In situ characterization of main reaction products in alkali-activated slag materials by Confocal Raman Microscopy

The re-use of different aluminosilicates, such as blast furnace slag, in the preparation of alternative binders (alkali-activated materials) to Portland cement materials is well document and evaluated by conventional techniques. The use of XRD, FTIR and TG techniques allows obtaining information about the hydration products formed under the conditions of alkaline activation. The formation of the main reaction product (C-A-S-H gel), due to its low crystallinity, is not easily stablished by XRD or FTIR, and it is also quite complex to obtain quantitative information. Confocal Raman Microscopy (CRM) technique reveals information of each of the present phases during the slag activation and in particular. Moreover, CRM provide the evolution of C-A-S-H gel confirming that the growth of the C-A-S-H gel in activate alkaline-systems is different from that an Ordinary Portland Cement system. C-A-S-H gel grows randomly in the regions rich in calcium and silicon. The use of CRM opens a new possibility for the in situ study of complex systems such as the activation of alkali-activated or geopolymers in the search for alternative materials to Portland cement.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Project MAT-2017-86450-C4-1-R and Spanish National Research Council Project NANOMIND 201560E068. Dr. M. Torres-Carrasco is also indebted to MINECO for a postdoctoral fellowship "Juan de la Cierva-Formación" (ref: FJCI-2016-28488). In addition, O. Mikhailova enjoyed a pre-doctoral fellowship with specific junior project FAST-J-18-5568 from the Brno University of Technology (Czech Republic) for internship in Spain

Iodine recycling via 1,3-migration in iodoindoles under metal catalysis

3-Substituted (indol-2-yl)-α-allenols show divergent patterns of reactivity under metal catalysis. An unprecedented intramolecular 1,3-iodine migration is described. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.Peer Reviewe

New insights in weathering analysis of anhydrous cements by using high spectral and spatial resolution confocal Raman microscopy

Raman spectroscopy combined with Confocal microscopy is a non-destructive technique that provides relevant structural information in materials. In this study, we present non-destructive Raman image and structural analysis of anhydrous cements with carbonation evidences by means of Confocal Raman Microscopy (CRM). The results obtained by CRM have been contrasted with the techniques commonly used for this purpose as FTIR and DTA/TG. CRM shows the main cement phases distribution (C2S and C3S) reveals their degree of weathering. The results obtained by CRM evidence a surprising coexistence of carbonate with amorphous carbon indicating that weathering mechanism in more complex than expected. Moreover, the size of sulphate particles contributes kinetically to weathering reaction. The weathering of cement particles by the atmospheric agents requires thus the combined action of amorphous carbon and sulphate. This study opens new analytical possibilities applied to commercial cements due to the combined chemical and spatial high resolution of CRM.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Project MAT2013-48009-C4 and the Spanish National Research Council under Project NANOMIND CSIC201560E068

Efecto de los procesos de deshidratación por liofilización y atomización sobre las propiedades funcionales del vino cepa País y Syrah

43 p.La industria alimenticia constantemente se adapta a nuevas exigencias del mercado. La generación de un nicho alimenticio a través de productos en polvo, la hacen vanguardista desde el punto de vista de la innovación y el desarrollo de estos productos. El crecimiento de la producción de vino en el territorio nacional y los requerimientos que tiene la población de productos que favorezcan la salud de las personas, han hecho necesaria la conservación de las características funcionales de los vinos, en particular los compuestos fenólicos, incluso en presentaciones poco usuales como el vino en polvo. Sin embargo, no se ha estudiado si la producción de vino en polvo de cepas de vino País o Syrah conservan dichas características. La utilización de vino cepa País y cepa Syrah mediante los métodos de liofilización (Freeze-drying) y atomización (Spray-Dry) generan un producto en polvo deshidratado a través de un medio frió y un sistema de altas temperaturas, lo cual genera una mayor durabilidad en los productos, evitando así su degradación natural y con ello mejorando la manipulación y el transporte de estos. En este estudio se utilizaron vinos de cepa País y cepa Syrah, que fueron procesados para deshidratarse y luego convertir en polvo. Se determinaron las propiedades funcionales de estos productos y los beneficios que ellos entregan, mediante el estudio de fenoles específicos, como: resveratrol, floretina, ácido hidroxicinámico, kaempferol, quercetina y quercitrina, actividad de agua, pH y sólidos solubles (Brix°). Los resultados obtenidos con los dos tratamientos de producción de vino en polvo, mostró que la actividad de agua (aw), sólidos solubles y los fenoles resveratrol, floretina y kaempferol no mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas respecto al vino líquido. El pH y fenoles específicos como: ácido hidroxicinamico, quercetina y quercitrina, observaron un aumento respecto al vino líquido con diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Con los resultados obtenidos se podrá generar una nueva perspectiva sobre el uso del vino en polvo de cepa País y Syrah utilizando ya sea en la alimentación, como también en cualquier segmento en donde el contenido de fenoles sea necesario como base al desarrollo de nuevos productos./ ABSTRACT: The industry of food is constantly adapting to new market demands. The food niche generation, through powder products, from the point of view of innovation, and the development of these products, it makes it avant-garde. The wine's growth production in the national territory, and the requirements that the population has of products that benefit the health of the people, have made it necessary to preserve the functional characteristics of wines. In particular, the phenolic compounds, even in unusual presentations, like the wine powder. However, it hasn’t been studied if the production of the wine powder of País or Syrah’s wine strains, preserves these characteristics. The use of País and Syrah’s wine strains using the Freeze-drying and Spray-Dry methods generate a dehydrated powder product through a cold medium and a high temperature system. Which generates a greater durability in the products, avoiding their natural degradation and with this, improving the manipulation and the transport of these ones. In this study, País and Syrah’s wine strains were used, and they were processed to dehydrate and converted in powder. It was determined the functional properties of these products and the benefits that they provide by studying specific phenols, like: resveratrol, phloretin, hydroxycinnamic acid, kaempferol, quercetin and quercitrin, water activity, pH and soluble solids (Brix °). The results obtained with the two treatments of powdered wine showed that the activity of water (aw), soluble solids and phenols resveratrol, phloretin and kaempferol didn’t show statistically significant differences with respect to the liquid wine. The pH and the specific phenols, like: hydroxycinnamic acid, quercetin and quercitrin, observed an increase with respect to the liquid wine with statistically significant differences. With the results obtained it will be possible to generate a new perspective on the use of the powdered wine of País and Syrah’s strains using either in the food industry, as well as in any egment where the content of phenols are necessaries as a basis for the development of new product

Direct intranasal application of the solid phase of ImmunoCAP ® increases nasal specific immunoglobulin E detection in local allergic rhinitis patients

The measurement of nasal specific IgE (NsIgE) in local allergic rhinitis (LAR) patients is challenging and shows variability. The objective of this work was to evaluate a minimally-invasive method of direct detection of NsIgE in patients with LAR to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) using an automated immunoassay. Methods: Fifty patients participated (LAR, n = 14; allergic rhinitis (AR), n = 20; healthy controls [HC], n = 16). Detection of NsIgE was performed by direct application of the solid phase of a commercialDPImmunoCAP ® test 24 hours a er DP nasal provocation. Results: There was no difference in the median volume of secretion absorbed by the solid phase of the Immuno- CAP test in the 3 studied groups (p = 0.17). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. NsIgE 0.1450 was the optimal cutoff point, obtaining in LAR patients 42.86% sensitivity with the highest specificity (100%), and 75% sensitivity and 100% specificity for AR. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the detection of NsIgE to DP in LAR by using a simple, commercial device with high specificity

A regulated deficit irrigation strategy for hedgerow olive orchards with high plant density

Background & Aims There is not a consensus on the best irrigation approach for super-high density (SHD) olive orchards. Our aim was to design and test a regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategy for a sustainable balance between water saving, tree vigour and oil production. Methods We tested our RDI strategy for 3 years in an ‘Arbequina’ orchard with 1,667 trees ha−1. Two levels of irrigation reduction were applied, 60RDI and 30RDI, scaled to replacing 60 % and 30 %, respectively, of the of irrigation needs (IN). We also had a full irrigation (FI) treatment as control, with IN totalling 4,701 m3 ha−1 Results The 30RDI treatment showed the best balance between water saving, tree vigour and oil production. With a yearly irrigation amount (IA) of 1,366 m3 ha−1, which meant 72 % water saving as compared to FI, the reduction in oil yield was 26 % only. Conclusions Our results, together with recent knowledge on the effect of water stress on fruit development, allowed us to suggest a potentially improved RDI strategy for which a total IA of ca. 2,100 m3 ha−1 was calculated. Both some management details and the benefits of this suggested RDI strategy are still to be tested

Long COVID in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients in a large cohort in Northwest Spain, a prospective cohort study

Survivors to COVID-19 have described long-term symptoms after acute disease. These signs constitute a heterogeneous group named long COVID or persistent COVID. The aim of this study is to describe persisting symptoms 6 months after COVID-19 diagnosis in a prospective cohort in the Northwest Spain. This is a prospective cohort study performed in the COHVID-GS. This cohort includes patients in clinical follow-up in a health area of 569,534 inhabitants after SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 diagnosis. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were collected during the follow up. A total of 248 patients completed 6 months follow-up, 176 (69.4%) required hospitalization and 29 (10.2%) of them needed critical care. At 6 months, 119 (48.0%) patients described one or more persisting symptoms. The most prevalent were: extra-thoracic symptoms (39.1%), chest symptoms (27%), dyspnoea (20.6%), and fatigue (16.1%). These symptoms were more common in hospitalized patients (52.3% vs. 38.2%) and in women (59.0% vs. 40.5%). The multivariate analysis identified COPD, women gender and tobacco consumption as risk factors for long COVID. Persisting symptoms are common after COVID-19 especially in hospitalized patients compared to outpatients (52.3% vs. 38.2%). Based on these findings, special attention and clinical follow-up after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection should be provided for hospitalized patients with previous lung diseases, tobacco consumption, and women

Regulación de la actividad económica en el ámbito internacional y libertad de establecimiento. Cuestiones societarias, fiscales de derecho de la competencia, derecho privado y arbitraje

Ponencias presentadas al Seminario Español de Derecho Internacional Privado, que tuvo lugar en Barcelona, del 18 al 20 de octubre de 2017, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelon

Viral RNA load in plasma is associated with critical illness and a dysregulated host response in COVID‑19

Background. COVID-19 can course with respiratory and extrapulmonary disease. SARS-CoV-2 RNA is detected in respiratory samples but also in blood, stool and urine. Severe COVID-19 is characterized by a dysregulated host response to this virus. We studied whether viral RNAemia or viral RNA load in plasma is associated with severe COVID-19 and also to this dysregulated response. Methods. A total of 250 patients with COVID-19 were recruited (50 outpatients, 100 hospitalized ward patients and 100 critically ill). Viral RNA detection and quantification in plasma was performed using droplet digital PCR, targeting the N1 and N2 regions of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein gene. The association between SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia and viral RNA load in plasma with severity was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression. Correlations between viral RNA load and biomarkers evidencing dysregulation of host response were evaluated by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficients. Results. The frequency of viral RNAemia was higher in the critically ill patients (78%) compared to ward patients (27%) and outpatients (2%) (p < 0.001). Critical patients had higher viral RNA loads in plasma than non-critically ill patients, with non-survivors showing the highest values. When outpatients and ward patients were compared, viral RNAemia did not show significant associations in the multivariate analysis. In contrast, when ward patients were compared with ICU patients, both viral RNAemia and viral RNA load in plasma were associated with critical illness (OR [CI 95%], p): RNAemia (3.92 [1.183–12.968], 0.025), viral RNA load (N1) (1.962 [1.244–3.096], 0.004); viral RNA load (N2) (2.229 [1.382–3.595], 0.001). Viral RNA load in plasma correlated with higher levels of chemokines (CXCL10, CCL2), biomarkers indicative of a systemic inflammatory response (IL-6, CRP, ferritin), activation of NK cells (IL-15), endothelial dysfunction (VCAM-1, angiopoietin-2, ICAM-1), coagulation activation (D-Dimer and INR), tissue damage (LDH, GPT), neutrophil response (neutrophils counts, myeloperoxidase, GM-CSF) and immunodepression (PD-L1, IL-10, lymphopenia and monocytopenia). Conclusions. SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia and viral RNA load in plasma are associated with critical illness in COVID-19. Viral RNA load in plasma correlates with key signatures of dysregulated host responses, suggesting a major role of uncontrolled viral replication in the pathogenesis of this disease.This work was supported by awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Rapid Research Funding initiative (CIHR OV2 – 170357), Research Nova Scotia (DJK), Atlantic Genome/Genome Canada (DJK), Li-Ka Shing Foundation (DJK), Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation (DJK), the “Subvenciones de concesión directa para proyectos y programas de investigación del virus SARS‐CoV2, causante del COVID‐19”, FONDO–COVID19, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (COV20/00110, CIBERES, 06/06/0028), (AT) and fnally by the “Convocatoria extraordinaria y urgente de la Gerencia Regional de Salud de Castilla y León, para la fnanciación de proyectos de investigación en enfermedad COVID-19” (GRS COVID 53/A/20) (CA). DJK is a recipient of the Canada Research Chair in Translational Vaccinology and Infammation. APT was funded by the Sara Borrell Research Grant CD018/0123 funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-fnanced by the European Development Regional Fund (A Way to Achieve Europe programme). The funding sources did not play any role neither in the design of the study and collection, not in the analysis, in the interpretation of data or in writing the manuscript

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation