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Anaerobic digestion performance is highly influenced by the chemical composition and flow of substrates. This work evaluates the feasibility of a handheld near infrared spectrometer to predict moisture, fat, and protein content of animal by-products (ABP) mixtures further used as substrates for biogas production. The performance of a commercially handheld near infrared spectrometer (NIR) was evaluated for acquiring spectra of ABP sterilised mixtures, that were also chemically analysed. The calibration was performed by partial least square's regression technique and tested by an independent set of data. The results showed determination coefficients values ranging from 0.72 to 0.79 and root mean square errors of 2.60–4.85%. The performance of the handheld NIR spectrometer device was compared with a benchtop NIR spectrometer with a broader range of wavelength. The results suggest that NIR technology could be included as a useful estimation tool for the rapid characterization of feedstocks in biogas plants. info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

Introduction: In recent decades, there has been an increase in extrapulmonary TB (EP-TB) rates in industrialized countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB), especially among specific foreign-born population groups. The aim of this study was to describe sociodemographic, epidemiological, microbiological, clinical and treatment characteristics of EP-TB cases and associated risk factors in Spain. Methods: We performed a descriptive, retrospective, multi-center observational study of new TB cases in different regions in Spain (Comunidades Autónomas, CCAA) between 2006 and 2014. We used logistic regression and calculated odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to determine EP-TB-associated factors. Results: The proportion of EPTB were higher among the foreign-born population (22.1%) than among native Spaniards (15.9%; p = 0.001). Foreign cases were mostly Asian, with up to 42.8% of India-Pakistan cases showing some form of EP-TB. The factors related were: immigrant status (OR:1.62; CI:1.35–1.95); age >50 years; (OR:1.70; CI:1.36–2.13); diagnosis delay of >51 days (OR:1.38; CI:1.17–1.62); co-infection with HIV (OR:1.77; CI:1.21–2.55); negative smear sputum microscopy (OR:3.01; CI:2.50;3.61); negative culture; (OR:8.1; CI:6.57–10.02); poor clinical progression during disease progression (OR:2.93; CI:1.30–6.39). Conclusions: We detected a high percentage of EP-TB forms in the foreign-born population, mostly in Asian people. Special attention should be devoted to the diagnosis of EP-TB in these groups. Other measures required include increased clinical suspicion and improved microbiological diagnosis to support earlier and adequate treatment. Resumen: Introducción: En las últimas décadas se ha producido un aumento de las tasas de tuberculosis extrapulmonar (TBEP) en los países industrializados con baja incidencia de tuberculosis (TB), especialmente en grupos específicos de población de origen extranjero. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir las características sociodemográficas, epidemiológicas, microbiológicas, clínicas y del tratamiento de los casos de TBEP en España y los factores de riesgo asociados. Métodos: Realizamos un estudio observacional descriptivo, retrospectivo y multicéntrico de los nuevos casos de TB en diferentes regiones de España (comunidades autónomas [CC. AA.]) entre 2006 y 2014. Utilizamos la regresión logística y calculamos las odds ratio (OR) y el intervalo de confianza (IC) del 95% para determinar los factores asociados a la TBEP. Resultados: La proporción de TBEP fue mayor entre la población nacida en el extranjero (22,1%) que entre los españoles nativos (15,9%; p = 0,001). Los casos extranjeros eran en su mayoría asiáticos; el 42,8% de los casos procedentes de India-Pakistán mostraban algún tipo de TBEP. Los factores relacionados fueron: situación de migrante (OR: 1,62; IC 95%: 1,35-1,95); edad > 50 años (OR: 1,70; IC 95%: 1,36-2,13); retraso en el diagnóstico de > 51 días (OR: 1,38; IC 95%: 1,17-1,62); coinfección con VIH (OR: 1,77; IC 95%: 1,21-2,55); examen microscópico de frotis de esputo negativo (OR: 3,01; IC 95%: 2,50-3,61); cultivo negativo (OR: 8,1; IC 95%: 6,57-10,02); mala evolución clínica durante la progresión de la enfermedad (OR: 2,93; IC 95%: 1,30-6,39). Conclusiones: Detectamos un alto porcentaje de formas TBEP en la población nacida en el extranjero, principalmente en personas asiáticas. Debe prestarse especial atención al diagnóstico de TBEP en estos grupos. Otras medidas requeridas incluyen una mayor sospecha clínica y un mejor diagnóstico microbiológico para apoyar un tratamiento temprano y más adecuado.

Access to detailed information on cells loaded with nanoparticles with nanoscale precision is of a long-standing interest in many areas of nanomedicine. In this context, designing a single experiment able to provide statistical mean data from a large number of living unsectioned cells concerning information on the nanoparticle size and aggregation inside cell endosomes and accurate nanoparticle cell up-take is of paramount importance. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is presented here as a tool to achieve such relevant data. Experiments were carried out in cultures of B16F0 murine melanoma and A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines loaded with various iron oxide nanostructures displaying distinctive structural characteristics. Five systems of water-dispersible magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) of different size, polydispersity and morphology were analyzed, namely, nearly monodisperse MNP with 11 and 13 nm mean size coated with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid, more polydisperse 6 nm colloids coated with citric acid and two nanoflowers (NF) systems of 24 and 27 nm in size resulting from the aggregation of 8 nm MNP. Up-take was determined for each system using B16F0 cells. Here we show that SAXS pattern provides high resolution information on nanoparticles disposition inside endosomes of the cytoplasm through the structure factor analysis, on nanoparticles size and dispersity after their incorporation by the cell and on up-take quantification from the extrapolation of the intensity in absolute scale to null scattering vector. We also report on the cell culture preparation to reach sensitivity for the observation of MNP inside cell endosomes using high brightness SAXS synchrotron source. Our results show that SAXS can become a valuable tool for analyzing MNP in cells and tissues., This work was supported by Conicet PIP 0897 and 567, UNLP x807 and UBACYT 20020130100673A and we kindly thank Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (Proposals: SAXS1-14429, SAXS2-22014, SAXS1-20160237, Campinas-Brazil, Universidad Nacional de La Plata-Argentina, and CONICET-Argentina. We thanks Maria del Puerto Morales for usefull discussion. The group of IFLP thanks Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata INIBIOLP Patología B - CONICET for allowing the use of cell culture lab, help in cell culture handling and kind suggestions on biological issues and Y-TEC S. A. for the use of TEM TALOS F200X under the supervision of A. Floridia and A. Caneiro. M. E. F. Brollo acknowledges the Brazilian agency CNPq for the grant [232947/2014-7] within the Science without Borders program A.R acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the ‘Severo Ochoa’ Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (CEX2019-000917-S). M. B. Fernández van Raap, P. C. Setton-Avruj and P. Mendoza Zélis, are members of CONICET, and P. A. Soto is a fellow of CONICET, Argentina., With funding from the Spanish government through the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000917-S).

The effect of fat saponification and the inclusion or exclusion of blood in slaughterhouse mixtures were assessed in terms of anaerobic digestion performance. Mixtures of animal by-products (ABP) were collected for 1 year, whereby following the daily activity and waste generation at a slaughterhouse facility, seasonal fluctuations were found. The blood content of ABP mixtures was variable, affecting both the methane yield and the production rate (287.8–320.5 NLCH4 kgCOD−1 and 80.3–94.7 and NLCH4 kgCOD−1 d−1, respectively). The saponification of fatty ABP materials was studied to assess the methane production rate, singularly or combined, with and without the addition of blood. Data showed that saponification significantly reduced the lag phase, from 2.2 to 1.5 days in winter mixtures and from 1.5 to 0.9 days in summer mixtures (all with blood), and from 0.3 to 0.1 days in summer mixtures without blood. Finally, the percentage of energy demand at the slaughterhouse potentially covered by net biogas energy was estimated, finding that the facility could be 100% energy self-sufficient in winter, whereas this would be reduced to 85% in the summer due to different methane yields of ABP mixtures based on season. info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

We studied the effect of substituting partially, cocoa butter (CB) with Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) oil (SIO) on rheology, bioactive properties, and sensory preferences in potentially functional chocolate. For this 70% dark chocolates were prepared and the CB was substituted with 1.5%, 3%, and 4.5% of SIO. Hardness and viscosity of the SIO-chocolates were significantly reduced compared to the control (5451 ± 658 g; 17.01 ± 0.94 Pa s, respectively). Total phenolic content remained constant while the antioxidant capacity increased up to IC50 of 2.48 ± 0.10 as the content of SIO increased. The Casson yield stress and Casson plastic viscosity decreased as the amount of SIO increased. Chocolates with 4.5% SIO had a similar color, better glossiness, preferable snap attributes, and were more accepted (7.50 ± 0.08) compared to the control (p < 0.05), measured with a hedonic scale. Then, SIO can improve the bioactive properties of dark chocolates obtaining a potentially functional food with acceptable physicochemical characteristics. SIO can be considered as a new cocoa butter equivalent., Sacha Inchi oil, dark chocolate, Criollo cocoa beans, rheology, sensory preferences, functional food.

In the measurement of neutron capture cross-sections of fissile isotopes, the fission channel is a source of background which can be removed efficiently using the so-called fission-tagging or fission-veto technique. For this purpose a new compact and fast fission chamber has been developed. The design criteria and technical description of the chamber are given within the context of a measurement of the 233U(n, ������) cross-section at the n_TOF facility at CERN, where it was coupled to the n_TOF Total Absorption Calorimeter. For this measurement the fission detector was optimized for time resolution, minimization of material in the neutron beam and for alpha-fission discrimination. The performance of the fission chamber and its application as a fission tagging detector are discussed., This work was partially supported by the French NEEDS/NACRE Project and by the European Commission within HORIZON2020 via the EURATOM Project EUFRAT.

Sin financiación 6.565 JCR (2019) Q1, 17/204 Clinical Neurology, 26/271 Neurosciences 2.599 SJR (2019) Q1, 6/136 Biophysics, 18/378 Neurology (clinical), 14/151 Neuroscience (miscellaneous) No data IDR 2019 UEM

Macroporous scaffolds made of a SiO2-CaO-P2O5 mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) and epolycaprolactone (PCL) have been prepared by robocasting. These scaffolds showed an excellent in vitro biocompatibility in contact with osteoblast like cells (Saos 2) and osteoclasts derived from RAW 264.7 macrophages. In vivo studies were carried out by implantation into cavitary defects drilled in osteoporotic sheep. The scaffolds evidenced excellent bone regeneration properties, promoting new bone formation at both the peripheral and the inner parts of the scaffolds, thick trabeculae, high vascularization and high presence of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. In order to evaluate the effects of the local release of an antiosteoporotic drug, 1% (%wt) of zoledronic acid was incorporated to the scaffolds. The scaffolds loaded with zoledronic acid induced apoptosis in Saos 2 cells, impeded osteoclast differentiation in a time dependent manner and inhibited bone healing, promoting an intense inflammatory response in osteoporotic sheep., 25 pages

A 26-day trial with 18 Pietrain × (Landrace × Duroc) pigs was conducted to investigate the effect of two dose levels of a specifically selected Bacillus spp. direct-fed microbial (DFM) product, on the emission of environmentally harmful gasses (methane, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide) from manure. Pigs were assigned to one of three treatments in a randomized complete block design according to their sex and initial BW. Each treatment contained three replications with two pigs per pen. The test treatments included a Bacillus spp. DFM containing 3 × 108 colony-forming unit/g, added at a low (250 mg/kg) and high (500 mg/kg) dose to an antibiotic free high fibre-based diet, and a non-supplemented control diet. Manure from pigs fed with the supplemented diets emitted lower amounts of atmospheric contaminants. The most significant reduction was observed with low DFM supplementation, in which methane and ammonia volatilization decreased ( P< 0.05) by >40% and 50%, respectively, on fresh weight basis in relation to the control. Microbiome analysis of manure by high through put sequencing techniques on eubacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes highlighted the complex interactions between indigenous gut microflora and inoculated Bacillus spp. The tested Bacillus DFM could be considered as a best available technique in reducing the environmental impacts of growing pigs fed with high fibre-based diets. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

38 pages, 12 figures, The eastern boundary of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre (NASTG) receives organic materials produced in the nearby Canary upwelling system (CanUS), which has important implications for the metabolic balance of the region. Here we computed absolute geostrophic, Ekman and eddy diffusive transports and net budgets of oxygen, nitrate, and phosphate, with an inverse model applied to annual climatologies from the World Ocean Atlas 2013, in a large box covering the eastern boundary of the NASTG. The surface waters (, Funding for this study was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness

The Isoscalar Giant Monopole Resonance (ISGMR) and the Isoscalar Giant Dipole Resonance (ISGDR) compression modes have been studied in the doubly-magic unstable nucleus 56Ni. They were measured by inelastic α-particle scattering in inverse kinematics at 50MeV/u with the MAYA active target at the GANIL facility. The centroid of the ISGMR has been obtained at Ex=19.1 ±0.5MeV. Evidence for the low-lying part of the ISGDR has been found at Ex=17.4 ±0.7MeV. The strength distribution for the dipole mode shows similarity with the prediction from the Hartree–Fock (HF) based random-phase approximation (RPA)[1]. These measurements confirm inelastic α-particle scattering as a suitable probe for exciting the ISGMR and the ISGDR modes in radioactive isotopes in inverse kinematics This work was supported by the European Commission within the Seventh Framework Programme through IA-ENSAR (contract No. RII3-CT-2010-262010) and GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany, and the United States National Science Foundation (Grants Number PHY-1068192 and PHY-1419765) SI

Objetivo: Conocer la variabilidad de la práctica clínica habitual en la prevención y el tratamiento de la inmadurez pulmonar. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio transversal dentro de un estudio en 13 países europeos. De todos los neonatos de muy bajo peso nacidos en los centros colaboradores se recogieron datos de las historias clínicas sin ningún tipo de instrumentación adicional. Resultados: La encuesta fue remitida a 213 centros, de los cuales contestaron 72 (34 %), con un total de 162.157 nacimientos (40 % del total en 1999). El 8% de los recién nacidos eran de bajo peso, el 1,2 % de muy bajo peso (2.015) y el 0,45% de extremado bajo peso. El 52,5 % de los de muy bajo peso recibieron al menos una dosis de corticoides prenatales, el 28,8%, un ciclo completo, y el 9,3%, más de un ciclo. Todos los centros utilizan algún preparado surfactante, y cuentan con un protocolo escrito el 76,8 %. El 41 % de los recién nacidos de muy bajo peso fueron intubados al nacer, el 47,6 % precisaron ventilación mecánica durante más de 6 h y el 5% presión positiva continua. El 80,4% de centros usaban corticoides posnatales, la mitad para la prevención de enfermedad pulmonar crónica (EPC) y el 83,4 % como de terapéutica. La pauta más habitual era indicarlos a los 7-14 días de vida, durante 3-9 días. Entre la morbilidad neonatal destaca la EPC (14 %), conducto arterioso sintomático (16,7 %), hemorragia intraventricular (8,5 %) y enterocolitis necrosante (7,3 %). Conclusiones: La tasa de exposición a corticoides prenatales fue baja y la práctica de repetir los ciclos y el empleo de corticoides posnatales para prevenir la EPC elevadas. Sigue siendo preciso difundir la reciente evidencia científica sobre el uso de corticoides prenatales y posnatales : Objective: To determine clinical practice variability in the prevention and postnatal treatment of lung immaturity in Spain Patients and methods: Cross-sectional study within a larger study in 13 European countries. Data were obtained from the medical records of all very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born in participating centers, without other instrumentation. Results: A questionnaire was sent to 213 centers. Seventy-two (34 %) responded, with 162,157 births (40 % of total births in 1999). Eight percent of infants were of low birth weight, 1.2% (2,015) of very low birth weight and 0.45 % were of extremely low birth weight. A total of 52.2% of VLBW infants received at least one dose of prenatal steroids, 28.8% received a full course and 9.3 % received more than one cycle. All centres used surfactant and 76.8 % had a written protocol. Forty-one percent of VLBW infants were intubated, 47.6% required mechanical ventilation for more than 6 hours, and 5% underwent continuous positive airway pressure. A total of 80.4 % used postnatal steroids, half of them for chronic lung disease prevention, and 83.4 % used steroids to treat this disease. Steroids were most frequently indicated at 7-14 days of life for 3-9 days. The most important causes of neonatal morbidity were chronic lung disease in 14 %, ductus arteriosus in 16.7 %, intraventricular hemorrhage in 8.5 %, and necrotizing enterocolitis in 7.3%. Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to steroids was low. Repeat cycles and postnatal steroid use to prevent chronic lung disease was high. Recent scientific evidence on the use of pre- and postnatal steroids should be more widely disseminated.

Objetivos: Conocer la situación actual en nuestro país sobre el empleo de catéteres epicutáneos en neonatos, analizando ca-racterísticas técnicas y complicaciones infecciosas, mecánicas y locales. Métodos: Entre el 15/7/97 y el 31/12/98, en los servicios de neonatología de los hospitales integrantes del Grupo de Hospitales Castrillo se recogieron de forma prospectiva para su análisis los catéteres epicutáneos colocados en recién nacidos (RN). Cada hospital escogía la duración del período durante el cual se recogían los catéteres, pero se impuso la condición de que durante este tiempo se debían estudiar todos los catéteres colocados. Resultados: Se han analizado 939 catéteres epicutáneocava, colocados en 787 RN, totalizando 8.073 días-catéter. De ellos, 826 (88%) se colocaron a través de venas de extremidad superior, 82 (8,7%) a través de venas de extremidad infe-rior y 31 (3,3%) a través de venas del cuero cabelludo. Fueron colocados en neonatos con amplia variedad de pesos y edades gestacionales, insertándose la mayoría en la primera semana de vida y permaneciendo una media de 7 días (máximo 55 días). Se utilizaron principalmente catéteres de silicona (96,8%) siendo su colocación poco dificultosa (un 58,7% al primer intento). La mayoría se re-tiraron electivamente (61,5%). Se realizó cultivo de lapunta en 872 catéteres (92,8%) y de ellos, 219 (25,1%) es-taban colonizados. Entre los colonizados, 178 presenta-ban contaminación del catéter y en 41 se confirmó sep-sis relacionada con catéter (SRC). La incidencia de con-taminación fue del 20,4% (178/872) y de sepsis cierta relacionada con catéter del 4,7% (41/872). Para los 7.744días-catéter de estos 872, la densidad de incidencia fue de 23 y 5,3 por 1.000 días-catéter para contaminación y sep-sis, respectivamente. En la etiología de contaminación y SRC predominaron gérmenes grampositivos, destacando S. epidermidis(71,7 y 50%, respectivamente). En 205 ca-téteres aparecieron complicaciones locales o mecánicas, siendo la más frecuente la flebitis (9,5%), sobre todo en catéteres colocados en extremidad inferior. La obstruc-ción, la extravasación y la rotura fueron complicaciones infrecuentes. Conclusiones: La utilización de catéteres epicutáneos es una práctica habitual en las UCIN de nuestro país. Es una técnica de ac-ceso venoso, fácil, segura y eficaz para la administración prolongada de soluciones intravenosas, siendo el princi-pal problema derivado de su uso las infecciones, sobre to-do las SRC originadas por S. epidermidis. : Objective: To evaluate the current use of percutaneous central ve-nous silastic catheters in newborn infants in Spain by analysing technical characteristics and infections, as well as mechanical and local complications. Methods: Percutaneous central venous catheters inserted in new-borns in the neonatal units of the hospitals in the ''Cas-trillo Hospital Group'' from July 15, 1998 to December 31, 1998 were collected for prospective analysis. Each hospi-tal was able to chose the length of the period of catheter data collection on condition that all inserted catheters were studied during the period. Results: A total of 939 percutaneous venous catheters, inserted in 787 newborn infants, and representing a total of 8073 cathe-ter-days, were analysed. Of these, 823 (88%) were inserted in upper extremity veins, 82 (8.7%) in lower extremity veins, and 31 (3.3%) in scalp veins. Catheterizations were perfor-med in newborn infants with a wide range of weights and gestational ages, in most cases during the first week of life and with an average indwelling time of 7 days (55 days maxi-mum). Silicone elastomer catheters were mainly used (96.8%), because of the ease of their placement (58.7% at the first attempt). Most were electively removed (61.5%). A total of 872 (92.8%) catheter tips were sent for microbiological exa-mination and 219 (25.1%) yielded positives cultures (catheter colonization). Of these, 178 had catheter contamination and in 41 catheter-related sepsis (CRS) was confirmed. The inci-dence of catheter contamination was 20.4% (178/872) and was 4.7% for CRS (41/872). The density of incidence was 23 and 5.3 for each 1000 catheter-days respectively. The most common organisms isolated were Gram-positive, especially Staphylococcus epidermidisorganisms (71.1% and 50% for contamination and CRS respectively). Local or mechanical complications were documented in 205 catheters, phlebitis being the most common (9.5%), especially after inserting cat-heters through low extremity veins; occlusion, extravasation of fluid and catheter breakage were rare complications. Conclusions: The placement of percutaneous venous catheters is common in Spanish neonatal units. This is an easy, safe and effective technique for prolonged intravenous the-rapy. The main problem is infection, particularly CRS caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis.

El síndrome de megavejiga-microcolon-hipoperistaltismo intestinal es una rara alteración genética caracterizada por distensión vesical e hipoperistaltismo intestinal que afecta a todo el tracto gastrointestinal. Presentamos un nuevo caso que presenta los hallazgos clínicos y radiológicos típicos de este síndrome. El diagnóstico debe ser sospechado en un recién nacido que presenta clínica de obstrucción intestinal y retención urinaria; siendo confirmado mediante estudios de imagen, fundamentalmente radiografía simple de abdomen y ecografía urinaria. Los hallazgos histológicos no son específicos; encontramos un adelgazamiento de la capa muscular intestinal y proliferación de tejido conectivo. El pronóstico es generalmente grave. Nuestro paciente falleció por sepsis a los 25 días de vida. : Megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis is a rare congenital disorder characterized by urinary bladder distention and hypoperistalsis throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract. We present a new case with the typical clinical and radiological findings of the syndrome. This diagnosis should be suspected in patients who present with intestinal obstruction and urine retention and should be confirmed with imaging techniques, including abdominal plain films and urinary ultrasonography. Histological findings are non-specific; we found thinning of the intestinal muscle layer and connective tissue proliferation. The prognosis is generally very poor. Our patient died from sepsis at the age of 25 days.

Procedures based on equilibrium conditions (stress and bending moment) have been used to obtain an unstressed lattice spacing, d0, as a crucial requirement for calculating the residual stress (RS) profile across a joint conducted on a 10 mm thick plate of age-hardenable AA2024 alloy by friction stir welding (FSW). Two procedures have been used that take advantage of neutron diffraction measurements. First, equilibrium conditions were imposed on sections parallel to the weld so that a constant d0 value corresponding to the base material region could be calculated analytically. Second, balance conditions were imposed on a section transverse to the weld. Then, using the data and a genetic algorithm, suitable d0 values for the different regions of the weld have been found. For several reasons, the comb method has proved to be inappropriate for RS determination in the case of age-hardenable alloys. However, the equilibrium conditions, together with the genetic algorithm, has been shown to be very suitable for determining RS profiles in FSW joints of these alloys, where inherent microstructural variations of d 0 across the weld are expected. © Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved., Support from Projects MAT-05-0527 and MAT-09-09545 from MICINN, and PIE 200960I076 from C.S.I.C., Spain, is gratefully acknowledged. Financial help from the ILL to conduct the neutron diffraction measurements on SALSA, experiments 1-02-6 and 1-02-10, is recognized. Support from Spanish Government Grants TIN 2008-00508 and MEC CONSOLIDER CSD00C-07-20811 and from Spanish MINECO (projects MAT2011-23455 and MAT2011-25991) is also acknowledged by J.I.H. and I.P.O., respectively.

Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) face barriers to the implementation and development of eco-efficiency that could be overcome taking advantage of the adequate stimuli and incentives. A previous research and a thorough literature analysis show Public Administration (PA) is a key stakeholder. PA could use better its tools to stimulate SME to improve their ecoefficiency. Among these tools it can be named well known “command and control” tools like legislation or taxes, but also price policies, green procurement, ecological education, eco-innovation support and others. This paper reviews these tools and how they contribute to overcome barriers to ecoefficiency by offering external and internal incentives for SME. The analysis is focused on the case of Venezuelan public administration and SME but it can be generalized to other case studies. In addition, a panel of experts validates the results and assesses the public administration tools by means of the policy Delphi method. The assessment is based on criteria like: market influence, capability of the public administration for controlling results, tool costs, impact on public administration image, timespan to get results, etc. The assessment, therefore, allows ranking and understanding the tools according to their effectiveness and efficiency to support SME to improve their ecoefficiency. Due to the specific characteristics of the case study: SME of Venezuela, the method shows the best mix of public administration tools includes mainly “command and control” tools. Also the mix includes certain “new-approach” tools like advertising about responsible consumption and eco-efficient products, or education/training in environmental responsibility. The method also allows understanding better how the tools will help accomplishing the objectives for ecoefficiency of the public administration. Therefore, this research provides a method for raising information to be used when planning the actions to improve eco-efficiency of the SME.

The impact of LCFA adsorption on the methanogenic activity was evaluated in batch assays for two anaerobic granular sludges in the presence and absence of bentonite as synthetic adsorbent. A clear inhibitory effect at an oleate (C18:1) concentration of 0.5 g(C18:1) L(-1) was observed for both sludges. Palmitate (C16:0) was confirmed to be the main intermediate of C18:1 degradation in not adapted sludge and its accumulation was further evidenced by fluorescence staining and microscopy techniques. LCFA inhibition could be decreased by the addition of bentonite, reducing the lag-phase and accelerating the kinetics of LCFA degradation, concluding in the importance of the adsorptive nature of the LCFA inhibitory process. Granule morphology and molecular profiling of predominant microorganisms revealed that biomass adaptation to LCFA could modify the intermediates accumulation profiles and process rates., This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (projects ENE 2007-65850 and CTM 2010-18212), and was partially supported by a grand from the Department of Universities, Research and Media Society of Catalonia Government (BE-DGR 2008 BE1 00261). We would like to thank Lucia Neves, Ana Nicolau, Madalena Vieira, and Ana Julia Cavaleiro, from University of Minho, for their assistance in microscopic observations and analytical methods. We also thank Miriam Guivernau (IRTA) for assistance in the PCR-DGGE profiling and ribotype sequencing. We are also grateful to David Bedoya (MWH) and Francesc Prenafeta (IRTA) for the revision and critical reading of the manuscript.

The effect of adding different amounts of a bovine plasma hydrolysate (BPH) with high antioxidant capacity on the functional properties of protein films based on soybean and sunflower protein was studied. BPH caused a decrease in tensile strength, elastic modulus and glass transition temperature of the films, as well as an increase in their elongation at break and water vapor permeability, without noticeably affect their appearance. These results suggest that this hydrolysate had a plasticizing effect on film properties despite its wide distribution of molecular weights. BPH also conferred important antioxidant properties to protein films. It is noteworthy that the antioxidant capacity of the protein-based films activated with bovine plasma hydrolysate, proved to be the result of the sum of the characteristics of the protein matrix, plus of the characteristics of the hydrolysate, no synergistic or antagonistic effects were observed in this property. The use of vegetable proteins (soybean or sunflower) as a biopolymer for film preparation and its activation with bovine plasma hydrolysate with antioxidant capacity should be an approach for maximization the use of these underused proteins. Fil: Salgado, Pablo Rodrigo. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Fernández, Graciela Beatriz. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Instituto de Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Drago, Silvina Rosa. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Instituto de Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Mauri, Adriana Noemi. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina

En 28 servicios de neonatología del Grupo de Hospitales Castrillo se estudiaron 301 casos de infección del tracto urinario (ITU) en el período neonatal. Para el diagnóstico se siguieron criterios muy rigurosos de forma que la infección sólo era considerada como ITU si la muestra de orina era recogida por punción suprapúbica y había un crecimiento de cualquier número de unidades formadoras de colonias por mililitro (UFC/ml) de un solo germen, o si la muestra era recogida por catéter vesical y se objetivaba crecimiento de ≥ 10.000 ufc/ml de un solo germen. Las ITU fueron consideradas comunitarias (250 casos), cuando la infección se iniciaba en el domicilio y la causa de ingreso fue precisamente la infección. Las ITU fueron consideradas como nosocomiales (51 casos), cuando la infección aparecía en niños que llevaban más de 7 días ingresados y que en el momento del ingreso no tenían ITU. La clínica fue inespecífica y similar a la observada en la sepsis neonatal, y en las ITU comunitarias destaca que todos los recién nacidos fueron a término, el predominio del sexo masculino (7 a 1), la presencia de ictericia hipertermia y rechazo de tomas. En las ITU nosocomiales la edad de gestación y el peso al nacimiento fue inferior, había predominio del sexo masculino, pero menos que en las ITU comunitarias (p 10 leucocitos ml) fue negativa en el 7% y en el 35,5 % de las ITU comunitarias y nosocomiales y los nitritos fueron negativos en el 42 y 51,1 % respectivamente, lo que evidencia la poca sensibilidad de estos datos para el diagnóstico de ITU. En cuanto a etiología, el germen predominante fue el E. coli, sobre todo en las ITU comunitarias (p

19 pages, 5 figures. - PMID: 15251268 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE], We have studied behavioural, biochemical and endocrine responses to the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) in neonatal rats, as well as the effects of weaning on such responses. We used preweanling rats (20 days of age), 25-day-old weaned rats (weaning at Day 22) and 25-day-old nonweaned rats of both sexes. The behavioural effects of WIN were assessed in the nociceptive tail immersion test and in the open field. We also analysed the effect of weaning on corticosterone responses to WIN (radioimmunoassay) as well as on WIN-stimulated [35S] GTPgammaS binding in periaqueductal grey (PAG) and striatum. The cannabinoid agonist induced a modest increase in pain thresholds, whereas the effect of the drug on open-field activity, particularly on vertical activity, was much more marked. The weaning process appeared to reduce the baseline nociceptive latencies of the female rats. No significant effect of weaning on the behavioural responses to WIN was found. However, the group of weaned females (but not males) showed a significantly reduced WIN-stimulated [35S] GTPgammaS binding in the striatum. The cannabinoid agonist significantly increased the corticosterone levels of 25-day-old rats with the effect being more marked in weaned than in nonweaned animals. The results suggest that the weaning process might produce some sexually dimorphic developmental changes in CB1 receptor function, This study was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (BFI2000-0611)

The peripubertal period appears to be critical in relation to the abuse of cannabinoids and opioids in humans. However there is little information about the acute effects of cannabinoids and their interactions with opioids in young experimental animals. We have studied the effects of the cannabinoid agonist CP 55,940 (0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/kg) on the nociceptive responses (tail immersion test) and holeboard activity of 40-day-old rats, and the involvement of the CB1 receptor (antagonism by SR 141716A, 3 mg/kg). The implication of the opioid system was evaluated using the opioid antagonist naloxone (1 mg/kg) and a combined treatment with subeffective doses of CP 55,940 (0.1 mg/kg) and morphine (1 mg/kg). The effects of CP 55,940 on the serum corticosterone levels (radioimmunoassay) and on the dopamine and DOPAC contents of discrete brain regions (high-performance liquid chromatography) were also assessed. The antinociceptive effect of CP 55,940 was of a similar magnitude at all the doses used. The results show the involvement of the CB1 receptor. The cannabinoid agonist significantly depressed the holeboard activity in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate that the CB1 receptor is involved in the effects on motor activity but not in the effects on the exploratory activity. The behavioural effects of CP 55,940 were modulated by morphine. The cannabinoid agonist (0.6 mg/kg) induced a CB1-mediated increase in the serum corticosterone levels, but no effect on the dopaminergic systems of either the striatum or the limbic forebrain was found. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermophilic co-digestion of sewage sludge with three different doses of trapped grease waste (GW) from the pre-treatment of a WWTP has been assessed in a CSTR bench-scale reactor. After adding 12% and 27% of grease waste (on COD basis), the organic loading rate increased from 2.2 to 2.3 and 2.8 kgCOD m-3 d-1 respectively, and the methane yield increased 1.2 and 2.2 times. Further GW increase (37% on COD basis) resulted in an unstable methane yield and in long chain fatty acids (LCFA) accumulation. Although this inestability, the presence of volatile fatty acids in the effluent was negligible, showing good adaptation to fats of the thermophilic biomass. Nevertheless, the presence of LCFA in the effluent worsens its dewatering properties. Specific methanogenic activity tests showed that the addition of grease waste ameliorates the acetoclastic activity in detriment of the hydrogenotrophic activity, and suggests that the tolerance to LCFA can be further enhanced by slowly increasing the addition of lipidrich materials.

Biomass samples taken during the continuous operation of thermophilic anaerobic digestors fed with manure and exposed to successive inhibitory pulses of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) were characterized in terms of specific metabolic activities and 16S rDNA DGGE profiling of the microbial community structure. Improvement of hydrogenotrophic and acidogenic (beta-oxidation) activity rates was detected upon successive LCFA pulses, while different inhibition effects over specific anaerobic trophic groups were observed. Bioreactor recovery capacity and biomass adaptation to LCFA inhibition were verified. Population profiles of eubacterial and archaeal 16S rDNA genes revealed that no significant shift on microbial community composition took place upon biomass exposure to LCFA. DNA sequencing of predominant DGGE bands showed close phylogenetic affinity to ribotypes characteristic from specific beta-oxidation bacterial genera (Syntrophomonas and Clostridium), while a single predominant syntrophic archaeae was related with the genus Methanosarcina. The hypothesis that biomass adaptation was fundamentally of physiological nature was tested using mathematical modelling, taking the IWA ADM1 as general model. New kinetics considering the relation between LCFA inhibitory substrate concentration and specific biomass content, as an approximation to the adsorption process, improved the model fitting and provided a better insight on the physical nature of the LCFA inhibition process.