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This paper proposes an archaeometric contribution to the study of the Inca pottery style from the southeastern frontier of Tawantinsuyu, also known as the Inca Empire, located in Central Western Argentina (CWA). In complementing previous research, a geochemical and mineralogical characterisation of ceramics from various Inca and local sites is carried out by combining X-ray fluorescence analysis (WD-XRF), powder X-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX). The exhaustive statistical treatment and discussion of the chemical data, complemented by mineralogical and microstructural data gathered through PXRD and SEM-EDX techniques, provide significant insights into the provenance of raw materials, paste recipes, firing conditions, estimated firing temperature and post-depositional contaminations. A complex structure comprising six meaningful ceramic groups has been identified, with some of them attributed to hypothetical provenance areas defined by previous research. Additionally, many ceramics remained ungrouped. Despite the identified compositional variability, certain technological attributes exhibit a higher degree of homogeneity. The estimated firing temperature and microstructure of the pottery denote some control over firing conditions to produce vessels with high mechanical strength and toughness suitable for storage and short-distance distribution. The results of both compositional and technological analyses point to the existence of multiple production loci within a domestic or communitarian model of production sharing the same pottery tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmodified and different organomodified vermiculites were used for the preparation of poly( l -lactide) (PLLA) composites via melt mixing. The effect of the clay mineral surface modification, the type of organic modifier of the vermiculite and sample thickness on the degradation of PLLA in alkaline medium at 37 °C was studied. The degradation was evaluated by analyzing mass loss, pH, molecular weights, and morphological changes. Alkaline hydrolysis of PLLA was accelerated by the presence of clay mineral and the degradation rate was very much dependent on type of clay mineral and state of dispersion. Morphological changes suggested that the erosion mechanism of polymer matrix occurred at the film surfaces and started at the interface of polymer and clay minerals. The results presented here show that the hydrolytic degradation of PLLA can be controlled through the preparation of nanocomposites introducing the appropriate organomodified nanoclay mineral. [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]

In recent years, two important concepts have emerged: the first is that of Social Responsibility, which includes individuals, companies and government, while the second is the term Quality Culture, which has been used mainly in the Business; however, it can also be used in any type of human organization, as in the case of this study, which focuses on government. The objective of this work is to analyze the influence of the Governmental Social Responsibility on Quality culture of the municipal government of Villaflores, Chiapas. For what can be analyzed five variables or areas of study that were Quality culture, Government Social Responsibility (GSR), the quality of life, the image of the government and the responsibility with the citizens in the part of the government. A pilot test was carried out in which 60 people participated, the analysis was through statistical descriptions, contingency tables, correlations through Pearson's chi-square and multiple linear regression. It was found that in general in the five areas analyzed there is a negative perception on the part of citizens towards the management of the government, which does not depend on whetherthe respondent is from the municipality or not. In the correlations and linear regression, it is found that there is a positive and significant relationship between the Quality Cultureand the GSR, finally the explanatory modelemphasizes that the GSR has a positive influence on the quality culture of the municipal government of Villaflores, Chiapas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A new photoelastic measurement method of contact stress parameters is presented. • The GLS-LM overcomes all metrological limitations of the over-deterministic method. • The method provides the measurement uncertainties according to GUM. • The method accepts correlated input quantities or with different accuracy. • The method is capable of correcting deviations in positioning of the coordinate axes. Abstract Photoelasticity has always played an important role in the experimental study of contact mechanics. It can with a degree of simplicity be used to measure the parameters that characterize the contact stress field. The so-called over-deterministic method is the most widely used in that regard. Although that particular method functions correctly, it has some metrological limitations: no measurement uncertainties are provided; observations are assumed to be independent and of equal accuracy; and its results may be skewed by the misalignment of the coordinate axes in the data collection. In this paper it is shown that those limitations no longer apply when using the Generalized Least Squares by Lagrange Multipliers method. The application of the method is illustrated by an example, which shows its potential. The method provides not only an estimate of the quantities to be measured, as the over-deterministic method, but also: a fitted estimate of the value of each input quantity, the covariance matrix of all these estimates from which both the standard uncertainties and the correlation coefficients can be calculated, a chi-square value that can be used to test the consistency of the measurement model, and the normalized deviations between the input estimates and their fitted values, which are a tool to identify potential outliers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the success of combined antiretroviral therapy, HIV‐1‐infected individuals are now living much longer. This increased life expectancy is accompanied by a higher prevalence of HIV‐1 associated neurocognitive disorders. Rising too is the incidence in these patients of pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease such as increased deposition of amyloid beta protein (Aβ). Although neurons are major sources of Aβ in the brain, astrocytes are the most numerous glial cells, therefore, even a small level of astrocytic Aβ metabolism could make a significant contribution to brain pathology. Neprilysin (NEP) is a decisive/crucial regulator of Aβ levels. We evaluated the effects of HIV‐1 on Aβ deposition and the expression and activity of NEP in primary human astrocytes. Specifically, no differences in intracellular amyloid deposits were found between infected and control cells. However, primary cultures of infected astrocytes showed more extracellular Aβ levels compared to controls. This was accompanied by reduced expression of NEP and to a significant decrease in its activity. These results indicate that the presence of HIV‐1 in the brain could contribute to the increase in the total burden of cerebral Aβ. The increased life expectancy of HIV‐1 infected people is accompanied by a higher prevalence of HIV‐1 associated neurocognitive disorders. HIV‐1 infection increases extracellular deposits of amyloid beta protein in primary cutures of human astrocytes. The presence of HIV‐1 in the brain could contribute to the increase of the total burden of cerebral Aβ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The extraction of leaf proteins from perennial forage crops within a green biorefinery concept represents a promising approach to face the increasing demand for protein arisen in the organic farming sector to feed monogastric animals. Given the background, the present research aims at assessing the protein extractability from three plant species i.e. chicory, red clover and timothy, at different development stages and investigating lactic acid fermentation as the key method for the extraction of leaf proteins. Based on our results, up to 86% of the proteins in the green juice were recovered in the leaf protein concentrate (LPC) by means of lactic acid fermentation. Red clover presented the highest protein content and resulted in the extraction of 65–98 kg crude proteins per ton dry matter and the production of 186–235 kg dry LPC per ton dry matter. The plants development stage significantly influenced the process figures i.e. protein extractability and production of protein concentrate were reduced with maturity. Accordingly, the maturity of the plants should be addressed when utilized as feedstock for producing protein concentrates for animal feeding in order to optimize the process yields. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Crude protein content in the plants decreases with maturity. • Lactic acid fermentation of green juices efficiently precipitates the proteins. • Between 24 and 42% of the plant proteins is recovered in the protein concentrates. • Protein extractability decreases with plants maturity. • Red clover results in the highest figures for the green biorefinery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The business environment undergoes constant and dynamic changes. The current social, legal and economic contexts where firms operate enable them to meet their stakeholders' needs. Accordingly, efficient management more oriented to meet customers' requirements regarding firm's corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices has been increasingly credited for the achievement of new firm managerial goals such as sustainability. Thus, the aim of this paper is to address the influence of the structure of human values and cultural differences by country on customers' CSR perception taking into consideration a firm's customers as one of its main stakeholders. Unlike the majority of earlier papers focusing on the relationship between customers' CSR perception and firm performance, this paper provides insights under the umbrella of social sustainability according to recent trends based on societal needs and firm commitments. The cross-cultural analysis has been conducted in a Latin American-European context by comparing two different cultural environments, Spain and Brazil, scarcely analysed in the managerial literature. The findings reveal that human values such as self-transcendence, conservation and openness to change exert a significant influence on the CSR's customer perception. Furthermore, cross-cultural differences by country moderate the relationship between these human values and CSR perception. The results allow for an adequate understanding of the drivers influencing customer perception of CSR social and environmental practices, and these drivers in turn are fundamental to firms' sustainability and, thus, firms' sustainable competitive advantage, as well as to academia to advance knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to study the effect of milking frequency [once-daily milking (ODM) vs. twice-daily milking (TDM)] and antioxidant (AOX) supplementation on fatty acid (FA) profile and oxidative stability in sheep milk. Sixteen Assaf ewes were used; 8 did not receive any vitamin–mineral supplement (control), and the other 8 received an oral dose of 1,000 IU of α-tocopherol and 0.4 mg of Se daily. The experiment consisted of 2 consecutive periods; the first was 3 wk with TDM of both mammary glands. The second period was 8 wk and consisted of ODM of one mammary gland and TDM of the other gland. All ewes were fed ad libitum the same total mixed ration from lambing and throughout the experiment. There were no differences in plasma or milk Se concentrations between control and AOX ewes. However, plasma and milk α-tocopherol concentrations and AOX capacity were increased in ewes receiving the AOX supplement. Milk FA profile was practically unaffected after 21 d of AOX supplementation. However, after 77 d, AOX supplementation increased the relative percentage of C16:0 and cis-9 C18:1 and reduced the proportions of some saturated FA with less than 16 carbons and cis-9 C12:1. Antioxidant supplementation had no effect on the proportions of conjugated linoleic acid or total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) but decreased the proportion of trans-7,cis-9 C18:2 and increased that of n-6 C20:3. Once-daily milking did not affect α-tocopherol, Se, or fat resistance to oxidation in milk. Total monounsaturated FA, cis-9 C16:1, and several cis and trans isomers of C18:1 were increased and total saturated FA were decreased in milk from ODM glands. Compared with TDM, ODM increased the proportions of cis-9,cis-12 C18:2 and several isomers of C18:2 and reduced those of cis-9,cis-12,cis-15 C18:3 and some PUFA of 20 and 22 carbons, but total proportion of PUFA was unaffected. Once-daily milking and AOX supplementation modified milk FA profile, but the effects of ODM could be considered of little biological relevance for consumer health. Supplementing ewes with α-tocopherol plus Se could be considered an effective strategy to improve plasma AOX status and reduce milk fat oxidation without substantial changes in the milk FA profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To deepen, through the experiences of family caregivers, what were the perceptions that caregivers had regarding the process of adaptation of Alzheimer's disease and the impact it had on their lives. Methodology: Two focus groups of caregivers of patients with Alzheimer-type dementia were formed, representative of the study population. Results: From the analysis of the discourses five dimensions or units of meaning emerged with fourteen subdimensions. These five dimensions are: knowledge about the illness, the caregiver's suffering, emotions, coping skills and the consequences in the life of the caregiver. Conclusion: We can determine that the adaptation to the role of caregiver of a person with Alzheimer's is conditioned by the mistaken beliefs or dysfunctional thoughts that arise in the caregiver, the emotions derived from the moral responsibility to assume the role of caregiver from the perspective of gender and, finally, the consequences of care during this period, the repercussions on their personal, family and work life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A new measurement method of fracture parameters is presented. • The GLS-LM overcomes all metrological limitations of the over-deterministic method. • The method provides the measurement uncertainties according to GUM. • The method accepts correlated input quantities or with different accuracy. • The method is capable of correcting deviations in positioning of the coordinate axes. Abstract In the study of fracture mechanics, various techniques are used to determine the parameters that characterize the crack-tip stress field. What these techniques obtain is the full-field displacement distribution and then, the parameters are extracted through the so-called over-deterministic method. This method has some metrological limitations: it does not provide the uncertainties of the measurements, it assumes that the observations are independent and have the same accuracy, and its results are very sensitive to the misalignment of the coordinate axes. In this paper it is shown that the Generalized Least Squares by Lagrange Multipliers method overcomes all that limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biogas potential of the residual fractions of four organically grown green crops after protein extraction was studied. The protein extraction method involved screw pressing of freshly harvested biomass to obtain a plant juice, followed by precipitation of the proteins. After protein extraction, 95% of organic matter was still present in the residual press cake and juice. Methane yields in the range of 219–375 and 429–539 ml-CH 4 g-VS −1 were obtained for the mono-digestion of press cake and the residual juice, respectively, and up to 81% of the methane potential of the fresh crops was recovered in the two residual fractions when evaluated separately. Co-digestion of the press cake and the residual juice at the organic matter ratio at which those fractions leave the biorefinery, resulted in a methane yield of 400 ml-CH 4 g-VS −1 according to the regression model equation developed for red clover. Consequently, 65% of the methane potential from fresh red clover could be recovered by co-digestion of the residual fractions from the green biorefinery after extraction of proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A micromechanical characterization of biomaterials for bone tissue engineering is essential to understand the quality of the newly regenerated bone, enabling the improvement of tissue regeneration strategies. A combination of microcomputed tomography in conjunction with in situ mechanical testing and digital volume correlation (DVC) has become a powerful technique to investigate the internal deformation of bone structure at a range of dimensional scales. However, in order to obtain accurate three‐dimensional strain measurement at tissue level, high‐resolution images must be acquired, and displacement/strain measurement uncertainties evaluated. The aim of this study was to optimize imaging parameters, image postprocessing and DVC settings to enhance computation based on 'zero‐strain' repeated high‐resolution synchrotron microCT scans of trabecular bone and bone‐biomaterial systems. Low exposures to SR X‐ray radiation were required to minimize irradiation‐induced tissue damage, resulting in the need of advanced three‐dimensional filters on the reconstructed images to reduce DVC‐measured strain errors. Furthermore, the computation of strain values only in the hard phase (i.e. bone, biomaterial) allowed the exclusion of large artefacts localized in the bone marrow. This study demonstrated the suitability of a local DVC approach based on synchrotron microCT images to investigate the micromechanics of trabecular bone and bone‐biomaterial composites at tissue level with a standard deviation of the errors in the region of 100 microstrain after a thorough optimization of DVC computation. Lay Description: Understanding the quality of newly regenerated bone after implantation of novel biomaterials is essential to improve bone tissue engineering strategies and formulation of biomaterials. The relationship between microstructure and mechanics of bone has been previously addressed combining microcomputed tomography with in situ mechanical testing. The addition of an image‐based experimental technique such as digital volume correlation (DVC) allows to characterize the deformation of materials in a three‐dimensional manner. However, in order to obtain accurate information at the micro‐scale, high‐resolution images, obtained for example by using synchrotron radiation microcomputed tomography, as well as optimization of the DVC computation are needed. This study presents the effect of different imaging parameters, image postprocessing and DVC settings for as accurate investigation of trabecular bone structure and bone‐biomaterial interfaces. The results showed that when appropriate image postprocessing and DVC settings are used DVC computation results in very low strain errors. This is of vital importance for a correct understanding of the deformation in bone‐biomaterial systems and the ability of such biomaterials in producing new bone comparable with the native tissue they are meant to replace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we examine the diversity and character transformation in pollen morphology and ultrastructure (of the pollen wall and aperture system) of the tribe Chelidonieae, the only Papaveraceae group including anemophilous species. Representatives of the nine Chelidonieae genera and three external species were studied using light, scanning-electron, and transmission-electron microscopy. A recently published phylogenetic hypothesis of Chelidonieae was used as a framework to infer the plesiomorphic character states of the tribe and to trace the evolutionary trends of pollen features, using parsimony optimisation. Chelidonieae pollen is generally medium-sized, spheroidal, microechinate-microreticulate, with a granular aperture membrane, an exine stratified in a discontinuous tectum with irregular internal face, a columellar infratectum, and foot layer, with endexine, and a uni-layer intine. Variation among taxa results mainly from: the apertural system (varying in the shape [colpi, pores]; the number [3–12] and position [zono-, panto-aperturate] of the apertures); wall ornamentation (with three more types in addition to the general type); the thickness of the layers of the interapertural exine; and, at the apertural level, the presence or not of endoapertures, and the structure of the foot layer. We have detected a general variation pattern in the thickness of the exine layers consisting of an inverse relationship between their proportions (ectexine vs. endexine, and tectum vs. infratectum). Similarly, the great development of endexine in Sanguinaria appears to have been favoured by the lack of a foot layer in the ectexine. We have found endoapertures in Bocconia pollen, which is the first report in Papaveraceae and represents the most basal lineage of Eudicots in which endoapertures have been detected. We describe for first time in angiosperms a thickening of the foot layer at the apertural level, in Bocconia and Macleaya , with a digit-shaped disruption around the pore (with white lines inside during microspore), that we call a "digit-shaped structure" and we relate to the harmomegathy process. We have inferred the plesiomorphic character states of Chelidonieae pollen and have identified 48 transformations. The evolutionary trend in the apertural system of Chelidonieae goes from many pore-shaped apertures arranged globally (pantoporate) to pollens with three equatorial colpi, contrary to the general trend in angiosperm pollen. Most of the variations in the characters occurred independently in the current taxa lineages and only 11 changes are synapomorphies supporting Chelidonieae groupings. The colpate Chelidonieae clade is supported by two character-state transitions, but no synapomorphy supports the molecular relationship of Bocconia and Macleaya with the colpate clade. According to our results, a strong pollen transformation occurred in the Bocconia - Macleaya lineage, with five of the 11 synapomorphies identified. We discuss this pollen transformation in relation to the shift in the pollination system, from zoophily to anemophily, which occurred in this Chelidonieae lineage. Highlights • Detailed morphology and ultrastructure of Chelidonieae pollen and three external taxa • Evolution towards anemophily as a pollen-transforming motor in Chelidonieae • Digit-shaped structure, a new apertural foot-layer organization in angiosperms • Papaveraceae as the most basal angiosperm family with endoapertures • An interrelation between the thickness of the different strata of the pollen wall [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essential section in the normal operation of a thermosolar power plant is the management of those effluents that are generated by the diverse processes that take place in the power plant equipment. Due to environmental regulations, it is necessary to develop an effluent treatment plant before all those fluids can be discharged into the environment. In such a plant, a neutralization process is performed, by adding certain chemicals, resulting in an environmentally safe spill. During the execution of this kind of facility in La Asturiana thermosolar power plant, all design requirements were fulfilled, without any incident. Nevertheless, during the commissioning of the facility, several pieces of equipment showed settlements that were much higher than the established limits, which led to a temporary shut-down of the facility. In order to discover the causes, evaluate the risk of repetition in other areas of the power plant and to be able to select the best corrective action, a forensic study was carried out. This study started with several field data tests and was concluded with the development of a computer model. The above mentioned study focused on one of the affected pieces of equipment, and on the surprising conclusions obtained with regard to the causes of the incident, which are developed in the present article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which examined the influence of thermal nitridation on the radiation hardness of the SiO[sub2]/silicon interface. Details on the experiment; Information on the Auger chemical characterization; Discussion of findings.

• In the previous methods there is no metrologically correct way to report uncertainty. • The GLS-LM provides the measurement uncertainties according to GUM. • The method also provides a data consistency test and an outlier identification tool. In this study, a method for evaluating the uncertainty of stress-optic coefficient measurements of photoelastic materials on a uniaxial tension/compression specimen is presented. The same problem is also approached in other previously used methods, in which multiple data fitted with ordinary least squares are considered. However, only the repeatability contribution to uncertainty is considered in those other methods, which are therefore not consistent with the ISO–Guide to the expression of Uncertainty in Measurement. All possible contributions to uncertainty can be taken into account using the General Least Squares-Lagrange Multipliers (GLS-LM) method presented here. The application of the method is illustrated with an example, from which it can be seen that uncertainty has been underestimated in the other methods used to date. As well as the estimate of the stress-optic coefficient and its corresponding standard uncertainty, the method also provides a data consistency test and an outlier identification tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of parameters needed to specify a discrete multivariate Markov chain grows exponentially with the order and dimension of the chain, and when the size of the database is not large enough, it is not possibly a consistent estimation. In this paper, we introduce a strategy to estimate a multivariate process with an order greater than the order achieved using standard procedures. The new strategy consists in obtaining a partition of the state spacewhich is constructed froma combination of the partitions corresponding to the marginal processes and the partitions corresponding to the multivariate Markov chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platinum nanoparticles have been synthesized on polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPy) as supports using H 2 PtCl 6 as metal precursor and a reducing treatment with cold Ar plasma. The catalytic activity of the polymer-supported catalysts in the reduction of aqueous nitrate with H 2 at room temperature was evaluated. These systems are able to considerably decrease the concentration of nitrate in water in only 5 min. The mechanism of the nitrate abatement process is determined by the nature of the conducting polymer. The nitrogen functionalities in polyaniline are external to the ring system, and favor nitrate retention at the platinum complex either by the formation of an adduct or by nitrate participating as a ligand. In contrast, polypyrrole possesses aromatic nitrogen atoms with a considerably more important steric hindrance. In this case, ion exchange between the counter ions in the doped polymer (SO 4 2− ) and nitrate from water is produced, followed by reduction of nitrate by hydrogen chemisorbed on the platinum nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this work was to study the distribution of Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psycodidade) abundance in time and space in an area in northeastern Argentina with vector transmission of visceral and tegumentary leishmaniasis. For this, 51 households were selected using a ‘worst scenario’ criterion where one light trap was set during two consecutive nights in peridomiciles in the transitions between the four seasons, and the environment was surveyed simultaneously. The relationships of phlebotomine assemblage structure and the most abundant species with seasonality and environmental variables were evaluated using a canonical correspondence analysis and generalized linear mixed models, respectively. A total of 5110 individuals were captured. Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) and Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939) were the most abundant species captured in all samplings (98.3% of the total capture). The period of highest abundance of Lu. longipalpis was early autumn, and it was distributed in the most urbanized areas. Nyssomyia whitmani occupied mainly the less urbanized areas, showing peaks of abundance in early spring and summer. Other species were captured in low numbers and showed seasonal−spatial variations similar to those of Ny. whitmani. We confirmed Leishmania spp. vector persistence throughout the year in spatial patches of high abundance even during the less favorable season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the consequences of assuming a wrong model for multinomial data when using minimum penalized φ-divergence, also known as minimum penalized disparity estimators, to estimate the model parameters. These estimators are shown to converge to a well-defined limit. An application of the results obtained shows that a parametric bootstrap consistently estimates the null distribution of a certain class of test statistics for model misspecification detection. An illustrative application to the accuracy assessment of the thematic quality in a global land cover map is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamics simulations of lipid bilayers in aqueous systems reveal how an applied electric field stabilizes the reorganization of the water-membrane interface into water-filled, membrane-spanning, conductive pores with a symmetric, toroidal geometry. The pore formation process and the resulting symmetric structures are consistent with other mathematical approaches such as continuum models formulated to describe the electroporation process. Some experimental data suggest, however, that the shape of lipid electropores in living cell membranes may be asymmetric. We describe here the axially asymmetric pores that form when mechanical constraints are applied to selected phospholipid atoms. Electropore formation proceeds even with severe constraints in place, but pore shape and pore formation time are affected. Since lateral and transverse movement of phospholipids may be restricted in cell membranes by covalent attachments to or non-covalent associations with other components of the membrane or to membrane-proximate intracellular or extracellular biomolecular assemblies, these lipid-constrained molecular models point the way to more realistic representations of cell membranes in electric fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Under neutral conditions, spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking has been occasionally reported for aldol reactions starting from achiral reagents and conditions. Chiral induction might be interpreted in terms of autocatalysis exerted by chiral mono‐aldol or bis‐aldol products as source of initial enantiomeric excesses, which may account for such experimental observations. We describe here a thorough Density Functional Theory (DFT) study on this complex and otherwise difficult problem, which provides some insights into this phenomenon. The picture adds further rationale to an in‐depth analysis by Moyano et al, who showed the isolation and characterization of bis‐aldol adducts and their participation in a complex network of reversible steps. However, the lack of enantiodiscrimination (ees vanish rapidly in solution) suggests, according to the present results, a weak association in complexes formed by the catalysts and substrates. The latter would also be consistent with almost flat transition states having similar heights for competitive catalyst‐bound transition structures (actually, we were unable to locate them at the level explored). Overall, neither autocatalysis as once conjectured nor mutual inhibition of enantiomers appears to be operating mechanisms. Asymmetric amplification in early stages harnessing unavoidable enantiomeric imbalances in reaction mixtures of chiral products represents a plausible interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide range of organic substances, potentially derived from biomass, were tested as reductants for CO 2 (as NaHCO 3 ) in hydrothermal media. The reactions were carried out in batch reactors at 300 °C and 3 h. All the substances reduced CO 2 to formic acid in yields up to 65%. These results agree to the mechanisms proposed in literature that suggested that reduction is carried out by primary or secondary alcohols. However, some substances without these groups gave significant yields to formic acid so new mechanisms were proposed. Out of all the compounds tested, glucose gave the highest yield to formic acid, probably due to its particular reaction pathways at the studied conditions. Effect of NaOH in the reaction using glucose was investigated to assure that formic acid is produced from bicarbonate. For ethanol and ethylenglycol, additional conditions were tested to study the dependence of the reaction with time and temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is a phenolic compound of recognized bioactivity that has been described in wines but little is known about its origin. This work demonstrates that yeast involved in wine making, i.e. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and the non- Saccharomyces Torulaspora delbrueckii , can synthesise HT, as this compound was identified in the intracellular media of three strains by means of a developed and validated UHPLC–HRMS method with LOQ and LOD of 0.108 and 0.035 ng mL −1 respectively. Controlled fermentations were performed with different varieties of grapes ( Corredera , Moscatel , Chardonnay , Palomino fino , Sauvignon Blanc , Vijiriega , and Tempranillo ) and synthetic must. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain QA23 was the most efficient producer of HT from tested yeasts. On the other hand, the grape variety influences HT wine concentrations. Furthermore, the maximum concentration of HT is reached between the fourth and sixth day of fermentation. This work reveals that yeasts have a great potential for the production of HT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of Least Squares is one of the fundamental tools in scientific investigation. In 2002, Lars Nielsen described a technique for applying it in its more generalized form, fully compatible with the principles for evaluation of measurement uncertainty. Despite the importance of this contribution, its application has hardly been widespread, probably due to the technicalities of its implementation. Those difficulties are found in an iteration process that contains a near-singular system of equations. In this paper, the work of Nielsen has been reformulated in accordance with the notation of the ISO ‘Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement’, analyzed in detail to solve the implementation difficulties, completed with an adequate convergence criterion, and implemented in the MATLAB mathematical program. The result is a practical tool that will allow the application of the general least-squares method in accordance with the international requirements of expressing the measurements with their uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whale lice (Cyamidae) are ectoparasitic amphipods exclusive to cetaceans. Data on their epidemiology usually come from species infecting baleen whales, which are large, slow-moving hosts. In this study, we provide data on infection parameters, population structure and microhabitat selection in a whale louse exclusive to delphinids, Syncyamus aequus, with the aim of comparing them with those from cyamid species from large whales. A total of 176 striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba stranded along the Mediterranean coast of Spain during 1980-2016 were examined. The prevalence of S. aequus was 27.3% (95% CI: 20.9-34.3), and populations were sparse, with a mean number of whale lice per infected host of just 4.5 (3.4-6.7). The parasites were found on the head, with a clearly nested pattern, with the blowhole being the most frequently occupied site, followed by the mouth corner and eyes. Single-male or single-female populations were found on as much as 39.6% of infected dolphins. The sex ratio did not significantly depart from 1:1. Females were significantly larger than males and exhibited low fecundity (<10 eggs). The sex or the age class of the dolphins did not significantly affect the abundance or population structure of S. aequus. The patterns here obtained are in sharp contrast with those reported for whale lice infecting large whales. The small, streamlined body of dolphins creates strong current flows that would restrict the amount of suitable microhabitats and the body size of their associated cyamids. This would limit population growth, which in turn would lower the chances of host-to-host transmission upon body contacts, as well as male competition for the access to females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the combined impacts of fire and straw mulching, a widely used post-fire emergency measure, on the soil nitrogen (N) cycle. Unburnt (US) and severely-burnt soils without (BS) and with straw mulching (BSM) were preincubated (3 and 6 months) in the laboratory before fire and mulching effects on gross N transformations were investigated with a paired 15 N-labelling experiment. The ammonium-to-nitrate (NH 4 + /NO 3 − ) ratio of burnt soils decreased with preincubation time from 21 to 1.3, consistent with a shift of the N cycle towards net nitrification. After 3 months of preincubation, gross mineralisation (M SON ) and gross NH 4 + immobilisation (I NH4 ) in BS more than doubled compared to US, in the latter being M SON 4.82 mg N kg − 1 day − 1 and I NH4 3.01 mg N kg − 1 day − 1 . Mulching partly mitigated this stimulation in the mineralisation-immobilisation turnover (MIT). After 6 months, MIT differences among treatments disappeared and gross rates approached those in US after 3 months. After three months, autotrophic nitrification (NH 4 + oxidation) in all treatments was 0.41–0.52 mg N kg − 1 day − 1 , while after 6 months it remained similar in US but increased 8-fold in burnt soils. Heterotrophic nitrification of organic N only occurred in burnt soils, and its importance was similar to autotrophic nitrification after 3 months, but around 4-fold lower after 6 months. To conclude, burning opened up the N cycle and NO 3 − accumulated, increasing the potential for ecosystem N losses. In the short term, straw mulching slightly mitigates the effects of fire on the N cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose One factor that can contribute to severe bone loss after transplantation is the direct action of immunosuppressants on bone cells. The aim of this work was to study the effects of cyclosporine (CsA), tacrolimus (FK-506), and rapamycin (RAPA) on the release of three local factors directly implicated in bone-remodeling regulation and apoptosis of human osteoblasts: interleukin (IL)-6, osteoprotegerin, and receptor activator of nuclear factor κβ (RANKL). Basic Procedures Human osteoblasts were obtained from five different patients who underwent orthopedic surgery. These cells were treated with what are considered to be a clinically high dose and an acceptable dose of each immunosuppressant—RAPA 50 ng/mL and 12 ng/mL, FK-506 20 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL, CsA 1000 ng/mL and 250 ng/mL—or vehicle. Apoptotic cell death was quantified using flow cytometry of DNA content in permeabilized, propidium iodide-stained cells. IL-6 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Quantikine Human IL6, R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn, United States). Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of osteoprotegerin, RANKL, and IL-6 was measured using quantitative RT-PCR. Main Findings A significant increase in IL-6 (mRNA and released protein) was observed in the presence of FK-506 and RAPA. Addition of RAPA to the cultures of osteoblasts produced a significant increase in the OPG/RANKL ratio. A significant increase in osteoblast apoptosis was observed in the cells treated with FK-506 and RAPA 24 hours after the addition of immunosuppressants. CsA did not produce any significant changes in osteoblasts. Principal Conclusions These results suggest that an increase in osteoblast apoptosis by osteoblasts may be one of the mechanisms by which bone loss occurs after RAPA and FK-506 treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

YBCO samples with different microstructures were prepared after the thermal treatment of a precursor previously obtained by autocombustion. A drastic influence of the particle size on the magnetic behavior of the samples was observed. Thus, particles smaller than 110 nm do not exhibit superconducting properties and for those ranging around 200 nm the diamagnetic signal characteristic of the superconductivity at low temperature disappears in a large applied magnetic field. Particles larger than 300 nm do not exhibit the particle size effect. Accompanying such a phenomenon, an increase of the superconducting critical temperature is observed with the augmentation of the particle size, the lowest value being 18 K which corresponds to 110 nm particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the organic farming sector is growing at a fast pace in Europe while needs to face the lack of organic protein sources and in particular, feeding monogastric animals is becoming more and more urgent. Green biorefinery concepts might become the suitable solution for the production of organic protein-rich feeds from green crops. In this context, red clover, clover grass, alfalfa and oilseed radish were studied as possible feedstocks for the development of an organic biorefinery system in Northern Europe. For this purpose, the green crops were processed into a nitrogen-rich protein concentrate, a fiber-rich press cake, and a residual stream of soluble nutrients (brown juice). The process, which involved a novel protein refining technique using lactic acid fermentation, yielded between 6 and 13 kg of dry organic protein product per ton of fresh crop. The protein products of the different crops presented balanced amino acid composition compared to soybeans, which are commonly used in organic farming. Moreover, methionine contents between 7.8 and 9.1 g/kg DM were obtained in the protein products, which is more than the typical concentration found in animal feeds (5.2 g/kg DM in soybeans). This makes the organic protein product produced very promising as a feed ingredient for organic farming of monogastric animals in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrubby legumes in Mediterranean-type ecosystems face strong nutrient limitations that worsen in summer, when water is absent. Nitrogen-fixing legumes are likely to be able to switch between soil N and atmospheric N (N2) sources to adjust the C costs of N acquisition in different seasons., We investigated the utilisation of different inorganic N sources by two indigenous shrubby legumes ( Cytisus multiflorus and Cytisus scoparius). Plant performance in terms of photosynthesis and biomass production was also analysed. Plants were cultivated in sterile river sand supplied with Hoagland nutrient solution, grown in N-free nutrient solution and inoculated with effective rhizobial strains from nodules of adult plants of the same species. A second treatment consisted of plants given 500 μ m NH4 NO3 added into the nutrient solution. In a third treatment, plants were watered with another source of N (500 μ m NH4 NO3) as well as being inoculated with effective rhizobial strains., The application of NH4 NO3 to the legumes resulted in a larger increase in plant dry matter. Carbon construction costs were higher in plants supplied with mineral and symbiotic N sources and always higher in the endemic C. multiflorus. Differences in photosynthesis rates were only observed between species, regardless of the N source. Non-fertilised inoculated plants had more effective root nodules and a clear dependence on N2 fixation., We propose that the ability of C. scoparius to change N source makes it a plastic species, which would account for its broader distribution in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder metallurgy is a manufacturing technology widely used, especially in the automotive sector. In order to assure the quality of these components different conventional tests are employed directly on the final product, but in order to make the mechanical characterization of sintered materials, standard mechanical tests can only be performed onto samples compacted and sintered in controlled conditions similar to the ones used in real production. The final mechanical properties of these products after compacting and sintering are the input needed to define and analyze new geometries and products. The use of the small punch test (SPT) to mechanically characterize in a direct way the final sintered products was explained in this research work and the regressions to determine the tensile mechanical properties of the aforementioned products were also developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Context: Dramatic increases in the average life expectancy have led to increases in the variety of degenerative changes and deformities observed in the aging spine. The elderly population can present challenges for spine surgeons, not only because of increased comorbidities, but also because of the quality of their bones. Pedicle screws are the implants used most commonly in spinal surgery for fixation, but their efficacy depends directly on bone quality. Although polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-augmented screws represent an alternative for patients with osteoporotic vertebrae, their use has raised some concerns because of the possible association between cement leakages (CLs) and other morbidities.Purpose: To analyze potential complications related to the use of cement-augmented screws for spinal fusion and to investigate the effectiveness of using these screws in the treatment of patients with low bone quality.Study Design: A retrospective single-center study.Patient Sample: This study included 313 consecutive patients who underwent spinal fusion using a total of 1,780 cement-augmented screws.Methods and Outcome Measures: We analyzed potential complications related to the use of cement-augmented screws, including CL, vascular injury, infection, screw extraction problems, revision surgery, and instrument failure. There are no financial conflicts of interest to report.Results: A total of 1,043 vertebrae were instrumented. Cement leakage was observed in 650 vertebrae (62.3%). There were no major clinical complications related to CL, but two patients (0.6%) had radicular pain related to CL at the S1 foramina. Of the 13 patients (4.1%) who developed deep infections requiring surgical debridement, two with chronic infections had possible spondylitis that required instrument removal. All patients responded well to antibiotic therapy. Revision surgery was performed in 56 patients (17.9%), most of whom had long construction. A total of 180 screws were removed as a result of revision. There were no problems with screw extraction.Conclusions: These results demonstrate the efficacy and safety of cement-augmented screws for the treatment of patients with low bone mineral density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vermiculite (VMT) was successfully modified by cationic exchange of hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium ions, covalent grafting of glycidoxypropyl trimethoxy silane, and combining grafting and intercalation. The complete removal of excess surfactant from VMT resulted in a change in the interlayer structure and higher thermal stability of the organoclay mineral. The organosilane grafted on the clay mineral edges improved the thermal stability of the organoclay mineral. The organoclay minerals were melt compounded with poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA), and the effect of the nanofiller concentration, type of modification and organoclay mineral purity on the nanostructure and thermal properties of nanocomposites was investigated. The removal of excess surfactant and organosilane functionalization enhanced the dispersion level of the organoclay mineral. PLLA degradation that occurred during nanocomposite processing depended on the clay mineral concentration, the extent of clean surface and the clay mineral dispersion state. The removal of excess surfactant and organosilane functionalization improved the thermal stability of nanocomposites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a prion disease, which manifests itself as a rapidly progressive dementia. Within its clinical manifestations may present progressive cognitive impairment and myoclonus, among others. The aim of this paper is to present the familal-type CJD by presenting a clinical case. Case Report: 67-year-old patient with a history of relatives who died of CJD, previously autovalent that consults for a 2 months period characterized by progressive cognitive impairment, time and space disorientation, myoclonus and ideomotor apraxia. In the study carried out during his hospitalization, he was studied with a brain magnetic resonance that describes symmetrical bilateral signal hyperintensity in basal ganglia and paramedian frontal cortex. In addition the electroencephalogram (EEG) showed acute discharges of three-phase morphology. These findings together, with the clinical manifestations and complementary tests allowed to raise a probable familial CJD. Discussion: The diagnostic approach to CJD is mainly clinical, with the GOLD standard being the histopathological study using cerebral biopsy. Among the fundamental studies that support the diagnosis of CJD are the characteristic MRI and EEG. The diagnosis of the familial type of CJD is based on a genetic study of codon 200 and 129. This case exposes a disease of which is not yet fully known which there are still no completely accurate diagnostic methods, except for the biopsy. That is why the clinical aspects are of great relevance to suspect it, representing a challenge for the current doctor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different conducting polymers, polythiophene (PT), polypirrol (PPY) and polyaniline (PANI) have been synthesized via oxidative chemical polymerization in aqueous media, in such a way that the synthesis protocol did not involve any toxic solvents. They have been tested in the abatement of nitrates from an aqueous solution without the need of any metal catalyst. The N -containing polymers (PANI and PPy) were able to remove nitrates to a level that accomplishes the European legislation requirements; however, the nature of each polymer greatly influenced the process mechanism. Whereas ion exchange between Cl − and SO 4 2 − counter-ions in the polymer and NO 3 − from water is the main responsible for the effective nitrate removal in PANI, as assessed by FTIR and XPS analyses, the nitrate removal mechanism on PPy is based in an electron transfer from the polymer to nitrate through N sites located in the pyrrolic ring. On the other hand, PT was not able to exchange nitrate unless it was synthesized with FeCl 3 as oxidant/dopant and an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate -SDS-) is used. In that case, the electrostatic attraction between sulfate (OSO 3 − ) groups from the surfactant and Fe 3+ ions from FeCl 3 produced the anchoring of Cl − to the oxidized PT growing chain, this favoring ion exchange with nitrate in the aqueous solution, followed by a redox process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method has been developed to determine the fat content in different cold meat products by image processing using the camera of a mobile phone. Salchichón , chorizo , salami and cured ham pictures were taken with a Meizu M2 Mini mobile phone camera under fixed lighting conditions of the light emitting diode flash of the mobile phone. Images were treated with Matlab to obtain the mean pixels of average red, green and blue camera values colours (RGB) of the pixels and different data pretreatments were taken into account to correlate colour parameters with fat content values determined in a series of commercially available samples by the Soxhlet method. RGB values were used as input variable and its correlation with fat content of samples was studied using Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The best correlation between fat content and RGB colour descriptors was found in salchichón and salami samples using SVM, with relative errors of calibration, cross-validation and prediction of 18%, 20% and 16%, respectively. So, the use of a Smartphone camera provides an easy, low-cost, eco-friendly and rapid method for fat content determination in cold meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article shows the first monthly series of a temperature index for the region of Zafra, located in the southwest of Spain, during the period 1750-1840 using weekly weather descriptions. Three different index categories are established (−1, 0, and 1). We compare the index series of temperature in Zafra with the early instrumental data available in the southwest of Iberian Peninsula in order to assess the quality of these indices series. In addition, we characterize the synoptic situation over the North Atlantic region during the period 1750-1840 for the seasons with highest seasonal percentages of cold and warm weeks in each season. The overall configuration of the particularly cold (warm) weeks is seasonally dependent and makes sense from a synoptic perspective. Finally, we analyze the effects on climate in Zafra of important eruptions which took place during the period 1750-1840. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous applications of thinning and pruning are common silvicultural practices in radiata pine (Pinus radiata) forest plantations. Their separate effects on tree growth and wood quality have been well studied, but their combined effect is not clear yet. The aim of this study is to identify how thinning and pruning together affect the stem structure and properties of the pruned but also the unpruned section of the trees (the portions formed immediately after the application of these management efforts). The effects of pruning and thinning on the number of growth units per year, internode length, number of branches, and branch diameters was analyzed in managed and unmanaged stands of radiata pine grown in Chile. When used jointly, these practices generated larger individual tree volumes (135% more) and clear wood in the pruned logs; however, they also reduced the sawn wood quality of the un-pruned stem section for some years after the silvicultural interventions. The managed trees showed more growth units per annual shoot and shorter internodes, thus generating more knotty wood. Moreover, managed trees showed more taper. As trees of the managed stand restore the foliar biomass lost due to pruning, managed and unmanaged stands approach the same level of canopy closure, and differences minimize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbreaks of abortions and lambs born with nervous clinical signs and/or congenital malformations affected different sheep farms in Spain. Initial diagnosis of 'border disease-like' was established, based on clinical signs, serology and/or RNA detection by a pan-pestivirus RT- PCR. However, further investigation using immunohistochemical and molecular techniques identified BVDV-2b as the aetiological agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins are the major polyphenolic compounds in strawberry fruit responsible for its color. Due to their sensitivity, they are affected by food processing techniques such as fermentation that alters both their chemical composition and organoleptic properties. This work aims to evaluate the impact of different fermentation processes on individual anthocyanins compounds in strawberry wine and vinegar by UHPLC-MS/MS Q Exactive analysis. Nineteen, 18, and 14 anthocyanin compounds were identified in the strawberry initial substrate, strawberry wine, and strawberry vinegar, respectively. Four and 8 anthocyanin compounds were tentatively identified with high accuracy for the 1st time to be present in the beverages obtained by alcoholic fermentation and acetic fermentation of strawberry, respectively. Both, the total and the individual anthocyanin concentrations were decreased by both fermentation processes, affecting the alcoholic fermentation to a lesser extent (19%) than the acetic fermentation (91%). Indeed, several changes in color parameters have been assessed. The color of the wine and the vinegar made from strawberry changed during the fermentation process, varying from red to orange color, this fact is directly correlated with the decrease of anthocyanins compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue energy or salinity difference energy takes advantage of the free energy released in a mixture of two solutions with different salinity concentrations as it happens continuously in river mouths. Among the large number of available techniques that aim to harness blue energy, capmix (or capacitive mixing) methods allow to directly extract electrical energy without the need of any electromechanical converter such as turbines or heat engines. The main goal of this article is to analyze the potential of blue energy by capmix methods in Central America. So far, blue energy studies have been principally carried out in countries from the global North. Therefore, we describe experimental results with real sea and river waters from the Gulf of Fonseca, an area of special interest due to its hydrographic richness, which is situated among Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. An electrochemical cell, which consists of a pair of activated carbon electrodes coated with cationic and anionic polyelectrolyte layers, respectively, is used in the experiments. The cell voltage in open circuit (OCV) is used as a measure of the performance of the capmix process. It is found that the OCV is larger when natural river water is used instead of low salinity NaCl solutions. The rainy season in which the experiments were performed reduced the ionic content of the river, increasing the salinity difference with ocean waters. The feasibility of capmix as a means of clean energy production is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using impedance spectroscopy (IS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and infrared spectroscopy (IR) techniques to study the polymer electrolyte membranes based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and hypophosphorous acid (H3PO2) with different titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2) concentrations. The polymer systems (1-x)(H3PO2/ PVA) + xTiO2 were prepared using the sol-casting method and different weight percent of TiO2, x ≤ 10.0%. The DSC results show that the glass transition for molar fraction P/OH = 0.3 appears around 75°C and for the samples doped with TiO2 around 35°C; the melting point for all membranes appear around 175°C. The FTIR spectra show changes in the profiles of the absorption bands with the addition of H3PO2 and the different concentrations of TiO2. The IS results show dielectric and conductivity relaxations as well as a change in DC ionic conductivity with the TiO2 content. The order of the ionic conductivity is about 10-2 S/cm for 5.0% of TiO2. The TGA in the heating run shows water loss that is in agreement with DC conductivity measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]