Effect of agro-climatic conditions on near infrared spectra of extra virgin olive oils

Authentication of extra virgin olive oil requires fast and cost-effective analytical procedures, such as near infrared spectroscopy. Multivariate analysis and chemometrics have been successfully applied in several papers to gather qualitative and quantitative information of extra virgin olive oils from near infrared spectra. Moreover, there are many examples in the literature analysing the effect of agro-climatic conditions on food content, in general, and in olive oil components, in particular. But the majority of these studies considered a factor, a non-numerical variable, containing this meteorological information. The present work uses all the agro-climatic data with the aim of highlighting the linear relationships between them and the near infrared spectra. The study begins with a graphical motivation, continues with a bivariate analysis and, finally, applies redundancy analysis to extend and confirm the previous conclusions.Peer Reviewe

New approaches in the chemometric analysis of infrared spectra of extra-virgin olive oils

The aim of this paper is to apply new chemometric approaches to obtain quantitative information from near and mid infrared spectra of Andalusian extra-virgin olive oils, using gas chromatography as a classical reference analytical technique. Estimations of the content in saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids are given using partial least squares regression from the near and mid infrared data matrices as well as their concatenated matrix. The different estimations are evaluated in terms of goodness of fit (calibration) and prediction (validation), as a function of the number of partial least squares factors in the regression model and the used matrix of data. Furthermore, the nature, systematic or random, of the prediction errors is studied by a decomposition of their mean squared error. Finally, procedures of cross-validation are implemented in order to generalize the previous results

New insights into evaluation of regression models through a decomposition of the prediction errors : application to near-infrared spectral data

This paper analyzes the performance of linear regression models taking into account usual criteria such as the number of principal components or latent factors, the goodness of fit or the predictive capability. Other comparison criteria, more common in an economic context, are also considered: the degree of multicollinearity and a decomposition of the mean squared error of the prediction which determines the nature, systematic or random, of the prediction errors. The applications use real data of extra-virgin oil obtained by near-infrared spectroscopy. The high dimensionality of the data is reduced by applying principal component analysis and partial least squares analysis. A possible improvement of these methods by using cluster analysis or the information of the relative maxima of the spectrum is investigated. Finally, obtained results are generalized via cross- validation and bootstrapping

Effect of agro-climatic conditions on near infrared spectra of extra virgin olive oils

Authentication of extra virgin olive oil requires fast and cost-effective analytical procedures, such as near infrared spectroscopy. Multivariate analysis and chemometrics have been successfully applied in several papers to gather qualitative and quantitative information of extra virgin olive oils from near infrared spectra. Moreover, there are many examples in the literature analysing the effect of agro-climatic conditions on food content, in general, and in olive oil components, in particular. But the majority of these studies considered a factor, a non-numerical variable, containing this meteorological information. The present work uses all the agro-climatic data with the aim of highlighting the linear relationships between them and the near infrared spectra. The study begins with a graphical motivation, continues with a bivariate analysis and, finally, applies redundancy analysis to extend and confirm the previous conclusions

IVVI 2.0: An intelligent vehicle based on computational perception

This paper presents the IVVI 2.0 a smart research platform to foster intelligent systems in vehicles. Computational perception in intelligent transportation systems applications has advantages, such as huge data from vehicle environment, among others, so computer vision systems and laser scanners are the main devices that accomplish this task. Both have been integrated in our intelligent vehicle to develop cutting-edge applications to cope with perception difficulties, data processing algorithms, expert knowledge, and decision-making. The long-term in-vehicle applications, that are presented in this paper, outperform the most significant and fundamental technical limitations, such as, robustness in the face of changing environmental conditions. Our intelligent vehicle operates outdoors with pedestrians and others vehicles, and outperforms illumination variation, i.e.: shadows, low lighting conditions, night vision, among others. So, our applications ensure the suitable robustness and safety in case of a large variety of lighting conditions and complex perception tasks. Some of these complex tasks are overcome by the improvement of other devices, such as, inertial measurement units or differential global positioning systems, or perception architectures that accomplish sensor fusion processes in an efficient and safe manner. Both extra devices and architectures enhance the accuracy of computational perception and outreach the properties of each device separately.This work was supported by the Spanish Government through the CICYT projects (GRANT TRA2010 20225 C03 01) and (GRANT TRA 2011 29454 C03 02)

Usefulness of bone turnover markers as predictors of mortality risk, disease progression and skeletal-related events appearance in patients with prostate cancer with bone metastases following treatment with zoledronic acid: TUGAMO study

Owing to the limited validity of clinical data on the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) and bone metastases, biochemical markers are a promising tool for predicting survival, disease progression and skeletal-related events (SREs) in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive capacity of biochemical markers of bone turnover for mortality risk, disease progression and SREs in patients with PCa and bone metastases undergoing treatment with zoledronic acid (ZA). Methods: This was an observational, prospective and multicenter study in which ninety-eight patients were included. Patients were treated with ZA (4mg every 4 weeks for 18 months). Data were collected at baseline and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months after the beginning of treatment. Serum levels of bone alkaline phosphtase (BALP), aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type I (P1NP) and beta-isomer of carboxiterminal telopeptide of collagen I (b-CTX) were analysed at all points in the study. Data on disease progression, SREs development and survival were recorded. Results: Cox regression models with clinical data and bone markers showed that the levels of the three markers studied were predictive of survival time, with b-CTX being especially powerful, in which a lack of normalisation in visit 1 (3 months after the beginning of treatment) showed a 6.3-times more risk for death than in normalised patients. Levels of these markers were also predictive for SREs, although in this case BALP and P1NP proved to be better predictors. We did not find any relationship between bone markers and disease progression. Conclusion: In patients with PCa and bone metastases treated with ZA, b-CTX and P1NP can be considered suitable predictors for mortality risk, while BALP and P1NP are appropriate for SREs. The levels of these biomarkers 3 months after the beginning of treatment are especially importantThis study was supported by Novartis Oncology Spai

Al-Bustān. Las fincas aristocráticas y la construcción de los paisajes periurbanos de al-Ándalus y Sicilia

Navarro Palazón, Julio, editorLa presente publicación se enmarca en el Proyecto I+D+i «Almunias medievales en el Mediterráneo: Historia y conservación de los paisajes culturales periurbanos» (PID2019-111508GB-I00, dirigido por Julio Navarro Palazón), del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Agencia Estatal de Investigación. Proyectos de I+D+i, de los Programas Estatales de Generación de Conocimiento y fortalecimiento Científico y Tecnológico del Sistema de I+D+i y de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad, del Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020. Esta obra es también un fruto destacado del trabajo realizado en el marco de la Unidad Asociada de I+D+i Patrimonio Cultural Árabe e Islámico, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Granada, a través de la Escuela de Estudios Árabes de Granad

Niraparib in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and DNA repair gene defects (GALAHAD): a multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial

Background Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers are enriched for DNA repair gene defects (DRDs) that can be susceptible to synthetic lethality through inhibition of PARP proteins. We evaluated the anti-tumour activity and safety of the PARP inhibitor niraparib in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers and DRDs who progressed on previous treatment with an androgen signalling inhibitor and a taxane. Methods In this multicentre, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study, patients aged at least 18 years with histologically confirmed metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mixed histology accepted, with the exception of the small cell pure phenotype) and DRDs (assessed in blood, tumour tissue, or saliva), with progression on a previous next-generation androgen signalling inhibitor and a taxane per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 or Prostate Cancer Working Group 3 criteria and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–2, were eligible. Enrolled patients received niraparib 300 mg orally once daily until treatment discontinuation, death, or study termination. For the final study analysis, all patients who received at least one dose of study drug were included in the safety analysis population; patients with germline pathogenic or somatic biallelic pathogenic alterations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA cohort) or biallelic alterations in other prespecified DRDs (non-BRCA cohort) were included in the efficacy analysis population. The primary endpoint was objective response rate in patients with BRCA alterations and measurable disease (measurable BRCA cohort). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02854436. Findings Between Sept 28, 2016, and June 26, 2020, 289 patients were enrolled, of whom 182 (63%) had received three or more systemic therapies for prostate cancer. 223 (77%) of 289 patients were included in the overall efficacy analysis population, which included BRCA (n=142) and non-BRCA (n=81) cohorts. At final analysis, with a median follow-up of 10·0 months (IQR 6·6–13·3), the objective response rate in the measurable BRCA cohort (n=76) was 34·2% (95% CI 23·7–46·0). In the safety analysis population, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any grade were nausea (169 [58%] of 289), anaemia (156 [54%]), and vomiting (111 [38%]); the most common grade 3 or worse events were haematological (anaemia in 95 [33%] of 289; thrombocytopenia in 47 [16%]; and neutropenia in 28 [10%]). Of 134 (46%) of 289 patients with at least one serious treatment-emergent adverse event, the most common were also haematological (thrombocytopenia in 17 [6%] and anaemia in 13 [4%]). Two adverse events with fatal outcome (one patient with urosepsis in the BRCA cohort and one patient with sepsis in the non-BRCA cohort) were deemed possibly related to niraparib treatment. Interpretation Niraparib is tolerable and shows anti-tumour activity in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and DRDs, particularly in those with BRCA alterations

Ahora / Ara

La cinquena edició del microrelatari per l’eradicació de la violència contra les dones de l’Institut Universitari d’Estudis Feministes i de Gènere «Purificación Escribano» de la Universitat Jaume I vol ser una declaració d’esperança. Aquest és el moment en el qual les dones (i els homes) hem de fer un pas endavant i eliminar la violència sistèmica contra les dones. Ara és el moment de denunciar el masclisme i els micromasclismes començant a construir una societat més igualitària. Cadascun dels relats del llibre és una denúncia i una declaració que ens encamina cap a un món millor

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of a new multipurpose disinfecting solution on silicone hydrogel contact lenses

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new multipurpose disinfecting solution (MPDS) with a formulation that includes aloe vera on its composition. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, double-masked clinical trial with a crossover design that included seven examinations. Two different MPDSs, Avizor Alvera® (study solution) and All Clean Soft® (control solution), each were used for 1 month. Comfilcon A silicone hydrogel contact lenses were used during the trial. The main outcome variables were corneal staining and deposits on the surfaces of the contact lenses. Other parameters including ocular surface response, contact lens wettability, user satisfaction, and adverse events, were analyzed according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 11980:2010 guidance for clinical investigation. Results: Twenty subjects (10 women, 10 men) (mean age, 27.7 ± 5.6 years; range, 20–41) were included. No differences between both MPDSs were found in the percentage of subjects with corneal staining >0 at day 30 (study: 35%, control: 50%; p = 0.46); neither in the percentage of subjects with deposits on the surface of the contact lens >0 at day 30 (study: 26.32%, control: 52.63%; p = 0.18). The study MPDS received higher rates in comfort (study: 8.14 ± 1.09, control: 7.94 ± 0.92; p = 0.56) and satisfaction at day 30 (study: 8.63 ± 0.91, control: 8.29 ± 0.80; p = 0.19), however the scores were not significantly different with the control MPDS. Conclusions: The clinical trial showed that the study MPDS is safe, efficient, and has acceptable physiologic tolerance, according to the ISO 11980:2010 guidance for clinical investigation