as trace metals or radionuclides, during the recycling process in the phosphogypsum. Thus, most of the contaminants were transferred from raw phosphogypsum to portlandite, obtained by dissolution of the phosphogypsum in soda, and from portlandite to calcite during aqueous carbonation. These findings provide valuable information for managing phosphogypsum wastes and designing potential technological applications of the by-products of this environmentally-friendly proposal.Junta de Andalucía P10-RNM-6300, P12- RNM-226

Influence of obesity on bone turnover markers and fracture risk in postmenopausal women

Producción CientíficaBackground and aims: The relationship between obesity and bone metabolism is controversial. In recent decades, the protective role of obesity in the development of osteoporosis is questioned. The aims of this study are the following: to evaluate the differences in bone turnover markers between postmenopausal women with and without obesity and to compare the risk of fracture at five years between these groups. Methods: An observational longitudinal prospective cohort study of postmenopausal women with obesity (O) (body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2) and non-obesity (NoO) (BMI < 30 kg/m2) is designed. 250 postmenopausal women are included in the study (NoO: 124 (49.6%) and O: 126 (50.4%)). It measures epidemiological variables, dietary variables (calcium intake, vitamin D intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity), biochemicals (β-crosslap, type I procollagen amino-terminal peptide (P1NP), 25OH-vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH)), anthropometric variables, and fracture data five years after the start of the study. The mean age is 56.17 (3.91) years. Women with obesity showed lower levels of vitamin D (O: 17.27 (7.85) ng/mL, NoO: 24.51 (9.60) ng/mL; p < 0.01), and higher levels of PTH (O: 53.24 (38.44–65.96) pg/mL, NoO: 35.24 (25.36–42.40) pg/mL; p < 0.01). Regarding the bone formation marker (P1NP), it was found to be high in women without obesity, O: 45.46 (34.39–55.16) ng/mL, NoO: 56.74 (45.34–70.74) ng/mL; p < 0.01; the bone resorption marker (β-crosslap) was found to be high in women with obesity, being significant in those older than 59 years (O: 0.39 (0.14) ng/mL, NoO 0.24 (0.09) ng/mL; p < 0.05). No differences are observed in the risk of fracture at 5 years based on BMI (OR = 0.90 (95%CI 0.30–2.72); p = 0.85). Conclusions: Postmenopausal women with obesity showed lower levels of bone formation markers; older women with obesity showed higher markers of bone resorption

Effect of Previous Crops and Soil Physicochemical Properties on the Population of Verticillium dahliae in the Iberian Peninsula

The soil infestation of Verticillium dahliae has significant Verticillium wilt of olive (VWO) with epidemiological consequences which could limit the expansion of the crop. In this context, there is a misunderstood history of the crops and soil property interactions associated with inoculum density (ID) increases in the soil. In this study, the effect of the combination of both factors was assessed on the ID of V. dahliae in the olive-growing areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Afterwards, the relationship of the ID to the mentioned factors was explored. The detection percentage and ID were higher in Spain than Portugal, even though the fields with a very favourable VWO history had a higher ID than that of the fields with a barely favourable history, regardless of the origin. The soil physicochemical parameters were able to detect the degree to which the ID was increased by the previous cropping history. By using a decision tree classifier, the percentage of clay was the best indicator for the V. dahliae ID regardless of the history of the crops. However, active limestone and the cation exchange capacity were only suitable ID indicators when <2 or 4 host crops of the pathogen were established in the field for five years, respectively. The V. dahliae ID was accurately predicted in this study for the orchard choices in the establishment of the olive

Dynamic Gesture Recognition Using a Smart Glove in Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

This paper presents a methodology for movement recognition in hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery using a textile-based sensing glove. The aim is to recognize the commands given by the surgeon’s hand inside the patient’s abdominal cavity in order to guide a collaborative robot. The glove, which incorporates piezoresistive sensors, continuously captures the degree of flexion of the surgeon’s fingers. These data are analyzed throughout the surgical operation using an algorithm that detects and recognizes some defined movements as commands for the collaborative robot. However, hand movement recognition is not an easy task, because of the high variability in the motion patterns of different people and situations. The data detected by the sensing glove are analyzed using the following methodology. First, the patterns of the different selected movements are defined. Then, the parameters of the movements for each person are extracted. The parameters concerning bending speed and execution time of the movements are modeled in a prephase, in which all of the necessary information is extracted for subsequent detection during the execution of the motion. The results obtained with 10 different volunteers show a high degree of precision and recall

La industria osea de El Portalón de Cueva Mayor (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos). Biapuntados, puntas de flecha y agujas, morfología y funcionalidad.

Se presenta una parte de la colección ósea de El Portalón de Cueva Mayor de Atapuerca, En concreto se analiza la categoría de Apuntados, distribuyendo los objetos en sus diversos tipos y contextualizándolos cultural y cronológicamente. El lote se encuadra desde finales del Calcolítico al Bronce medio, y reúne piezas singulares para las que se pueden proponer intercambios de larga distancia, y objetos más comunes quizá, para el caso de las puntas de flecha, de producción local

A cross-sectional study to assess inhalation device handling and patient satisfaction in COPD

Delivery of inhaled medications via an inhaler device underpins the effectiveness of treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Correct inhaler technique among patients is also a predictor of achieving treatment compliance and adherence. Reporting of patient satisfaction with inhalers is therefore gaining increasing attention and is now recognized as an important patient-reported outcome in clinical trials involving patients with COPD or asthma. In this cross-sectional study, we use the validated Patient Satisfaction and Preference Questionnaire (PASAPQ) to assess the handling and satisfaction for Respimat (R) Soft Mist (TM) Inhaler (SMI) compared with the Breezhaler (R) dry powder inhaler (DPI) among patients with COPD in Spain. Patients were already assigned to therapy with either SPIRIVA (R) (tiotropium) Respimat (R) or with Hirobriz (R)/Onbrez (R)/Oslif (R) (indacaterol) Breezhaler (R) for at least 3 but not more than 6 months before completing the PASAPQ at a single visit to the study site. The primary endpoint of the trial was the mean total PASAPQ score. Secondary endpoints were the performance score domain of the PASAPQ, the convenience score domain of the PASAPQ, and the overall satisfaction score of the PASAPQ. For the primary endpoint, the mean PASAPQ total score in the Respimat (R) and Breezhaler (R) groups was 80.7 and 79.9, respectively (difference of 0.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.9 to 4.5; P= 0.67). The mean total performance scores were 82.5 and 78.2 (difference of 4.3, 95% CI -0.3 to 8.9; P= 0.06), and the mean total convenience scores were 78.6 and 81.9 (difference of -3.3, 95% CI -7.0 to 0.4; P= 0.08) for the Respimat (R) and Breezhaler (R) groups, respectively. Patients gave the Respimat (R) SMI and the Breezhaler (R) DPI overall satisfaction PASAPQ scores of 6.0 and 5.9, respectively, which shows that patients were satisfied with these inhalers

Estimates on Cephalopods Discards by Spanish NE Atlantic Trawl Fishing Fleets

Yearly cephalopods discard estimations for Spanish trawl eets operating in Northeast Atlantic area (ICES V I, V II, V IIIc and IXa) over the period 2003-2010 are presented. Estimations are aggregated from m etier to shing ground level. Only information for the most important species in terms of discarded biomass and those included in the Data Collection Framework directive are presented. Squid species belonging to the family Ommastrephi- dae and the Octopodidae Eledone cirrhosa were the most discarded species in the northern shing grounds, nevertheless volume discarded of those species are much higher in ICES Sub-area V I V II than in Divisions V IIIc and IXa north. Very low discard values were observed in ICES Division IXa south (Gulf of C adiz), being Octopus vulgaris and Eledone moschata the most discarded species

Detección, mediante un guante sensorizado, de movimientos seleccionados en un sistema robotizado colaborativo para HALS

[Resumen] El uso de robots ha permitido importantes progresos en el campo de la cirugía laparoscópica convencional. Sin embargo, se ha prestado poca atención a la cirugía laparoscópica asistida a mano, una cirugía en la que el cirujano introduce la mano no dominante en el abdomen del paciente. El riesgo de colisión entre la mano del cirujano y la herramienta movida por el robot es un problema que ha de abordarse. También ha habido un creciente interés en los wearables, lo que nos lleva a la aplicación de un guante sensorizado que colabora con un robot en este tipo de cirugía. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la información proporcionada por un guante sensorizado de los movimientos de la mano del cirujano para determinar las acciones que llevará a cabo el robot colaborativo. La inclusión de un guante quirúrgico sensorizado en cirugía laparoscópica asistida por la mano (Hand Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery, HALS) dentro de un sistema colaborativo robotizado permitiría enviar información sobre movimientos específicamente seleccionados realizados por la mano del cirujano durante la intervención. Para ello han de definirse de forma unívoca ciertos movimientos de la mano que se han de identificar online para que el robot colaborativo realice las actividades pertinentesMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad; DPI2013-47196-C3-3-

Indirect methods to estimate hidden population: Second part.

Las poblaciones ocultas, aquellas difíciles de identificar por tener características estigmatizadoras o ilegales, suelen dar problemas a la hora de determinar su tamaño o prevalencia en determinados contextos. Los métodos tradicionales o directos, como las encuestas poblacionales, no suelen servir para este cometido. Los métodos indirectos, que parten de fuentes de datos incompletas para estimar la prevalencia real de la población, sí pueden ser útiles. Este trabajo completa el artículo original publicado en 2017 por Revista Española de Salud Pública sobre métodos indirectos para la estimación de poblaciones ocultas. Se exponen cuatro métodos diferentes, cada uno de los cuales tiene distintas indicaciones dependiendo de los datos de los que dispongamos y diferentes sesgos que deben valorarse detenidamente para realizar una estimación lo más cercana posible a la realidad. "Hidden populations" are difficult to identify because they have stigmatizing or illegal characteristics. For that reason, determining their size or prevalence in certain contexts is complicated. In those populations, raditional or direct methods, as population surveys, do not usually serve for this purpose, but indirect methods, based on incomplete data sources, can be useful.This work completes the original article published in Revista Española de Salud Pública in 2017: "Indirect methods to estimate hidden populations". Different methods are exposed, showing their indications and bias. To make an estimation as real as possible it is necessary to evaluate carefully the data available and analyze the risk of bias.Financiación: parcialmente financiado por “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad,Actuación de Formación Posdoctoral” (FPDI-2013-15827)”S

Growth and Branching of Gold nanoparticles Through MesoporousSilica Thin Films

Composite materials made of mesoporous oxide thin films containing metallic nanoparticles are of high interest in various fields, including catalysis, biosensing and non-linear optics. We demonstrate in this work the fabrication of such composite materials containing a sub-monolayer of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) of various shapes covered with mesoporous silica thin films. Additionally, the shape of the GNPs (and thus their optical properties) can be modified in situ through seeded growth and branching. Such growth proceeds upon wetting with HAuCl 4 solution, a surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) and a mild reducing agent (ascorbic acid, AA). The effect of varying several reaction parameters (time and CTAB and AA concentrations) was evaluated, showing that more anisotropic particles are obtained at longer reaction times, lower CTAB concentration and higher AA concentration. The final shape of the GNPs was also found to depend on their initial shape and size, as well as the pore size of the mesoporous film covering them. Because the growth proceeds through the pores of the film, it may lead to shapes that are not easily obtained in solution, such as particles with branches on one side only. Finally, we have confirmed that no damage was induced to the mesoporous silica structure during the growth process and thus the final particles remain well covered by the thin film, which can eventually be used as a filter between the GNPs and the outer medium.Fil: Angelomé, Paula C.. Universidad de Vigo; EspañaFil: Pastoriza Santos, Isabel. Universidad de Vigo; EspañaFil: Pérez Juste, Jorge. Universidad de Vigo; EspañaFil: Rodríguez-González, Benito. Universidad de Vigo; EspañaFil: Zelcer, Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Soler Illia, Galo Juan de Avila Arturo. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Liz Marzán, Luis M.. Universidad de Vigo; Españ