Dielectric and electrochemical properties of sustainable concrete

It is planned to improve the durability of reinforced concrete structures and the total or partial replacement of their components by the use of recyclable materials; as strategies to contribute to the concrete industry sustainability. The electrical resistivity and its relationship with the microstructure and electrochemical corrosion resistance in reinforced concrete manufactured with sustainable characteristics, that is, with recycled aggregates and supplementary cementitious materials; was evaluated in this study. The electrical resistivity in reinforced concretes is closely related to the microstructure of the cementitious matrix, and with the pore structure and distribution. As a consequence of the their components nature, it is assumed that the proposed sustainable concretes present different microstructure and porosity than the conventional concretes; because of this, the electrical and electrochemical response of those systems was analyzed with the help of the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique.Postprint (published version

Correlaciones existente entre tipos de fibras musculares, color y porcentaje de grasa intramuscular en cerdos de raza "chato murciano"

Mediante análisis de correlación se valora la influencia que los tipos de fibras I, IIA y IIX pueden tener sobre el color y el porcentaje de grasa intramuscular en el músculo longísimo lumbar del cerdo “Chato Murciano”. Los resultados demuestran que las fibras tipo IIX influyen sobre el color de la carne y que no existen correlaciones entre el porcentaje de grasa intramuscular y ninguno de los tipos de fibras analizados

Correlación existente entre los tipos de fibras musculares, el ph y la capacidad de retención de agua de la carne en el cerdo chato murciano.

Mediante análisis de correlación se valora la influencia que los tipos de fibras I, IIA y IIX tienen sobre el pH y la capacidad de retención de agua en el músculo longísimo lumbar del cerdo “Chato Murciano”. Los resultados demuestran que los tipos de fibras no influyen sobre el pH a los 45’, pero sí durante la caída del mismo a las 24 h del sacrificio. Por otra parte, nuestros resultados indican que la capacidad de retención de agua está relacionada negativamente con el tamaño de las fibras tipo IIA

Evaluación de los tipos de fibras musculares en cerdos de raza chato murciano criados en sistema intensivo

Mediante técnicas histoquímicas y de análisis de imagen se estudian las características de los distintos tipos de fibras que integran el músculo longísimo lumbar del cerdo “Chato Murciano” criado mediante sistema intensivo. Asimismo, se estima y valora la presencia de fibras anómalas. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran la presencia de al menos tres tipos principales de fibras, catalogadas como tipos I, IIA y IIX. Los datos morfométricos revelan la existencia de alto porcentaje (79%) y gran tamaño de las fibras IIX (glucolíticas). Un 50 % de los animales analizados presentó fibras gigantes aunque en porcentajes muy escasos (<1%)

Diferenciación y desarrollo postnatal de los tipos de fibras musculares en el cerdo chato murciano

Mediante la técnica que detecta la actividad de la enzima ATPasa miosínica se analiza el tamaño y porcentajes de los distintos tipos de fibras que integran el músculo longísimo lumbar del cerdo “Chato Murciano”, desde el nacimiento hasta los 120 días de edad. Al nacimiento, el músculo longísimo está conformado por un 5,5% de fibras tipo I, de gran tamaño y un 94,5% de fibras tipo II, de menor tamaño. Durante el primer mes de vida postnatal las fibras tipo II se irán diferenciando en nuevas fibras tipo I y subtipos IIA y IIX. A partir de los dos meses tiene lugar un aumento del diámetro fibrilar (hipertrofia) y una distribución fibrilar que recuerda a la de animales adultos. Aunque la hipertrofia observada afecta a los tres tipos de fibras evaluados, parece claro que el crecimiento y conformación muscular en el cerdo chato murciano está muy asociado al notable incremento en diámetro que experimentan las fibras IIX, ya que éstas crecen más rápidamente que las tipo I y IIA

Propiedades dieléctricas y electroquímicas de concretos sustentables

Como estrategias para contribuir en la sustentabilidad de la industria del concreto se está proyectando mejorar la durabilidad de las estructuras de concreto reforzado y el reemplazo parcial o total de sus ingredientes por materiales reciclables. En este estudio se evaluó la resistividad eléctrica y su relación con la microestructura y resistencia a la corrosión electroquímica de concretos reforzados fabricados con características de sustentabilidad, es decir, con agregados reciclados y materiales cementantes suplementarios. La resistividad eléctrica del concreto está íntimamente relacionada con la microestructura de la matriz cementante y con la estructura y distribución de poros. Por la naturaleza de sus ingredientes, es de suponerse que los concretos sustentables propuestos presentan diferente microestructura y porosidad que el concreto convencional, motivo por el cual se analizó la respuesta eléctrica y electroquímica de dichos sistemas mediante la técnica de espectroscopía de impedancia electroquímica.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Bovine Tuberculosis in Doñana Biosphere Reserve: The Role of Wild Ungulates as Disease Reservoirs in the Last Iberian Lynx Strongholds

Doñana National Park (DNP) in southern Spain is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where commercial hunting and wildlife artificial feeding do not take place and traditional cattle husbandry still exists. Herein, we hypothesized that Mycobacterium bovis infection prevalence in wild ungulates will depend on host ecology and that variation in prevalence will reflect variation in the interaction between hosts and environmental risk factors. Cattle bTB reactor rates increased in DNP despite compulsory testing and culling of infected animals. In this study, 124 European wild boar, 95 red deer, and 97 fallow deer were sampled from April 2006 to April 2007 and analyzed for M. bovis infection. Modelling and GIS were used to identify risk factors and intra and inter-species relationships. Infection with M. bovis was confirmed in 65 (52.4%) wild boar, 26 (27.4%) red deer and 18 (18.5%) fallow deer. In the absence of cattle, wild boar M. bovis prevalence reached 92.3% in the northern third of DNP. Wild boar showed more than twice prevalence than that in deer (p<0.001). Modelling revealed that M. bovis prevalence decreased from North to South in wild boar (p<0.001) and red deer (p<0.01), whereas no spatial pattern was evidenced for fallow deer. Infection risk in wild boar was dependent on wild boar M. bovis prevalence in the buffer area containing interacting individuals (p<0.01). The prevalence recorded in this study is among the highest reported in wildlife. Remarkably, this high prevalence occurs in the absence of wildlife artificial feeding, suggesting that a feeding ban alone would have a limited effect on wildlife M. bovis prevalence. In DNP, M. bovis transmission may occur predominantly at the intra-species level due to ecological, behavioural and epidemiological factors. The results of this study allow inferring conclusions on epidemiological bTB risk factors in Mediterranean habitats that are not managed for hunting purposes. Our results support the need to consider wildlife species for the control of bTB in cattle and strongly suggest that bTB may affect animal welfare and conservation

Lung Retransplantation with Positive Crossmatch in Primary Lung Transplantation Complicated by Antibody-Mediated Rejection

La hipertensión arterial pulmonar (HAP) representa el 2,6% de los trasplantes pulmonares (TP), con una mediana de supervivencia condicional(desde los 30 días del TP) de 9,8 años. Son frecuentes, el rechazo celular agudo (ACR) y la disfunción crónica del injerto (CLAD),mientras que es infrecuente el rechazo mediado por anticuerpos (AMR). El retrasplante pulmonar (RTP) constituye el 4% del TP mundial,debido a complicaciones en la vía aérea, disfunción primaria del injerto, ACR y CLAD. Mujer de 22 años, portadora de HAP idiopática(HAPI) desde el año 2013, trasplantada bipulmonar (TBP) en enero de 2018. A los 16 meses presentó neumonía adquirida en la comunidad.En una internación posterior, presentó ACR y a pesar de pulsos de metilprednisolona, progresó a requerimientos de cánula de altoflujo y ventilación mecánica no invasiva hospitalaria, caída del VEF1, y tomografía de tórax con vidrio esmerilado difuso y engrosamientoirregular reticular del intersticio subpleural; interpretándose como CLAD a predominio de síndrome de bronquiolitis obliterante (BOS),con presencia de anticuerpos específicos contra el donante (DSA). En enero de 2020 se realizó nuevo TP y ante cross-match positivo, serealizó plasmaféresis y reposición de IgG. Al mes del egreso, no se observaron signos de rechazo en control de biopsias transbronquiales.Entre 2 y 10% de los pacientes con indicación primaria de TP por HAPI son sometidos a retrasplante pulmonar (RTP). La presencia deDSA y el miss-match de HLA, no son contraindicaciones para el RTP.Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) represents 2.6% of lung transplantations (LT), with a conditional median survival (from 30 days after LT) of 9.8 years. Acute cellular rejection (ACR) and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) are common; whereas the antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is not. Lung retransplantation (LR) accounts for 4% of global LTs for complications in the airways, primary allograft dysfunction, ACR and CLAD. 22-year-old woman with idiopathic PAH (IPAH) since 2013, who underwent a double-lung transplantation (DLT) in January 2018. 16 months after transplantation she presented community-acquired pneumonia. During a subsequent hospitalization, she presented ACR. Despite the fact that she received pulse methylprednisolone, she required high-flow cannula therapy and hospital non-invasive mechanical ventilation; the FEV1 was reduced and she underwent a chest tomography with diffuse ground glass opacities and irregular reticular thickening of the subpleural interstitium; interpreting the predominance of BOS (bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome) as CLAD, with presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA). In January 2020, she received a new DLT and due to a positive crossmatch, she was treated with plasmapheresis and IgG replacement. One month after hospital discharge, no signs of rejection were observed at the BTB (bone-patellar tendon-bone) control. Between 2 to 10% of patients with primary indication of LT for IPAH are subjected to lung retransplantation (LR). The presence of DSA and HLA (human leucocyte antigen) mismatch aren’t contraindications to LR.Fil: Calderón Soriano, Juan C.. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Nazzo, María V.,. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Pérez Páez, Martha I.. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Virhuez, Yblin. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Balcazar, Jonathan. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Vicente, Luis. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Ahumada, Rosalía. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Osses, Juan M.. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Vigliano, Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Bertolotti, Alejandro Mario. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Caneva, Jorge O.. Fundación Favaloro; Argentin

HTLV-1 infection in solid organ transplant donors and recipients in Spain

HTLV-1 infection is a neglected disease, despite infecting 10-15 million people worldwide and severe illnesses develop in 10% of carriers lifelong. Acknowledging a greater risk for developing HTLV-1 associated illnesses due to immunosuppression, screening is being widely considered in the transplantation setting. Herein, we report the experience with universal HTLV testing of donors and recipients of solid organ transplants in a survey conducted in Spain. All hospitals belonging to the Spanish HTLV network were invited to participate in the study. Briefly, HTLV antibody screening was performed retrospectively in all specimens collected from solid organ donors and recipients attended since the year 2008. A total of 5751 individuals were tested for HTLV antibodies at 8 sites. Donors represented 2312 (42.2%), of whom 17 (0.3%) were living kidney donors. The remaining 3439 (59.8%) were recipients. Spaniards represented nearly 80%. Overall, 9 individuals (0.16%) were initially reactive for HTLV antibodies. Six were donors and 3 were recipients. Using confirmatory tests, HTLV-1 could be confirmed in only two donors, one Spaniard and another from Colombia. Both kidneys of the Spaniard were inadvertently transplanted. Subacute myelopathy developed within 1 year in one recipient. The second recipient seroconverted for HTLV-1 but the kidney had to be removed soon due to rejection. Immunosuppression was stopped and 3 years later the patient remains in dialysis but otherwise asymptomatic. The rate of HTLV-1 is low but not negligible in donors/recipients of solid organ transplants in Spain. Universal HTLV screening should be recommended in all donor and recipients of solid organ transplantation in Spain. Evidence is overwhelming for very high virus transmission and increased risk along with the rapid development of subacute myelopathy

Relationship between self-reported dietary intake and physical activity levels among adolescents: The HELENA study

Background Evidence suggests possible synergetic effects of multiple lifestyle behaviors on health risks like obesity and other health outcomes. Therefore it is important to investigate associations between dietary and physical activity behavior, the two most important lifestyle behaviors influencing our energy balance and body composition. The objective of the present study is to describe the relationship between energy, nutrient and food intake and the physical activity level among a large group of European adolescents. Methods The study comprised a total of 2176 adolescents (46.2% male) from ten European cities participating in the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study. Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed using validated 24-h dietary recalls and self-reported questionnaires respectively. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare the energy and nutrient intake and the food consumption between groups of adolescents with different physical activity levels (1st to 3rd tertile). Results In both sexes no differences were found in energy intake between the levels of physical activity. The most active males showed a higher intake of polysaccharides, protein, water and vitamin C and a lower intake of saccharides compared to less active males. Females with the highest physical activity level consumed more polysaccharides compared to their least active peers. Male and female adolescents with the highest physical activity levels, consumed more fruit and milk products and less cheese compared to the least active adolescents. The most active males showed higher intakes of vegetables and meat, fish, eggs, meat substitutes and vegetarian products compared to the least active ones. The least active males reported the highest consumption of grain products and potatoes. Within the female group, significantly lower intakes of bread and cereal products and spreads were found for those reporting to spend most time in moderate to vigorous physical activity. The consumption of foods from the remaining food groups, did not differ between the physical activity levels in both sexes. Conclusion It can be concluded that dietary habits diverge between adolescents with different self-reported physical activity levels. For some food groups a difference in intake could be found, which were reflected in differences in some nutrient intakes. It can also be concluded that physically active adolescents are not always inclined to eat healthier diets than their less active peers.The HELENA study took place with the financial support of the European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOOD-CT: 2005-007034). This work was also partially supported by the European Union, in the framework of the Public Health Programme (ALPHA project, Ref: 2006120), the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), the Spanish Ministry of Education (EX-2007-1124, and EX-2008-0641), and the Spanish Ministry of Health, Maternal, Child Health and Development Network (number RD08/0072) (JPRL, LAM)