“CAVIIAR FOR ALL” A CASE STUDY OF AN INNOVATIVE APPLICATION FOR CATERING, TOURISM AND CULTURE

Many people think that when we want something like a product or a service it comes from a financial point of view, but what really makes businesses sustainable and growth is creativity and innovation. This paper presents a real case study that exemplifies the notion of “idea to product” of an innovative application for the information and propagation of catering, tourism and culture (caviiar.pt). This is an uninterrupted service, which is oriented to give “real time” information about catering services and regional or nearby culture and touristic points of interest. It also allows the promotion of gastronomic or cultural events with information relevant to the idea of the application. This project intends to create a new catering, touristic and cultural notion with a high level of interaction with clients and their necessities or wants, bringing to daylight a new touristic concept: “online assessment tourism”.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Omnidirectional conformal patch antenna at S-band with 3D printed technology

A conformal patch array antenna with omnidirectional pattern in the azimuth plane at Sband is presented. A theoretical study of the generated ripple in the omnidirectional radiation pattern according to the number of faces that conform the array has been computed. A six-faced regular prism 3D structure has been chosen following a maximum 3 dB ripple criteria in the omnidirectional radiation pattern. A rectangular microstrip patch fed by a microstrip line has been designed as single radiating element. An equal power divider has been designed as feeding network in microstrip technology to feed each radiating element. Several prototypes have been manufactured and measured to validate the theoretical and simulated results. The entire conformal array has been assembled on a hexagonal regular prism manufactured in PolyLactic Acid (PLA) material using a 3D printer. In spite of the complexity of the proposed antenna structure, the used manufacturing processes, such as microstrip and 3D printing, allows to perform a low cost, low weight and compact final antenna. A higher radiated field ripple than the expected one is generated due to small deviations between experimental and theoretical critical parameters such as the feeding network performance or the 3 dB beam-width of the single element radiation pattern. A maximum ripple value of 4 dB has been experimentally obtained in the omnidirectional radiating pattern.This work has been supported by the Spanish Government, Ref. TEC2013-47106-C3-2-R (Project TECOAMP) and Madrid Region Government, Ref. S2013/ICE-3000 (Project SPADERADAR)

Predicting temporary wetland plant community responses to changes in the hydroperiod

The expected changes on rainfall in the next decades may cause significant changes of the hydroperiod of temporary wetlands and, consequently, shifts on plant community distributions. Predicting plant community responses to changes in the hydroperiod is a key issue for conservation and management of temporary wetlands. We present a predictive distribution model for Arthrocnemum macrostachyum communities in the Doñana wetland (Southern Spain). Logistic regression was used to fit the model using the number of days of inundation and the mean water height as predictors. The internal validation of the model yielded good performance measures. The model was applied to a set of expected scenarios of changes in the hydroperiod to anticipate the most likely shifts in the distribution of Arthrocnemum macrostachyum communities

Association between sleep-disordered breathing and breast cancer aggressiveness

Background Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been associated with cancer aggressiveness, but studies focused on specific tumors are lacking. In this pilot study we investigated whether SDB is associated with breast cancer (BC) aggressiveness. Methods 83 consecutive women <65 years diagnosed with primary BC underwent a home respiratory polygraphy. Markers of SDB severity included the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the 4% oxygen desaturation index (ODI4). The Ki67 proliferation index, lack of hormone receptors (HR-), Nottingham Histological Grade (NHG), and tumor stage were used as markers of BC aggressiveness. The association between SDB and molecular subtypes of BC was also assessed. Results The mean (SD) age was 48.8 (8.8) years and body mass index was 27.4 (5.4) Kg/m2. 42 women (50.6%) were post-menopausal. The median (IQR) AHI was 5.1 (2–9.4), and ODI4 was 1.5 (0.5–5.8). The median (IQR) AHI did not differ between the groups with Ki67>28% and Ki6728% and Ki67<29% (51.2% vs 52.3%, p = 0.90), HR- and HR+ (58.3% vs 49.1%, p = 0.47), NHG categories (p = 0.89), different tumor stages (p = 0.71), or molecular subtypes (p = 0.73). These results did not change when the ODI4 was used instead of the AHI. Conclusion Our results do not support an association between the presence or severity of SDB and BC aggressiveness.Asociación de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica del Sur (NEUMOSUR) 1/201

Water desorption isotherms of pork liver and thermodynamic properties

[EN] For the first time, the relationship between equilibrium moisture content and water activity is reported for the desorption process in pork liver. For that purpose, a standardized conductivity hygrometer was used at four different temperatures (0, 10, 30 and 50 degrees C) over a wide range of water activity (0.999-0.103). Five models frequently found in the literature (GAB, Oswin, Henderson, Hasley and Ratti) were considered for the purposes of describing the experimental desorption. The GAB model emerged as the best option (explained variance 96.6%) for the physical and mathematical description of the water desorption isotherms in pork liver. The computed isosteric heat, entropy and Gibbs energy illustrated the high water-sorbent affinity, because of a considerable availability of strong sorption sites at low moisture contents. The reported experimental desorption isotherms, and modeling results, are essentials for the optimal design of the drying process of pork liver, which is a necessary step for the further research addressing the extraction of the protein fraction from the dried product. Extraction and isolation of the protein fraction from pork liver could be considered a reasonable strategy considering the demand of protein materials and the high-environmental impact of the meat industry.The authors acknowledge the financial support from the "Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO)" and "Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)" in Spain (Project RTA 2017-00024-C04-03). Eduardo A. Sanchez-Torres acknowledges the FPU PhD contract (FPU18/01439) granted by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.Sanchez-Torres, E.; Abril-Gisbert, B.; Benedito Fort, JJ.; Bon Corbín, J.; Garcia-Perez, J. (2021). Water desorption isotherms of pork liver and thermodynamic properties. LWT - Food Science and Technology. 149:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.11185711014

Enhancing Survival, Engraftment, and Osteogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising candidates for bone regeneration therapies due to their plasticity and easiness of sourcing. MSC-based treatments are generally considered a safe procedure, however, the long-term results obtained up to now are far from satisfactory. The main causes of these therapeutic limitations are inefficient homing, engraftment, and osteogenic differentiation. Many studies have proposed modifications to improve MSC engraftment and osteogenic differentiation of the transplanted cells. Several strategies are aimed to improve cell resistance to the hostile microenvironment found in the recipient tissue and increase cell survival after transplantation. These strategies could range from a simple modification of the culture conditions, known as cell-preconditioning, to the genetic modification of the cells to avoid cellular senescence. Many efforts have also been done in order to enhance the osteogenic potential of the transplanted cells and induce bone formation, mainly by the use of bioactive or biomimetic scaffolds, although alternative approaches will also be discussed. This review aims to summarize several of the most recent approaches, providing an up-to-date view of the main developments in MSC-based regenerative techniques

Assessment of avocado textural changes during ripening by using contactless air-coupled ultrasound

[EN] In the present study, the use of the air-coupled ultrasonic technique has been analysed as a new tool for the contactless assessment of the avocado post-harvest textural modifications during ripening. Thus, ultrasonic parameters, such as maximum wave amplitude and ultrasound velocity, and textural ones, such as hardness, elastic modulus and relaxation capacity, were measured on avocado slices. During ripening, avocado reduced its elastic modulus (from 2.29 +/- 0.75 to 0.16 +/- 0.08 MPa), became softer and became more viscoelastic, which was well described from zero and first-order kinetic models. These changes increased ultrasound attenuation, decreasing the maximum amplitude of the ultrasonic signal (from 336.6 to 55.4 V/m), while the ultrasonic velocity remained constant, between 320.1 +/- 6.9 and 316.4 +/- 82.6 m/s. Thereby, the maximum ultrasonic amplitude, which adequately correlated with textural parameters (r(avg) = 0.85), could be used to assess the post-harvest ripening on avocado slices.The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) and Agencia Estatal de InvestigaciOn in Spain (Project RTC-2017-6314-2) and the Generalitat Valenciana. M.D. Farifias is grateful to the European Social Fund (ESF 2014-2020) and Generalitat Valenciana for her post-doctoral fellowship (APOSTD/2018/203). The author E.A. Sanchez-Torres acknowledges the support of the undergraduate student Sara Serrano Garcia on the experimental work.Fernandez-Caballero-Fariñas, MD.; Sanchez-Torres, EA.; Sanchez-Jimenez, V.; Díaz, R.; Benedito Fort, JJ.; Garcia-Perez, J. (2021). Assessment of avocado textural changes during ripening by using contactless air-coupled ultrasound. Journal of Food Engineering. 289:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2020.1102661928

Microconformado de Materiales Metálicos mediante Pulsos Láser en el Dominio de ns

La demanda de miniaturización introducida, entre otros, por la industria de fabricación de MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), hace necesario caracterizar y validar los procesos que emplean el láser en el microconformado de materiales metálicos a escala submilimétrica. Como alternativa al microconformado térmico, que hace uso de las deformaciones de origen térmico inducidas por la radiación láser, el microconformado mediante pulsos láser en el dominio de ns hace posible el conformado de materiales metálicos manteniendo, o incluso mejorando, las propiedades mecánicas de los mismos debido a la inducción de tensiones residuales de compresión en la superficie de la pieza tratada. Se presenta en este trabajo el estudio teórico y experimental del microconformado láser mediante la caracterización de diversas pruebas elementales. Miniaturization of components demanded by MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) industry, makes necessary the validation of the manufacturing processes applied to submillimetric metallic materials in which laser is used. As an alternative to thermal microforming in which laser induced thermal fields are responsible for the forming phenomena, the use of ns laser pulses makes possible microforming of metallic materials preserving, or even improving, their mechanical properties, due to the induction of residual stresses in the surface. In the present paper experimental tests and FEM simulation results on nanosecond time scale laser microforming are presented

Análisis comparativo de ciclo de vida de autobuses urbanos Euro 4 con sistema de postratamiento de gases de escape

La normativa EURO 4 marca un límite de emisiones contaminantes respecto a la emisión de NOx, partículas que han obligado al fabricante y, en concreto, a la ingeniería del motor a realizar estudios del funcionamiento del motor y del sistema de tratamiento de gases de escape radicalmente diferentes. En concreto, los estudios realizados han sido dos; por un lado, en motores que reducen la temperatura en cámara mediante recirculación de gases de escape (EGR) para reducción de NOx e incorporan filtro de partículas en el escape, y por el otro lado en motores que trabajan a altas temperaturas para reducción de partículas e incorporan un sistema catalítico selectivo (SCR) para reducir el NOx utilizando urea. En este trabajo se presenta un estudio comparativo de ambos sistemas para determinar el mejor comportamiento frente al requerimiento de energía, emisiones de gases efecto invernadero, contaminantes en un ciclo de vida global. Para ello, se tomarán los datos adquiridos del ciclo de conducción real de consumo y emisiones contaminantes, mediante un equipo de medidas embarcado a bordo del autobús. Completado el análisis del pozo a la rueda, se incluirá el análisis energético del cambio del gasóleo, de la urea. Finalmente, utilizando el programa GaBi 4, de análisis del ciclo de vida, se evaluará el impacto medioambiental al proceso de fabricación y reciclado, de ambos sistemas de postratamiento de gases de escape

Ultrasound intensification of Ferrochelatase extraction from pork liver as a strategy to improve ZINC-protoporphyrin formation

[EN] The enzyme Ferrochelatase (FeCH), which is naturally present in pork liver, catalyses the formation of Zincprotoporphyrin (ZnPP), a natural pigment responsible for the typical color of dry-cured Italian Parma ham. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using high power ultrasound in continuous and pulsed modes to intensify the extraction of the enzyme FeCH from pork liver. US application during FeCH extraction led to an improved enzymatic activity and further increase in the formation of ZnPP. The optimal condition tested was that of 1 min in continuous US application, in which time the enzymatic activity increased by 33.3 % compared to conventional extraction (30 min). Pulsed US application required 5 min treatments to observe a significant intensification effect. Therefore, ultrasound is a potentially feasible technique as it increases the catalytic activity of FeCH and saves time compared to the conventional extraction methodThe authors acknowledge the financial support from the "Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) and Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)" in Spain (Project RTA2017-00024-C04-03). The authors acknowledge the contribution of the undergraduate student Jose V. Pedrero-Gonzalez to the experimental work.Abril-Gisbert, B.; Sanchez-Torres, E.; Bou, R.; Garcia-Perez, J.; Benedito Fort, JJ. (2021). Ultrasound intensification of Ferrochelatase extraction from pork liver as a strategy to improve ZINC-protoporphyrin formation. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry. 78:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2021.105703S177