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Antimony (Sb) contamination in soil has become a major environmental issue due to its adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. In this paper, 1255 soil samples were analyzed to investigate the distribution, speciation, in vitro oral bioaccessibility (8 soil samples) and human health risk of Sb in contaminated soils and its impacts on groundwater. The results showed that 4.38 % of the soil samples within the depth of 0-31 m exceeded the Risk Screening Values (RSV). Sb mainly existed in the residual fraction (38.05 % ∼ 94.22 %), Fe/Mn oxides (0.01 % ∼ 31.80 %) and the organic fraction (0.32 % ∼ 21.55 %) with poor mobility. The bioaccessibility of Sb was approximately31 %. The total concentration of Sb (TSb) in soil was the dominant factor influencing the bioaccessible concentration of Sb (Sb

Groundwater resources are increasingly exploited for industrial and agricultural purposes in many arid/semi-arid regions globally. In order to gain a harmonious development among groundwater resources and economic benefits, urgent investigation of the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the groundwater chemistry is required. Understanding hydrochemical mechanism of groundwater in Yinchuan Plain, arid and semi-arid area in Northwestern China, plays a significant role in water resources planning in this ecologically sensitive area. In this paper, a total of 460 phreatic water samples were collected, including 58 water samples containing isotopic data (D and 2 H). Results demonstrate that water chemistry type and isotopic data of phreatic water presents a zonation characteristic from west to east and from south to north. In the eastern part of the Helan Mountain (A 1 zone), the type of hydrochemistry is mainly HCO 3 ·SO 4 -Ca·Mg, SO 4 ·HCO 3 -Ca·Mg, which is mainly recharged by the bedrock fissure water of Helan Mountain. However, in the southern Qingtongxia (A 2 zone) are HCO 3 -Na HCO 3 -Ca·Mg, which receives irrigation and spring water recharge. Phreatic aquifer in Multi-layered structure zone (A 3 zone) reflect multiple recharge sources to the aquifer, the water chemistry demonstrates diverse variations. The anion was dominated by the HCO 3 , while the cation is dominated by sodium. The predominant controlling factors of phreatic water hydrochemistry are divided into anthropogenic activities and natural conditions. Natural conditions mainly include the existence form and lithology of the aquifer, sources of groundwater recharge, soil salinity, and evaporation, mineral dissolution, ion exchange and adsorption and mixing effect. Meanwhile, among natural factors, minerals dissolution in groundwater is the main process dominating the hydrochemical evolution of the groundwater. The other is anthropogenic activities which can be classified as groundwater pollution, excessive exploitation or excretion of groundwater, and excessive groundwater recharge.

precipitation and evaporation are two vital components of water cycle, and Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes are important tracers in water, which are very sensitive to changes in the climate and the water cycle. Rayleigh Fractionation equation is usually applied to calculate isotope distributions in order to quantify the precipitation and evaporation processes. It is reasonable to explain the evaporation process using the Rayleigh fractionation equation. However, the composition of hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes in the precipitation will change due to the effects of dynamic fractionation and dilution during raindrop fall. In this case, it is not feasible to rely entirely on the Rayleigh fractionation equation. In this paper, atmospheric precipitation isotopes data recorded during 1996–2016 in Hong Kong from the Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) are analyzed, including local meteoric water line (LMWL), deuterium-excess (d), temperature effect and rainfall amount effect. The results indicate that precipitation is affected by secondary evaporation and dilution effects. In addition, the stable isotope composition in precipitation is the result of temperature and precipitation. Due to the effects of these two effects, changes of isotope composition in precipitation are not always consistent. When the rainfall density is very large, the temperature effect is covered up and the temperature is inversely related to the isotope composition of precipitation. In contrast, when the rainfall density is small, the temperature is positively related to the isotope composition of precipitation. Therefore, it is suggested to consider the rainfall density while studying the relationship between the isotope composition of precipitation and the local climate. These finds can provide some enlightenments and references on how to investigate the changing pattern of isotope composition in precipitation.

Toxic heavy metals pollution in urban soil has become a major global issue due to its adverse effects on the environment and human health. In this paper, 26 soil samples were analyzed to assess the speciation, bioavailability and human health risk of Arsenic (As), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) in urban soils of a heavy industrial city in NE China by using a Monte Carlo simulation approach. The results showed that As, Hg, Pb and Cd concentrations in the soil all exceed the corresponding background value of study area. Mercury displays the highest value of geo-accumulation index (Igeo), followed by Cd, Pb and As. The pollution load index (PLI) value (2) indicates a moderate pollution level in the study area. The chemical speciation of HMs mainly exists in residual fraction except Cd. The probabilistic health risk assessment demonstrated that the mean values of Total Carcinogenic Risk (TCR) and Hazard Index (HI) calculated with total concentration are at the unacceptable level, with a higher risk to children than adults. However, the mean values calculated with bioavailable fraction are all within the acceptable level. The mean value of TCR and HI obtained by bioavailable fraction is about 96% and 95% lower than that obtained by total concentration, respectively. Thus, this study suggested that the bioavailable fraction of HMs is a more reliable parameter for health risk assessment, while the total concentration of HMs can overestimate the true risk. The results of this study provide some insight into the speciation, bioavailability and health risks of toxic heavy metals in urban soils in those heavy industrial cities.

Resumen Mas de 30 anos despues de su descubrimiento, la infeccion por Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) sigue siendo la causa mas frecuente de enfermedades gastricas y duodenales. H. pylori es la causa principal de la gastritis cronica, la ulcera peptica, el linfoma MALT gastrico y el adenocarcinoma gastrico. Recientemente se han publicado varios consensos sobre el manejo de la infeccion por H. pylori. Las lineas generales del consenso espanol, del de Toronto y el Maastricht V del 2016 son similares, pero las recomendaciones concretas pueden variar notablemente. Ademas, las recomendaciones de alguno de estos consensos resultan francamente complejas. El presente documento de posicionamiento de la Societat Catalana de Digestologia es una actualizacion de las recomendaciones basadas en la evidencia sobre el manejo y tratamiento de la infeccion por H. pylori. Este documento pretende revisar esta informacion para hacer unas recomendaciones para la practica clinica habitual sencillas, concretas y que sean de facil aplicacion en nuestro medio.

A series of mode I fracture toughness tests employing the semi-circular bend (SCB) and the pseudo-compact tension (pCT) methodologies have been performed with two sandstone types and specimens of 50 and 100 mm in diameter. The tests were complemented with the concurrent monitoring of acoustic emission (AE) activity using a multi-sensor array. With the obtained data, we compare and analyse the two testing methods, the mechanical evolution along experiments and the significance of different acoustic emission parameters. The hypocenter location of the AE events allows a better understanding of the processes occurring in the tests and the analysis of properties like amplitude or peak frequencies are valuable complements. Crack modes are assessed using a parameter-based strategy (comparison of the average frequency, AF, and rise angle, RA), and the potential of the Ib-value to discriminate cracking processes in fracture toughness tests is explored. Results show that the pCT method provides more comprehensive and detailed results, both in terms of mechanical information and acoustic emission data. We discuss the applicability of the generally accepted models of small-strain brittle material failure typically applied to compressive tests (including or not including AE data) and further methodological questions of interest when considering AE monitoring in fracture toughness tests.

Spanish abstract: El articulo analiza la institucion de los acuerdos reparatorios dentro del sistema procesal penal, reconociendo que se le entrega a la victima y al imputado un papel mas activo para la solucion del conflicto y reclamando que le corresponde al juez desarrollar un rol de mayor preponderancia en la consecucion de una solucion pronta y satisfactoria para todos los intervinientes. Estos acuerdos se entienden como una manifestacion del principio de intervencion minima del Derecho penal, al constituir un mecanismo menos lesivo para la resolver un problema penal. Se sostiene que resulta altamente conveniente la implicacion del juez, asumiendo una funcion mas activa y determinante para instar a las partes a alcanzar el acuerdo, dirigiendo para ello el debate. De este modo, al promover la conciliacion, sobre todo en etapas tempranas, no solo seria eficaz para la descongestion del sistema, sino que ademas satisfaria de mejor forma a los involucrados en el conflicto, pues quien dirige y permite el acuerdo es un juez. En el trabajo se deja claro que esta actividad del juez no afecta la imparcialidad ni menos supone juzgar. English abstract: The paper analyzes Settlements with the victim within the criminal procedure system, understanding that victim and perpetrator get a more active role in conflict resolution. These settlements are understood as a manifestation of the Principle of minimum Intervention of Criminal law, as it constitutes a less harmful mechanism for solving a criminal problem. The authors wonder what should be the role of the Court on the materialization of the reparatory agreement. They reach the conclusion that Court involvement is highly advisable by taking a hands-on approach, urging the parties to reach an agreement and overseeing the debate. Thus, by promoting settlement, especially at early stages, not only the criminal justice system would be relieved, but also the parties at conflict would be better served, because who directs and allows the agreement is a Judge. The paper considers that by promoting settlement, a judge does not put impartiality at risk or much less, sentence.

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG [Abstract] Mode I fracture toughness (KIC) is an intrinsic material property that quantifies its resistance to tensile fracture propagation. The International Society for Rock Mechanics has endorsed four methods to determine the KIC of rock, namely, the short rod, chevron bend, cracked chevron notched Brazilian disc, and semi-circular bend (SCB) methods. In this study, we compare the results of the SCB technique with those of the recently proposed pseudo-compact tension (pCT) test, which has proven to be convenient for the assessment of KIC in both fragile and ductile rocks. We select the SCB as a benchmark method due to its popularity, simplicity, and straightforward testing configuration. We discuss the results of 146 tests performed with different lithologies (Arcera, Pinacas and Corvio sandstones, and Blanco Mera granite), different sample sizes (100, 50 and 38 mm diameter), and a range of notch lengths. We also assess test repeatability and intercomparability of the results obtained using the two techniques. Compared with the SCB test, the pCT test allows for improved control of the specimen behaviour after the peak load, which provides a greater wealth of fracture mechanics information. pCT specimens yield results with higher repeatability than SCB samples. Although we observe that KIC tends to decrease with an increase in the notch length ratio, this effect appears to be non-significant based on statistical assessments. Accordingly, the corresponding mean KIC values are comparable for medium- and large specimens. The influence of specimen size is more pronounced in the SCB tests, while the pCT tests show less dependence for harder lithologies. Therefore, to set up minimum specimen requirements for fracture toughness testing, in addition to geometrical constraints, some key lithology-dependent properties (strength, mineralogy, grain size, etc.) should also be considered. Further methodological considerations related to test execution are also discussed. This work was funded by Repsol S.A. and supported by the Xunta de Galicia, the European Union (European Social Fund - ESF) and the MINECO/AEI/FEDER EU project BIA2017-87066-R. Funding for open access charge: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG.

Insufficient understanding of the hydrogeochemistry of aquifers makes it necessary to conduct a preliminary water quality assessment in the southern region of Ordos Basin, an arid area in the world. In this paper, the major ions of groundwater have been studied aiming at evaluating the hydrogeochemical processes that probably affect the groundwater quality using 150 samples collected in 2015. The two prevalent hydrochemical facies, HCO3Mg·Na·Ca and HCO3Mg·Ca·Na type water, have been identified based on the hydrochemical analysis from Piper trilinear diagram. Compositional relations have been used to assess the origin of solutes and confirm the predominant hydrogeochemical processes responsible for the various ions in the groundwater. The results show that the ions are derived from leaching effect, evaporation and condensation, cation exchange, mixing effect and human activities. Finally groundwater quality was assessed with single factor and set pair methods, the results indicate that groundwater quality in the study region is generally poor in terms of standard of national groundwater quality. The results obtained in this study will be useful to understand the groundwater quality status for effective management and utilization of the groundwater resource.

A column experiment has been performed in order to derive hydrodynamic data from pore water sampling using Rhizon soil moisture sampler (SMS) devices. The column was filled with dry granite fines (a fine grained material of well-known properties), saturated with tap water and the evolution of saturation was monitored with the aid of X-ray absorption scans. Once saturation was completed, seven equally-spaced Rhizon samplers were introduced in the column and a 4-stage sequential pore water extraction process conducted. For each Rhizon sampler, flow was carefully recorded in each stage and the data obtained has been interpreted considering the sampling device as being analog to a slotted-casing low-diameter piezometer and the extraction a bail-down type hydraulic test. A modified Hvorslev's and the Gilg-Gavard's methods have been used to assess the hydraulic conductivity during extractions. Experimental results, including unsaturated parameters based on the MVG model, show a good agreement with literature reported data for granite fines, at least up to a hydraulic conductivity of ~ 10− 8 m s− 1. Although further tests are needed to check the applicability of the methodology described to materials with different granulometry and/or with concentrated pore solutions the available results show that Rhizon samplers are good candidates for the hydrodynamic assessment of sediments.

Selective Laser Melting has been one of the last generation technologies of additive manufacturing. So far, one of the major problems confronted by researchers and designers has been the standardization of the optimal parameters. The setting of the appropriate parameters can lead to the acquisition of the desired characteristics in terms of morphology, porosity, hardness, and mechanical properties of the final piece. Therefore, the objective of this work is to study the scanning space that allows the formation of a continuous layer of material through the modification of the process parameters. Experiments were carried out in a self-develop SLM machine using CoCrMo powder as material. The experimental results showed that small separation between tracks provided a good overlapping while with higher separations, such as 750 μm, isolated tracks were produced. Furthermore, other process parameters involved in the morphology of the tracks were identified and the overlapping estimated.

Cobalt-base alloys are widely used in medical applications as is the hardest known biocompatible alloy along with a high wear and/or corrosion resistance. The manufacturing process used on these alloys strongly influences the features produced, therefore it should be carefully controlled to attain the desired quality. Selective laser melting (SLM) is a novel process proposed for the fabrication of biomedical implants with cobalt alloys. In this technique, density is the most important concern as it has a direct influence on the component performance. Due to its different energy inputs given by its processing parameters, it has the potential to control porosity through them. In this work, SLM experiments were carried out on a CoCrMo alloy to study the formation of pores. The analysis showed that the SLM technique enables the building of high dense samples up to 99%, resulting in a mean of porosity of 5.77% and a pore mean size of 0.759 μm2.

We report the case of a young man with chronic hepatitis B infection of probable perinatal acquisition who was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma at a very early stage (BCLC 0) with a highly favorable prognosis. However, the tumor progressed rapidly and the patient died within months. Currently, there are few data that could help to identify cases likely to show rapid progression and which could prompt initiation of aggressive therapies that might prevent or control such progression.

Resumen La unidad de atencion continuada y hospital de dia permite el manejo ambulatorio de los pacientes con una enfermedad digestiva. Objetivo Disminuir los ingresos hospitalarios y el numero de pacientes con una enfermedad digestiva que acude a urgencias. Material y metodos Los pacientes se atienden segun dos niveles asistenciales: a) atencion continuada, en que se visitan de forma urgente los pacientes con una descompensacion aguda de su enfermedad digestiva, y b) atencion programada, en que se realizan procedimientos que por su complejidad requieren personal de enfermeria, sin ser necesario el ingreso hospitalario. Resultados En el periodo comprendido entre 1995 y 2005 se ha pasado de realizar 118 visitas en atencion continuada en 1995 a 784 en 2005. En atencion programada las paracentesis han aumentado de 237 en 1995 a 687 en 2006 y las infusiones de hierro intravenoso de 111 en 2004 a 519 en 2006. El numero de ingresos hospitalarios paso inicialmente de 605 en 1995 a 430 en 2000, para posteriormente aumentar. El numero de pacientes con una enfermedad digestiva que acudio a urgencias disminuyo un 75% estos anos. Conclusiones La unidad de atencion continuada y hospital de dia permite una disminucion inicial del numero de ingresos en el area de hospitalizacion convencional y en el porcentaje de pacientes con patologia digestiva que acuden a urgencias.

An asymmetric, Margules-type, solid solution model was used to model the mixing behavior of Fe-Zn sphalerites. The model is based on an analysis of experimental results from fifteen independent data sources. After a careful, stepwise, analysis of the available runs, the solid solution model was constrained using a refined experimental database of 279 experiments which were simultaneously regressed to obtain the excess parameters and a general geobarometric equation. The model indicates that, when pressures are low, the value of γFeSSph, which is always greater than one, is higher at low FeS contents and an increase in temperature causes it to decline. However, for certain compositions γFeSSph values might be slightly less at low T than at high T. This behavior is corrected when pressure increases, regardless of the composition. The excess Gibbs free energy has positive values at any P&T while it is asymmetric. Pressure increases the value of the excess free energy. On the other hand, the Gibbs free energy of mixing is always negative, with a single minimum that tends to move towards Fe-poorer compositions as the pressure goes up. An increase in temperature leads to a more negative Gibbs free energy mixing function suggesting that increasingly Fe-poorer sphalerite would be expected at high temperatures and pressures. The application of the solid solution model to a selection of case-studies provided results which are consistent with independent pressure estimates. However, the pressure determinations for sphalerite + pyrite + pyrrhotite and sphalerite + pyrrhotite assemblages are very sensitive to uncertainties in the composition of the phases involved and, to a lesser extent, to temperature. The results of the application of the model to a field case (scheelite-mineralized Hercynian veins from the Central Pyrenees) were also consistent when compared with independent pressure-constraining silicate assemblages. Thus, the solid solution model described in this paper provides a workable framework with which to compute the pressures of the formation of rocks over a wide range of geological conditions.

We describe a method to discriminate between ordered and turbulent behavior in a general class of collective systems known as Globally Coupled Maps (GCM). Our method is able to discover an unknown small ordered region inside the turbulent phase of GCM parameter space. The computational nature of the method is the main novelty of our approach; it is another example of how measures based on computational notions of structure may provide new information in the study of dynamical systems.

We study the autosynchronization of temporal patterns of activity in Leptothorax ants, using to model this phenomenon the formalism of fluid neural networks. It is known that autosynchronization is involved in complex phenomena observed in ant colonies, such as task allocation and mutual exclusion. We have numerical evidence that this happens at the critical point of a noise induced transition.

Aim: Alterations of genetic and epigenetic feature can provide important insghts into the natural history of breast cancer. Although DNA methylation analysis is a rapidly developing field, a reproducible epigenetic blood-based assay for diagnosis and follow up of breast cancer has yet to be successfully developed into a routine clinical test. The aim of ths study was to review DNA methylation of promoter methylation of 14.3.3 sigma and ESR1 in circulating DNA of breast cancer patients and to highlight the value of those novel biomarkers in prediction of therapeutic outcom Methods: Plasma was sampled prospectively from 110 patients diagnosed of breast cancer. A PCR quantitative technique was used to analyzed the utility of circulating DNA with CpG island hypermethylation of ESR1, 14.3.3 sigma, APC and Rar Beta genes promoter regions as breast cancer biomarkers Results: The cutt-off points for the genes methylated promoters were established from the ROC curves, selecting values that gave the maximal likelihood ratio. Mean serum values of methylated genes before treatment was for ESR1:0.009 microg/ml, 14.3.3 sigma: 0.047 microg/ml, RarBeta: 0.0001 microg/ml and APC: 0.012 microg/ml. Mean values of methylated genes after treatment was for ESR: 0.003 microg/ml, 14.3.3 sigma: 0.038 microg/ml, RarBeta: 0 microg/ml and APC:0.001microg/ml. In the light of the discriminatory power of the ESR1 and 14.3.3 sigma and the finding that serum levels of methylated gene promoter changed after breast cancer treatment, post treatment modifications in these two promoters were analyzed. We observed lower methylated ESR1, 14.3.3 sigma and APC values after surgery respect pretreatment levels, but without an overall statistically significant difference. With a median follow up of 8 years we found that patients with a significant decrease of sera methylated levels of these genes after surgery had better interval free progression and overall survival respect patients without this observation. Conclusions: These findings cast some doubts on the utility for early cancer diagnosis of highly sensitive techniques to identify hypermethylation os specific gene promoters in DNA extracted from serum. Althought numerous issues remain to be resolved the quantitative measurement of circulating methylated DNA is a promising tool for cancer prognostic assessment. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.