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Understanding the perception of the risks associated with xenotransplant, especially among professionals who will contribute to the care of the animals, is important for xenotransplant to become a clinical reality. The objective of this study was to analyze opinions regarding the risks of organ xenotransplant among veterinary university students in Spain.The study population was 2683 veterinary students from different courses and universities in Spain. Instrument valuation: Validated self-administered questionnaire completed anonymously (PCID-XENOTx-Ríos). Consent to collaborate in the study was requested. Variables for the study: attitude toward xenotransplant and risks (infectious, immunologic, ethical/moral, philosophical, religious, other unspecified risks).descriptive analysis, Student t test, χOf the total number of respondents, 2646 students answered this question, with a completion rate of 98.6%. They considered immunologic risk 78.4% (n = 2074), infectious risk 48.6% (n = 1286), ethical/moral risk 10.7% (n = 284), philosophical risk 5.2% (n = 137), religious risk 1.5% (n = 40), and other risks 3.9% (n = 104). Significant relationships were observed between immunologic risks (P.001), ethical/moral risks (P.001), and other risks (P = .002).Despite the consideration of different types of risks, the favorable attitude toward xenotransplant among veterinary students at Spanish universities is highly prevalent, and evidence-based information campaigns on the different risks associated with xenotransplant are important.

The aim of this study was to validate automated methods to measure iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and ferritin in pig saliva samples. A complete analytical validation was performed of all assays. In addition, these methods were applied to saliva of Fe supplemented (n = 22) and non-supplemented (n = 20) piglets. All assays were able to measure these biomarkers in pig saliva with adequate precision, accuracy and high sensitivity and, in case of trace elements without needing a deproteinization pre-process. The group of piglets supplemented with Fe presented significantly higher levels of ferritin and Zn in saliva. In conclusion, the automated assays evaluated were able to measure Fe, Zn, Cu and ferritin in saliva of pigs, and in case of trace elements, they have the advantage of not needing a deproteinization pre-treatment and thus these analytes can be measured in a simple and fast manner.

A new fully integrated ethanol-to-acetonitrile production plant has been designed here from the grass roots on a pilot scale (10 kg/h) from ethanol, ammonia and air. Besides the reaction section, the full separation train for pure acetonitrile recovery (> 99%) has been optimized and integrated with the recovery of all the byproducts (CO2, HCN) and unreacted NH3. The recovery and valorisation of the marketable byproducts (cyanide salts and NH4HCO3) is also discussed. Finally, the process consumes more CO2 than what constitutes the reactor byproduct, allowing the further sequestration of this greenhouse gas.

Esta revisión bibliográfica tiene como objetivo presentar los efectos de la insulina modulada por la dieta en el rendimiento reproductivo y productivo de las cerdas. La insulina es una hormona que tiene papel de intermediario entre la nutrición y la reproducción, causando la síntesis de gonadotropinas, FSH y LH, a través de efectos directos sobre los ovarios. Los niveles de insulina endógena pueden estar influidos tanto por los nutrientes ingeridos como por la fuente de energía. Los estudios científicos han demostrado que las dietas donde los lípidos son la fuente principal de energía no producen mejoras en la condición corporal de las cerdas reproductoras durante la lactancia y tampoco en el desarrollo reproductivo después del destete. De hecho, puede empeorar la condición catabólica, debido al aumento de grasa en la producción de leche. Por otra parte, aumentar el contenido de carbohidratos durante la lactación puede mejorar el balance de energía, la secreción de gonadotropina y los perfiles de insulina y glucosa. Se ha demostrado que es posible modular los niveles de insulina en plasma mediante el consumo de hidratos de carbono complejos, tales como el almidón, que puede producir picos más prolongados de glucosa en comparación con los carbohidratos simples como dextrosas o sacarosas, promoviendo así el desarrollo folicular de los ovocitos, a partir de la síntesis de la hormona luteinizante a nivel en el ovario.

The esterification of fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAEs) with phthalic anhydride in 1,4-dioxane was studied. At 110 degrees C and in the presence of urea, which increased the reaction rate, esterification was completed in 60 min. The reaction yield did not decrease when the sample contained up to 50% water. For the non-ethoxylated alcohols, the UV-vis response factors of the derivatives were not significantly different from each other (f=1 for C12E0 as reference). The response factors decreased when the number of ethylene oxide units, m, increased, reaching constant values of ca. 0.40 and 0.65 for the n=8 and 18 series, respectively, when mor=3. Using a C8 column and gradient elution with acetonitrile/water plus 0.1% acetic acid, FAEs in industrial mixtures and cleaning products were characterized. At column temperatures of 25 and 35 degrees C, homologous series with even values of n from 8 up to 20, were resolved up to m=14 and 18, respectively, and at 25 degrees C, series with consecutive even and odd values of n were resolved up to m=7. Within the series, superior resolution of the ethoxymers with large values of m was achieved; however, the elution order was reversed for the m=1 and 0 ethoxymers, which produced overlapping of a few peaks within the series. A simple procedure for the accurate prediction of the concentrations of all the ethoxymers in industrial samples was described. After preconcentration with C18 solid-phase extraction cartridges, FAEs were also characterized and quantified in environmental samples (river and sea water). The LODs were ca. 2 microM (S/N=3) in the injected solutions.

Many inorganic and organic compounds occur in ionic form or are ionised at the pH of the mobile phase, giving rise to poor performance (too short or too long retention and poor efficiency) with typical reversed-phase liquid chromatography columns. Early in the development of this technique, the addition of lipophilic anions and cations to conventional hydro-organic mixtures was found to improve the performance. The approach was termed ion-pair chromatography, although ion-interaction chromatography seems to describe better the general behaviour. Several types of additives, ranging from alkylammonium, tetraalkylammonium, alkyl sulphate and alkyl sulphonate salts, to perfluorinated carboxylic acids, chaotropic ions and ionic liquids, offer useful and flexible solutions to multiple separation problems.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of tylvalosin (Aivlosin Water Soluble Granules, ECO Animal Health) in drinking water for control of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M hyo) on a farm with chronic enzootic pneumonia (EP) problems and high prevalence of mycoplasma-like lesions at slaughter. Design On a 4000-sow farm in the southeast of Spain, 1500 animals of same age were randomly divided into two groups: 900 pigs in the treated group (TG) and 600 pigs in the non-treated control group (CG). TG was medicated for seven days with tylvalosin in drinking water (2.5 mg tylvalosin/kg bodyweight (BW)) at weaning (from 21st to 28th day of life) and a second treatment when moved to finisher barn (from 63rd to 70th day of life). Results In the TG, there was a significant reduction in the severity (P

Background Onychomycosis constitute more than 40% of onychopathies in humans. Several suggestions have been published to standardize the treatment protocols. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for onychomycosis as well as to compare laboratory and clinical data and to determine the effectiveness of amorolfine in the treatment. Method Samples were obtained from 360 patients and processed in the laboratory. Treatment and improvement of lesions were followed up for 6 and 9 months in all cases. Results T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum the most common dermatophytes whereas among non-dermatophytes the order of incidence was Scopularopsis brevicaulis , Acremonium roseum , Aspergillus spp., and Fusarium sp. Onychomycosis was successfully treated by amorolfine in 75.3% of cases.

A program for the potentiometric determination of the protonation constants of mononuclear polyprotic substances is described. A maximum of twelve parameters can be determined simultaneously, including up to six protonation constants, four electrode calibration parameters, the protolysis constant of the solvent and the titrant concentration. Optimization is carried out by using the non-simplified Newton-Raphson method, which is potentiated by the Marquardt algorithm and a distance speeding-up coefficient. A direct search method is also used to improve the initial set of values. Variances are calculated very accurately, since the real Hessian function is used. Statistical weights and ionic strength corrections are also considered. The program has been tested by using simulated titration curves of polyprotic acids with close constants.

Silica-supported MoO3 catalysts with MoO3 loadings up to 21% w/w were prepared, characterized and tested in the selective catalytic oxidation (SCO) of ammonia to N2 under dilute conditions. It is found that the catalysts are active and selective in the reaction, and that the catalytic performance increases on increasing the Mo loading. Crystalline MoO3, detected over the silica support, is supposed to be the active species in the reaction. The reactivity of the catalysts is depressed by water addition to the feed at low temperatures and is enhanced by the presence of selected promoters, like Bi and Pb.

Many solvents can be used to prepare mobile phases in liquid chromatography. Also, mixtures of solvents at different ratios are used to modify the mobile phase properties. This can make solvent selection for method development a hard task, unless suitable guidelines are followed. This chapter summarizes the most common strategies used by skilled chromatographists in reversed-phase, normal-phase, and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography. These are based on considerations about the global polarity of solutes, stationary phase and mobile phase, which determine the elution strength, and on the particular profile of the contributions of intermolecular interactions to the global polarity, which determines the selectivity. The optimization of selectivity using isoeluotropic mixtures on the rational basis provided by solvent selectivity triangles and systematic trial-and-error procedures in the isocratic and gradient elution modes is described. Additional considerations for mobile-phase selection, including computer-assisted interpretive optimization, sustainability criteria, and the use of high temperatures, are also commented.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) can persist in different organs of infected pigs, which suggests a failure in the immune response. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) play a pivotal role in the induction of effective T- and B-cell responses. In this study, we investigated the changes in the different APC subpopulations and T- and B-cell counts in the tonsil, retropharyngeal and mediastinal lymph nodes of pigs experimentally infected with a European PRRSV field isolate. Our results demonstrated that the expression of S100, SWC3, HLA-DR molecule and CD3 was diminished in the studied organs throughout the study, observing a significant negative correlation between viral antigen and HLA-DR expression in both retropharyngeal and mediastinal lymph nodes. In contrast, λ-light chains showed an increase during the study. Taking all into account, after PRRSV infection, no enhancement in the number of APCs and T cells was observed, suggesting an impairment of the immune function which may allow the persistence of PRRSV into the organism.

The risk of zoonoses is a major obstacle to xenotransplantation. Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) poses a potential risk of zoonotic infection, and its control is a prerequisite for the development of clinical xenotransplantation. The copy number of PERV varies among different breeds, and it has been suggested that the PERV integrations number is increased by inbreeding. The purpose of this study was (i) to examine the copy number of PERV in different Spanish pig breeds, Spanish wild boar and commercial cross-bred pigs from five different farms and genetic background (CCP1-CCP5) and (ii) to investigate the correlation between PERV copy number and the genetic background of the pigs in order to improve the selection of pigs for xenotransplantation. PERV copy number was determined by quantitative, real-time polymerase chain reactions. Thirty-four microsatellite markers were genotyped to describe the genetic diversity within populations (observed and expected heterozygosities, Ho and He, respectively) and the inbreeding coefficient (F). Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between PERV copy number and Ho, He and F. The copy number of PERV among different pig breeds was estimated to range between three (CCP1) and 43 copies (Iberian Pig). Statistical differences were found among the studied populations concerning PERV copy number. No correlation was found between the PERV copy number and the heterozygosity (calculated at an individual level or at a population level) or the inbreeding coefficient of each population. Our data suggest that pigs inbreeding does not increase PERV copy number and support the idea that careful selection of pigs for organ donation with reduced PERV copy number will minimize the risk of retrovirus transmission to the human receptor.

MoO3–TiO2 samples have been prepared from aqueous solutions of ammonium heptamolybdate and titania (by conventional impregnation and equilibrium adsorption) and by mechanically mixing both oxides (with and without further hydrothermal treatment). The samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, specific surface area assessment, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet–visible diffuse refectance (UV–VIS DR) spectroscopies and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). Surface properties have been studied following the adsorption of probe molecules by FTIR spectroscopy. Dispersed phases are formed preferentially in samples prepared by equilibrium adsorption and in physical mixtures submitted to hydrothermal treatment; in all other cases crystalline MoO3 is mainly formed. Dispersed phases are more easily reduced. They have been identified as surface molybdenyl species bonded to Ti cations through bridging oxygens, and their overall coordination depends on the degree of surface hydration. These species predominate quantitatively on the catalyst surfaces and have been found to be strong Lewis and Bronsted acids. They are also more easily reduced than bulk MoO3 under TRP conditions, and very active as oxidizing agents for methanol.

A computer-controlled pulsed-flow system for thermal lens spectrometric detection, 1s developed. Flow pulses are synchronized with the laser pumping and data acquisition periods, measurements being made in static conditions at the end of the stopped-flow half-cycles. A comparative study of the measurement of FIA peaks in continuous and pulsed flow conditions is made. Using the pulsed-flow system, the dependence of sensitivity and noise on the flow and on the presence of turbulences or irregular pump pulses in the flow, is reduced. With a methyl red solution injected into a 1:1 ethanol-water carrier at a flow rate of 2.7 mL min−1, limits of detection and peak area repeativities were 2.1×10−8 M and 6.0%, and 6.2×10−9 M and 4.3%, for the continuous and pulsed flows, respectively. Linear dynamic range extended up to 5×10−1 M.

The FT-IR spectra of ethylene molecularly adsorbed on some oxidic surfaces at low temperature are presented and discussed both in terms of vibrational frequencies and of band intensities. A hydrogen-bonding interaction is observed between ethylene and surfaces having active hydroxy groups, like amorphous silica and HY zeolite. Strong adsorption is observed on some transition metal oxide surfaces (TiO 2 , ZrO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , ZnO) where interaction is thought to occur on coordinatively unsaturated cationic centers. In both these cases the bands that are only Raman active in the ghas-phase molecule, become activated, some bands (namely CH stretchings and CC stretching) are shifted toward lower frequencies while some others (CH 2 out-of-plane bending) are shifted toward higher frequencies. Band intensities reveal a strong increase on the protonic charge on the ethylene hydrogens, evidencing that electron flows from the ethylene molecule to teh surface sites, the C 2 H 4 moiety retaining its planar structure. On rock-salt structure metal oxides (MgO, CaO and NiO) the interaction is weaker, and is thought to occur on surface oxide anions. When incompletely reduced centers like Cu(I) are exposed, interaction dominated by backbonding from the surface to π★-type antibonding orbitals of ethylene occurs, like on typical ethylene-metal homogeneous complexes.

Summary The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between body weight and the size, number and proportion of muscle fibre types in the pig semitendinosus muscle at birth. Based on weight at birth, 68 specimens selected from 21 different litters from the same farm were allotted in two equal groups (G1 and G2). G1 included 34 piglets ≤1.1 kg and G2 34 pigs ≥2 kg. Fifteen piglets per group were killed at birth and the remaining 19 piglets in each group were reared until weaning (21 days) and post-weaning (67 days). The weight and total cross-sectional area of the semitendinosus muscle were recorded at birth. Then, type I and type II fibres from the superficial portion of the muscle were identified according to histochemistry and immunohistochemistry techniques and percentages, average size of each fibre type, and the total number of muscle fibres were estimated by morphometry. Birth weight in G1 was 54.74% lower than that in G2. Correspondingly, the total cross-sectional area of the semitendinosus, as well as the size and number of muscle fibres, was significantly lower in G1 (P

A method for the determination of fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAEs) using diphenic anhydride as derivatization reagent and RP-HPLC separation with UV-vis detection is presented and compared to derivatization with maleic, phthalic, and other cyclic anhydrides. With these anhydrides, the reaction rates increased when urea was added to the reaction medium, and the yields did not decrease when the samples contained moderate amounts of water. Gradient elution on a C8 column was performed with water/acetonitrile in the presence of 0.1% acetic acid. The use of diphenic anhydride was advantageous for both the chromatographic separation and the detection. Specifically, sensitivity at 200 and 220 nm was significantly better for the FAE diphenates, resulting in lower limits of detection at both wavelengths for the diphenates than for the maleates and phthalates (up to 30 and 4.3 times lower at 220 nm, respectively). Response factors for the diphenates decreased less than those of the phthalates when the number of ethylene oxide units, m, increased, reaching a constant value of ca. 0.62 when m3. Peak symmetries and efficiencies were also better than those found for the other anhydrides. The optimized procedure was applied to the characterization and determination of FAEs in the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant and in sea water.

The esterification of fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAEs) by melting with maleic anhydride has been studied in the presence of urea. The reaction rate and yield of non-ethoxylated and ethoxylated alcohols increase largely when grinded urea is suspended in the reaction medium, a 100% yield being achieved at 80 degrees C in 15 min. The procedure is tolerant to the presence of large amounts of water. The UV-vis response factors of the derivatives of individual FAE oligomers vary little with the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, n, and the number of ethylene oxide units, m. Derivatised samples of industrial FAE mixtures, cleaning products and river and sea waters were chromatographed on a C8 column of the fused-core type using gradient elution with acetonitrile/water mixtures plus 0.1% acetic acid. The hydrocarbon series with even values of n from 8 up to 20, were well resolved using column temperatures in the 15-30 degrees C range. Superior resolution between the consecutive oligomers within the series was also obtained at large values of m; however, reversion of the elution order for the derivatives with m=1 and 0 hindered direct quantitation of a few oligomers at low m values. Full resolution of all the oligomers was achieved by deconvolution with a genetic algorithm assisted by the unconstrained local method of Powell. After preconcentration with C18 solid-phase extraction cartridges, both river and sea water samples also showed the signature of the FAE oligomers. The evaluation of total FAEs in these samples was demonstrated.

Silicon cobalt mixed oxide samples, with three different molar compositions: 10Co∙90SiO2 (10Co), 20Co∙80SiO2 (20Co) and 30Co∙70SiO2 (30Co), were synthesized using a modified sol-gel method. The materials were characterized by DTA measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, TPR measurements and FTIR spectra of samples exposed to NO. It was found that the nature of cobalt oxide species and their interactions with silica matrix depended on the cobalt content. No cobalt oxides were observed in 10Co sample, while Co3O4 was present as a segregated phase in the samples at higher cobalt loadings. TPR showed that 10Co sample was reduced in negligible amount, while the 20Co and 30Co gave different signals due to the presence of Co3O4 and Co2+ species more strongly bonded to silica. FT-IR spectra recorded after NO adsorption at different temperatures showed two types of weak Lewis acid sites due to surface Co2+ and probably Co3+.N2 adsorption-desorption measurements indicated that micropore and mesopore volumes were affected by the Co content

Silicon cobalt mixed oxide samples, with three different composition: 10 (10Co), 20 (20Co) and 30 (30Co) cobalt wt %, were synthesized using a modified sol-gel method. The materials were characterized by TG/DTA, XRD, N2 adsorption techniques for their structural and textural properties. Redox and acidic properties were studied by TPR and FTIR of samples exposed to NO. Micropore and mesopore volumes were influenced by Co content The nature of cobalt oxide species and their interactions with silica matrix depended on the cobalt content. In 10Co sample no crystalline Co oxides were detected: the spinel Co3O4 was present as a segregated phase in the samples 20Co and 30Co. TPR measurements showed that cobalt species present in 10Co sample were hardly reducible. 20Co and 30Co showed TPR peaks due to the spinel Co3O4, and to Co2+ species strongly bonded to silica.. FT-IR spectra showed the presence of two type of weak acid Lewis sites due to surface Co2+ species

Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 catalysts for methanol oxidative steam reforming were prepared from mixed Cu/Zn/Al hydroxycarbonates obtained from metal nitrates or chlorides by the method of homogeneous precipitation. The samples were characterized by XRPD, TG/DTA, N2 adsorption, FTIR, TPR, NH3-TPD. The Cu dispersion was measured by reaction with N2O. Less reducible Cu species and higher concentration of acid sites were found in the catalysts derived from metal chlorides. The Cu dispersion did not depend on the nature of the precursor salts. All catalysts appeared very active, giving almost complete CH3OH conversion at 300-350°C and H2 yield up to the maximum allowed by the feeding composition. The hydrogen production rate increased with Cu content and was higher for catalysts derived from nitrates. The activation energy of the reaction was correlated with surface acidity, suggesting that the oxide matrix was involved in methanol adsorption and dissociation

The possibility of a wide use of hydrogen as fuel of proton exchange membrane fuel-cells forces to the development of selective catalytic materials for the oxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM) to produce H2 essentially free from CO. Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts of OSRM process have been obtained from hydrotalcite-like precursors with nominal formula Cu1−x−y Zny Alx(OH)2(CO3)x/2 (x = 0.23–0.42, y = 0.31–0.58) and prepared by homogeneous precipitation from metal chlorides solutions in the presence of urea. The catalysts were obtained after thermal decomposition of the hydrotalcites at 450 °C, followed by in situ reduction with H2. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) patterns of the precursors showed the presence of the hydrotalcite phase with minor amounts of a Zn-rich paratacamite phase (Cu2−xZnx(OH)3Cl) whose amount increases with increasing Cu content. XRPD patterns of thermally treated samples show only the lines of CuO and ZnO phases; Al2O3 and/or aluminates may be present as amorphous phases. The BET surface areas of the samples are in the range 110–220 m2 g− 1 and increase with increasing Al content. The catalytic activity in the OSRM process is appreciable from about 200–250 °C and methanol conversions up to 90–95% are obtained at temperatures of 300–400 °C. Hydrogen is the main product, and its yield reaches values up to 2.7 mol/mol of methanol. Carbon monoxide content is under the detection limit (500 ppm) of the detector.

Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts derived from layered double hydroxides precursors, prepared by a modified urea method were studied for the oxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM), with the aim of investigating on the influence of the composition and chemical properties on the catalytic activity. The materials were characterized by XRPD, FTIR, TPR. The redox properties of the catalysts were markedly influenced by the Cu concentration and probably by the phase composition of the precursors. The catalytic tests, carried out at T=200-400°C, H2O/CH3OH/O2=1.1/1/0.12 and GHSV=60000 h-1, showed CH3OH conversion and H2 yield strongly influenced by the chemical composition. The correlation of H2 production rate with Cu and Al content allowed to identify a range of optimal composition

Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts derived from a hydrotalcite precursor were studied for oxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM), with O2:H2O:CH3OH molar ratios = 0.12:1.1:1. The results were compared with those obtained in nonoxidative steam reforming (SRM) and in partial oxidation (POM) of methanol. The catalysts were highly active for OSRM, giving total CH3OH conversion at 350–400 °C with GHSV = 0.6 – 1.2 × 10 5 h − 1 . They also showed high selectivity, giving H2 yield of 2.5 mol per mole CH3OH, with CO concentration below 500 ppm. Besides the main products, CH2O and (CH3)2O were also observed at all temperatures, while some CH4 was produced at T > 300 °C . The catalytic activity increased with increasing heating rate of the catalyst precursor. High selectivity was observed also in SRM, but with lower conversion. On the other hand, POM appeared faster than SRM, but produced CO concentrations of a few percent at T > 300 °C , due to CH3OH decomposition. The production of CO was strongly reduced in the presence of water vapor. The reaction network was described in detail. The interaction methanol catalyst was studied by IR spectroscopy. IR spectra showed the presence of adsorbed methoxy groups, that were converted into formate groups at high temperature, and then decomposed into H2 and CO in the absence of O2 and/or H2O, while in their presence CO was probably oxidized to CO2 before desorption, due to the action of Cu(II) species.