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There is a growing interest in university commuting that aims at identifying patterns of behavior, as well as the main barriers limiting the advances in sustainable mobility on campus. This work analyzes, on the basis of an online survey conducted at the University of Leon (ULE), the following issues: a) the behavior of ULE users in their weekly commuting; b) the environmental implications of such behavior in terms of non-renewable cumulative energy demand (NR CED), and c) the main barriers/disincentives to implementing a modal shift as declared by the respondents, according to their work status (students or workers) and gender. The data reveal differences in habits, especially in relation to the users' work status, while differences by gender are not so significant. Still, this case study shows how men students use bicycles and motorcycles slightly more often than women, while the car is the main transportation mode for women workers. Car use is in fact the main hotspot of university commuting to the ULE (approximately 95% of the NR CED). Unsafe cycle paths, thefts at university, bus fares and frequency of service were the main barriers to a greater use of bicycle and bus identified by the survey respondents, with some differences by gender and work status. Measures aimed at minimizing these barriers could achieve maximum reductions of the NR CED ranging between 18.1% and 35.0%. This article discusses measures and policies that could be implemented to improve sustainable mobility at university. • The University can strategically use energy and gender analysis to improve its mobility policies. • Modal choice is strongly linked to work status (student/staff) and to the sexual division of labor. • Car commuting is the main energy hotspot of university mobility, especially among workers. • Better and safer cycle paths are the main challenge to reducing the cumulative energy demand of university commuting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the risk of fetal loss associated with chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in twin pregnancy, using propensity score analysis. Methods: This was a multicenter cohort study of women with twin pregnancy undergoing ultrasound examination at 11–13 weeks' gestation, performed in eight fetal medicine units in which the leadership were trained at the Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine in London, UK, and in which the protocols for screening, invasive testing and pregnancy management are similar. The risk of death of at least one fetus was compared between pregnancies that had and those that did not have CVS, after propensity score matching (1:1 ratio). This procedure created two comparable groups by balancing the maternal and pregnancy characteristics that lead to CVS being performed, similar to how randomization operates in a randomized clinical trial. Results: The study population of 8581 twin pregnancies included 445 that had CVS. Death of one or two fetuses at any stage during pregnancy occurred in 11.5% (51/445) of pregnancies in the CVS group and in 6.3% (515/8136) in the non‐CVS group (P < 0.001). The propensity score algorithm matched 258 cases that had CVS with 258 non‐CVS cases; there was at least one fetal loss in 29 (11.2%) cases in the CVS group and in 35 (13.6%) cases in the matched non‐CVS group (odds ratio (OR), 0.81; 95% CI, 0.48–1.35; P = 0.415). However, there was a significant interaction between the risk of fetal loss after CVS and the background risk of fetal loss; when the background risk was higher, the risk of fetal loss after CVS decreased (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.23–0.90), while, in pregnancies with a lower background risk of fetal loss, the risk of fetal loss after CVS increased (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 0.95–7.13). The effects were statistically significantly different (P‐value of the interaction = 0.005). For a pregnancy in which the background risk of fetal loss was about 6% (the same as in our non‐CVS population), there was no change in the risk of fetal loss after CVS, but, when the background risk was more than 6%, the posterior risk was paradoxically reduced, and when the background risk was less than 6%, the posterior risk increased exponentially; for example, if the background risk of fetal loss was 2.0%, the relative risk was 2.8 and the posterior risk was 5.6%. Conclusion: In twin pregnancy, after accounting for the risk factors that lead to both CVS and spontaneous fetal loss and confining the analysis to pregnancies at lower prior risk, CVS seems to increase the risk of fetal loss by about 3.5% above the patient's background risk. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Linked article: There is a comment on this article by Li and Li. Click here to view the Correspondence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Background: Spain, due to its geopolitical situation, is not exempt from the threats and challenges associated with viral infectious diseases such as the «viral hemorrhagic fevers». Implementing actions to reduce these risks with the development of an emergency treatment against these viral agents for intravenous is of great interest. Objective: Develop two formulations of Ribavirin 100 mg/ml with different excipients and manufacturing conditions to look for the most stable formulation. Material and methods: Ribavirin, various buffers and water for injections have been used. Physical alterations, richness and pH have been evaluated following specifications of European Pharmacopoeia monograp. Results: Results of pH and richness of both formulations are exposed with and without terminal sterilization. Conclusions: The results obtained meet specifications for both formulations, demonstrating chemical stability after preservation under long-term study conditions for 12 months and accelerated for 6 months. The development of injectable 100 mg/ml ribavirin (10% w/v) satisfies a therapeutic need related to the treatment of first choice in highly contagious viral diseases that lack treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient use of resources is a matter of great concern in today's society, especially in the energy sector. Although the main strategy to decrease energy use has long been focused on supply, over the last few years, there has been a shift to the demand side. Under this new line of action, demand-side management networks have emerged and extended from the household level to larger installations, with the appearance of the concepts of Smart Grids and even Smart Cities. The extended use of Smart Meters for measuring residential electricity consumption facilitates the creation of such intelligent environments. In this context, this article proposes a system which extracts value from the collected consumer information to identify the appliances belonging to that smart environment by means of machine learning techniques. Considering the large amount of information that would be handled when millions of homes were sending data, big data technology has been used. An experiment to evaluate the classification method was carried out with seven devices and three different configurations. The results are also reported, achieving promising results, with recognition rates of 75 % after 1 h of training and 100 % after 4 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alkyl radical (R1) addition reaction to ortho-X-substituted N-(benzylidene)-2-methylpropane-2-sulfinamides (X = Br, CN, CO2Me, OH and OMe) is highly diastereoselective, regardless of the electronic properties of the X group and the size of R1. Easy removal of the sulfinyl group provides the title compounds in enantiomerically pure form. This two-step sequence has been successfully applied to the preparation of primary α-( tert-butyl)- ortho-hydroxy- and - ortho-methoxybenzylamines, as well as the 3-isopropyl-substituted isoindolin-1-one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the risk of miscarriage associated with chorionic villus sampling (CVS).Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of women attending for routine ultrasound examination at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation at one of eight fetal-medicine units in Spain, Belgium and Bulgaria, between July 2007 and June 2018. Two populations were included: (1) all singleton pregnancies undergoing first-trimester assessment at Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca in Murcia, Spain, that did not have CVS (non-CVS group); and (2) all singleton pregnancies that underwent CVS following first-trimester assessment at one of the eight participating centers (CVS group). We excluded pregnancies diagnosed with genetic anomalies or major fetal defects before or after birth, those that resulted in termination and those that underwent amniocentesis later in pregnancy. We used propensity score (PS) matching analysis to estimate the association between CVS and miscarriage. We compared the risk of miscarriage of the CVS and non-CVS groups after PS matching (1:1 ratio). This procedure creates two comparable groups balancing the maternal and pregnancy characteristics that are associated with CVS, in a similar way to that in which randomization operates in a randomized clinical trial.Results: The study population consisted of 22 250 pregnancies in the non-CVS group and 3613 in the CVS group. The incidence of miscarriage in the CVS group (2.1%; 77/3613) was significantly higher than that in the non-CVS group (0.9% (207/22 250); P < 0.0001). The PS algorithm matched 2122 CVS with 2122 non-CVS cases, of which 40 (1.9%) and 55 (2.6%) pregnancies in the CVS and non-CVS groups, respectively, resulted in a miscarriage (odds ratio (OR), 0.72 (95% CI, 0.48-1.10); P = 0.146). We found a significant interaction between the risk of miscarriage following CVS and the risk of aneuploidy, suggesting that the effect of CVS on the risk of miscarriage differs depending on background characteristics. Specifically, when the risk of aneuploidy is low, the risk of miscarriage after CVS increases (OR, 2.87 (95% CI, 1.13-7.30)) and when the aneuploidy risk is high, the risk of miscarriage after CVS is paradoxically reduced (OR, 0.47 (95% CI, 0.28-0.76)), presumably owing to prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancies with major aneuploidies that would otherwise have resulted in spontaneous miscarriage. For example, in a patient in whom the risk of aneuploidy is 1 in 1000 (0.1%), the risk of miscarriage after CVS will increase to 0.3% (0.2 percentage points higher).Conclusions: The risk of miscarriage in women undergoing CVS is about 1% higher than that in women who do not have CVS, although this excess risk is not solely attributed to the invasive procedure but, to some extent, to the demographic and pregnancy characteristics of the patients. After accounting for these risk factors and confining the analysis to low-risk pregnancies, CVS seems to increase the risk of miscarriage by about three times above the patient's background risk. Although this is a substantial increase in relative terms, in pregnancies without risk factors for miscarriage, the risk of miscarriage after CVS remains low and similar to, or slightly higher than, that in the general population. Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Model based methods are fundamental in modern food process engineering. The most realistic models combine the physical laws of conservation and constitutive relations associated with kinetic transformations and physical properties, which usually depend on non-measurable parameters. Therefore, a crucial step in model development is model calibration, that is, the computation of those parameters based on experimental data. In this contribution, a two-step approach for proper model calibration is proposed. The first step, usually disregarded, consists of performing a structural identifiability analysis to evaluate the (im-)possibility of giving unique solutions for the model parameters. The second step consists of using robust parameter estimation techniques, based on global optimization methods as the alternative to surmount the convergence to sub-optimal solutions which may lead to wrong conclusions about model predictive capabilities. A typical model for food air-drying is presented as a case study in order to highlight usual difficulties associated with the calibration of food processing models, and how the proposed two-step procedure can help modelers to overcome such difficulties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Methylation of chiral acyclic α-methyl-β-ketosulfoxides with Me3Al and Me2AlCl is reported. Induced configuration at hydroxylic carbon is mainly controlled by the configuration of the sulfinyl group, with de''s higher than 90% in most of the cases regardless the configuration at C-α. The stereochemical pathway seems to be different with both reagents, thus affording a higher stereoselectivity with Me2AlCl. Pyrolytic desulfinylation and hydrogenolysis of the C–S bond allowed the transformation of the resulting hydroxysulfoxides into interesting optically pure tertiary methyl carbinols. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In a sample comprising 51 normotensive subjects and 51 subjects with in-clinic arterial hypertension [blood pressures (BPs) ≥140/90 mmHg), we investigated the prevalence of target organ damage [left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and retinal vasculopathy] in white coat hypertension (WCH) groups defined using: (a) the "optimal ambulatory BP" criterion of the Seventh International Consensus Conference (in-clinic BPs ≥140/90 mmHg, daytime mean BPs <130/80 mmHg) and (b) the "normal ambulatory BP" criterion proposed in 1997 by Verdecchia and co-workers (in-clinic BPs ≥140/ 90 mmHg, daytime mean BPs <135/85 mmHg), and we compared the results with those obtained for the normotensive group and for a WCH group defined as in a 1996 study of the same data. We found that the newer criteria did not alter the conclusions reached in 1996: namely, that WCH constitutes a state of risk intermediate between normotension and sustained hypertension, which demands in-depth evaluation and active monitoring, if not immediate therapy. We also found that when the WCH group was defined as those patients with in-clinic BPs ≥140/90 mmHg and 24-h mean BPs <121/78 mmHg, the prevalence of target organ damage was similar to that found in the control group. We conclude that if WCH status is to imply absence of elevated risk of target organ damage, then the ambulatory BP threshold defining WCH should be lower than the upper limit of ambulatory BPs among subjects who are normotensive in the clinic. The desirability of predicting target organ damage in both hypertensive and normotensive subjects using criteria combining in-clinic BPs, daytime mean ambulatory BPs and night-time mean ambulatory BPs is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intramolecular homolytic substitution (SHi) on the sulfur atom at acyclic N-(o-bromobenzyl)sulfinamides takes place with a complete inversion of the configuration and provides an excellent tool to connect N-tert-butanesulfinylimines with enantiopure 3-substituted benzo-fused sulfinamides (1,2-benzoisothiazoline 1-oxides) and the related pharmacologically relevant sulfonamides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work analyzes the main drivers and critical aspects of mobility at the University of León (ULE) in Spain and its potential for mitigation of greenhouse gases (GHG). Through the implementation of a life cycle analysis (LCA) methodology (door-to-door and well-to-wheel approach), we examine the existing relationships between modal distribution, distances, travel times, urban structure, and direct and indirect carbon footprint and monetary costs of ULE users' commuting to its premises. Necessary primary information was collected by means of an online survey conducted on all ULE bodies and actors. Even though most distances traveled to the University are of <6 km (94.3% of the commutes), the use of the private car is second in importance (34%) after traveling by foot (41.5%), as well as the main hotspot in environmental terms (95% of GHG emissions). The results show how university policies focused on improving mobility habits (greater use of bus, bicycle and walking) can considerably reduce GHG emissions within a distance range of 0–6 km. For instance, the replacement of cars with bicycles (50% in <4 km distances) would reduce CO 2 -eq emissions by 17.5% and increase monetary savings by 14.8%. However, 5.8% of the remaining travels (> 6 km) accumulate 49.4% of the emissions. Beyond that distance, behavior-oriented policies prove to be insufficient, and actions and measures at other levels encouraging technological change (use of electric cars and bicycles, etc.) and the improvement of infrastructures are also required. This article discusses the role of universities in promoting improvement of sustainable mobility within its premises. • The University can strategically use GHG-LCA to improve its mobility policies. • Promoting cycling to University would reduce GHG emissions by up to 44% on routes <6 km. • Promoting trips on foot would reduce GHG emissions by up to 36% on routes <3 km. • Up to 5.8% of the commutes (> 6 km) accumulate 49.4% of the emissions. • Technological solutions are required for longer journeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spain accounts for 13.1% of the world's vineyard area, and viticulture is crucial for the socioeconomic and cultural sectors. Vineyards are among the perennial crops that can suffer most negative impacts under climate change which can pose challenges to the sustainability of viticulture. Local and regional studies are needed to assess these impacts to help implement effective strategies in response to climate change. To this end, our approach involves integrating both conventional agroclimatic indices and those new bioclimatic indices that have proven to be essential for the characterization and demarcation of vineyards into species distribution models to assess areas suitable for viticulture under climate change projections. The proposed methodology was tested in a viticultural region located in northwestern Spain (DO León). An ensemble platform was used to build consensus models encompassing three general circulation models, two emission scenario pathways and two time horizons. Only the predictors that effectively characterize each grape variety were included in the models. The results revealed increases in the continentality index, compensated thermicity index, hydrothermic index of Branas, and temperature range during ripening in all the future scenarios analyzed in comparison to current conditions. Conversely, the values for the annual ombrothermic index and growing season precipitation may decrease in the future. The pattern of changes for 2070 will be more pronounced than for 2050. A significant loss of future habitat suitability was detected within the limits of the study area for the grape varieties analyzed. This negative impact could be counteracted to some degree with new and favorable areas for the cultivation of vineyards in territories located at the north of the DO limits. We suggest that our results could help policymakers to develop practices and strategies to conserve existing grape varieties and to implement efficient adaptation measures for mitigating or anticipating the effects of climate change on viticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses research on the remote asymmetric induction by sulfoxides. Synthesis of ketosulfoxides; Procedures on how to obtain α-methyl-substituted compounds; Factors influencing the selectivity of the reactions with Et2AlCN.

Reactions of α-[2-( p-tolylsulfinyl)phenyl] α-methylidene carbonyl compounds 1 and 2 with alkyl radicals generated from Et3B/O2 and RI give, after protonation, β-alkyl derivatives with a high degree of control of the configuration at the α carbon. In the case of aldehyde 2, when further combined with allylation of the carbonyl group, a one-pot radical-addition/protonation/allylation sequence provides a highly stereoselective synthesis of compounds bearing two adjacent chiral centres. The stereochemical course of the reaction is controlled by the sulfinyl group acting as a remote chiral auxiliary, and this group can be easily removed with tBuLi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sulfinyl group in (R)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl aldimines provides efficient control of the stereoselectivity in the intermolecular reactions with alkyl radicals. The methodology is applicable to aryl, heteroaryl, benzyl, and alkynyl imines, even those containing CN, CO2Me, COR, and OH groups. The best results are attained with hindered radicals (tertiary and secondary ones) without CN bond reduction. This reaction complements the well-established organometallic additions to N-sulfinyl aldimines to obtain enantiomerically pure functionalized α-branched primary amines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofluids are considered a promising alternative to the classic fluids used in heat transfer processes. One interesting application of nanofluids is their use as a heat transfer fluid in thermosolar plants, such as those using concentrating solar power (CSP) technology. Therefore, this study presents the preparation of nanofluids based on TiO2 nanoparticles and the most common thermal oil used in CSP plants. The nanofluids were prepared using a one-step method by means of the solvothermal synthesis of TiO2 and also using a two-step method by means of ultrasonic waves and stabilizing the nanoparticles using 1-octadecanethiol as a surfactant. The stability of the nanofluids was analysed using UV–Vis spectroscopy, particle size and ζ potential measurements. The formation of TiO2 nanoparticles in the one-step method was detected using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Thermophysical properties were also measured obtaining an atypical improvement of isobaric specific heat of up to 25.4% for the nanofluids prepared by the two-step method. For the nanofluids prepared by the two-step and one-step methods, thermal conductivity increased by up to 52.7% and 31.4% at higher temperatures, respectively. Finally, enhancements of up to 35.4% of the heat transfer coefficient were estimated, which means these nanofluids are suitable for being used as heat transfer fluids in CSP plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and the average length of Lactation. To describe the development of the weight during the first year of life and the demand of paediatric consultations in relation to the type of lactation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done using retrospective data. There was gathered a random sample of clinical histories of born children between years 2000 and 2005. There was estimated the prevalence of breast-feeding from the beginning until three and six months. An index of global desertion was elaborated. The average weight and the number of paediatric consultations were related to the type of lactation. RESULTS: The children initiate exclusive breastfeeding (MEL) in a 63.5% (CI 95%: 58.6-64.5). 22.6% amount them (IC 95%: 18.4-26.9) remained it until six months age. After three months of MEL 43.4% of the subjects gave up exclusively lactation. At the age of six months only 33.6% remained with MEL. Mixed form of lactation (MTL) was kept in 80.5% of the subjects (IC 95%: 75.4-84.6). Children included in the program of MTL (exclusive or mixed) have a minor index of desertion (26.5% and 54.4% up to three and six months, respectively). A higher weight was detected in children with mixed lactation. Those on the MEL up to six months consulted the paediatrician 4.5 times a year, whereas children with artificial lactation did it 6.5 times during their first year of life. There were statistically significant differences found (p < 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Percentage of lactation in the group studied is far from recommended levels (WHO). Exclusive breastfeeding (MEL) entails a suitable weight development, as well as a minor morbidity in the first year of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of the sulfinyl group as a remote controller of the chemoselectivity and diastereoselectivity of the reduction of α,β-unsaturated α-[2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)phenyl] substituted ketones 1 has been demonstrated in reactions carried out under NaBH4 in the presence of Yb(OTf)3 as the chelating agent. The starting unsaturated ketones have been prepared from the corresponding 2-(p-tolylsulfinyl) benzyl alkyl (and aryl) ketones 2 by insertion of the methylidene group under modified Mannich conditions, exploiting ultrasound irradiation to obtain the aminomethylation adducts and silica gel treatment to produce its complete elimination. Desulfinylation of the reduction products yielded the corresponding vinyl carbinols with high enantiomeric purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Reactions of (2-p-tolylsulfinyl)benzyl alkyl (and aryl) ketones (δ-ketosulfoxides) with Et2AlCN in the presence of Yb(OTf)3 take place in a completely stereoselective manner, demonstrating the efficiency of the sulfinyl group in the control of the stereoselectivity of 1,5-asymmetric hydrocyanation processes as well as the ability of Yb(OTf)3 to form chelated species with ketosulfoxides. The behavior of their methyl derivatives at the benzylic position is dependent on the configuration at the chiral carbon. The resulting sulfinyl cyanohydrins were readily transformed into α-hydroxyamides by hydrolysis of the CN group and hydrogenolysis of the C–S bond. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The reduction of 5-ketosulfoxides constitutes the first evidence of the efficiency of the sulfinyl group to control the stereoselectivity of 1,5-asymmetric induction processes. The use of DIBAL/Yb(OTf)3 or L-Selectride as the reducing agents provides δ-hydroxysulfoxides with the opposite configuration at the hydroxylic carbon in a highly stereoselective way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: (S)-ortho-(p-Tolylsulfinyl)benzyl alkyl (and aryl) ketones 1a–e were prepared in good yields by reaction of esters or nitriles with the lithium benzyl carbanion derived from 2-(p-tolylsulfinyl) methylbenzene. α-Methylbenzyl ketones 2 were prepared as ca. 1:1 diastereoisomeric mixtures by methylation of the unsubstituted ketones 1 with NaH/MeI. The use of the ethylbenzene derivative as the starting material afforded complex mixtures. The obtention of pure (S,(S)S)-2 diastereoisomers could be attained in good yields by oxidation with PCC of the alcohols (epimeric mixtures at the hydroxylic carbon) obtained from reactions of aldehydes with the lithium carbanion derived from 2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)ethylbenzene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]