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Mechanical properties measured by nanoindentation of ceramics of pure YAG, as well as doped with 2 and 5 at% Eu and Nd synthesized by a modification of the Pechini-type precursor method that includes the formation of spherical agglomerates by spray drying, are reported. The densification of sintered doped samples was successfully achieved at temperatures as low as 1550 °C in air using nanometric-sized powders produced by high-energy ball milling. A slight increase in the lattice parameter due to Eu and Nd additions to the YAG was observed, as expected, but effectively no change in mechanical properties was observed. Within the standard deviation, the hardness was 22 GPa and the elastic modulus was 315 GPa for all samples. These values are more than twice as large as those previously reported for amorphous fibers prepared with the same compositions but similar to literature reports for single crystals.

To evaluate the value of duplex ultrasound assistance during thromboaspiration of thrombosed arteriovenous fistulae for haemodialysis. We prospectively studied 54 thrombosed native fistulae (23 with total thrombosis and 31 with partial thrombosis), in which we performed manual thromboaspiration guided by ultrasonography associated with fluoroscopy. The fistulae were located in the forearm (n = 39) or in the upper arm (n = 15) of 46 patients. Mean patient age was 65 years, and hypertension was the most common risk factor (74 %). Mean access age was 928 days (range 69–2,290), and most fistulae were on the left side (41 cases, 75.92 %). The success rate was 83 % in the total thrombosis group and 100 % in the partial thrombosis group. Including initial failures, the respective primary patency rates in the total thrombosis group and the partial thrombosis group were, respectively, 83 ± 8 % (n = 20) and 87 ± 6 % (n = 28) at 1 month, 39 ± 10 % (n = 10) and 61 ± 8 % (n = 20) at 6 months, and 17 ± 8 % (n = 5) and 26 ± 8 % (n = 9) at 1 year. The mean decrease of fluoroscopy time with ultrasound was 3 min (range 1–5). The mean decrease of radiation dose was 2.6 Gy cm² (range 0.9–4.3]. Ultrasound is a feasible and useful tool in the management of thrombosed native fistulae, thus decreasing radiation exposure, and has no detrimental effect on success rates.

The cyclophanes 2,9,25,32-tetraoxo-4,7,27,30-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10, 24,27,30,33-octaaza-17,40-dioxa[10.1.10.1]paracyclophane (PO) and 2,9,25,32-tetraoxo-4,7,27,30-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10,24,27,30,33-octaaza[10.1.10.1]paracyclophane (PC) were coordinated with iron to form cationic binuclear Fe(III) Fe2PO and Fe2PC complexes, respectively. Their antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase mimetic activity, as well as their toxicity toward peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated. Both Fe2PO and Fe2PC are interesting biomimetics with antioxidant capacity similar to that of ascorbic acid that prevent mortality in cultured PBMCs, with the potential to have bioactive and protective functions in disease animal models.

The development of the HUPO-Proteomics Standards Initiative standard data formats and Minimum Information About a Proteomics Experiment guidelines facilitate coordination within the scientific community. The data standards provide a framework to exchange and share data regardless of the source instrument or software. Nevertheless there remains a view that Proteomics Standards Initiative standards are challenging to use and integrate into routine laboratory pipelines. In this article, we review the tools available for integrating the different data standards and building compliant software. These tools are focused on a range of different data types and support different scenarios, intended for software developers or end users, allowing the standards to be used in a straightforward manner.

ResumenSe presenta un algoritmo genético para la programación de trabajos en un sistema de máquinas paralelas idénticas, con tiempos de preparación dependientes de la secuencia, con el objetivo de minimizar el makespan (Cmax). El algoritmo genético se compara con otros métodos heurísticos sobre un conjunto de problemas de prueba generados aleatoriamente. Posteriormente se introduce un procedimiento de mejora en el proceso evolutivo del algoritmo genético que mejora significativamente su desempeño.AbstractA genetic algorithm for the parallel shop with identical machines scheduling problem with sequence dependent setup times and makespan (Cmax) minimization is presented. The genetic algorithm is compared with other heuristic methods using a randomly generated test problem set. A local improvement procedure in the evolutionary process of the genetic algorithm is introduced, which significantly improves its performance.

The range of heterogeneous approaches available for quantifying protein abundance via mass spectrometry (MS)(1) leads to considerable challenges in modeling, archiving, exchanging, or submitting experimental data sets as supplemental material to journals. To date, there has been no widely accepted format for capturing the evidence trail of how quantitative analysis has been performed by software, for transferring data between software packages, or for submitting to public databases. In the context of the Proteomics Standards Initiative, we have developed the mzQuantML data standard. The standard can represent quantitative data about regions in two-dimensional retention time versus mass/charge space (called features), peptides, and proteins and protein groups (where there is ambiguity regarding peptide-to-protein inference), and it offers limited support for small molecule (metabolomic) data. The format has structures for representing replicate MS runs, grouping of replicates (for example, as study variables), and capturing the parameters used by software packages to arrive at these values. The format has the capability to reference other standards such as mzML and mzIdentML, and thus the evidence trail for the MS workflow as a whole can now be described. Several software implementations are available, and we encourage other bioinformatics groups to use mzQuantML as an input, internal, or output format for quantitative software and for structuring local repositories. All project resources are available in the public domain from the HUPO Proteomics Standards Initiative http://www.psidev.info/mzquantml.

As fossil fuels are depleting day by day, it is necessary to find an alternative fuel to fulfill the energy demand of the world. Biodiesel is considered as an environmentally friendly renewable diesel fuel alternative. The interest in using Jatropha curcas as a feedstock for the production of biodiesel is rapidly growing. On the one hand, J. curcas' oil does not compete with the food sector due to its toxic nature and to the fact that it must be cultivated in marginal/poor soil. On the other, its price is low and stable. In the last decade, the investigation on biodiesel production was centered on the choice of the suitable raw material and on the optimization of the process operation conditions. Nowadays, research is focused on the improvement of the energetic performance and on diminishing the inefficiencies in the different process components. The method of exergy analysis is well suited for furthering this goal, for it is a powerful tool for developing, evaluating and improving an energy conversion system. In this work, we identify the location, magnitude and sources of thermodynamic inefficiencies in a biodiesel production process from J. curcas by means of an exergy analysis. The thermodynamic properties were calculated from existing databases or estimated when necessary. The higher exergy destruction takes places in the transesterification reactor due to chemical reactions. Almost 95% of the exergy of the fuel is destroyed in this reactor. The exergetic efficiency of the overall process is 63%. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

La anquiloglosia puede evitar que la lengua entre en contacto con la region anterior del paladar, lo que promueve una deglucion infantil y dificultan la adecuada deglusion en el adulto. Esto tambien puede dar lugar a una mordida abierta y en algunos casos, estar asociada con prognatismo mandibular y problemas de lenguaje como el rotacismo, que se describen como la incapacidad o dificultad para pronunciar el sonido / r /. La exsicion quirurgica del tejido que conecta frenillo de la lengua a la mandibula (frenectomia) y el tratamiento rehabilitador del lenguaje con dispositivos orales funcionales, representan una alternativa de tratamiento para este problema. Un nino de 11 anos de edad, con problemas de lenguaje, malposicion dental y diagnostico de anquiloglosia, fue sometido a frenectomia y tratamiento de rehabilitacion dellenguaje mediante dispositivos orales funcionales durante seis meses. El diagnostico del lenguaje se llevo a cabo en tres periodos de tiempo: antes de la cirugia, cuatro semanas despues de la cirugia y seis meses mas tarde. La combinacion de tratamiento quirurgico y funcionales demostraron ser una alternativa mejor que la terapia quirurgica por si sola. Las terapias combinadas aumentaron la capacidad del habla, asi como funciones de deglucion, por lo tanto, la autoestima del paciente.

[Background] MEK1 (MAP2K1) and MEK2 (MAP2K2) are closely related dual-specificity protein kinases which function by phosphorylating both serine/threonine and tyrosine residues of their substrates ERK1 and ERK2, controlling fundamental cellular processes that include cell growth and proliferation. To investigate the prognostic significance of pMEK expression in the nucleus and cytoplasm among patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer treated with concurrent radiochemotherapy., [Methods] Immunohistochemistry was performed on the retrieved archival tissue of 96 patients to detect pMEK, p53 and Ki-67., [Results] Sixty-six percent of patients were positive for pMEK expression in the nucleus and 41 % in cytoplasm. On univariate analysis, high nuclear pMEK was predictive of worse 5y-DFS and 5y-OS, with a trend to significance (26 % vs. 41 %, p = 0.09; 36 % vs. 47 %, p = 0.07). High cytoplasmic pMEK was predictive of better 5-y OS and 5-y DFS outcomes (61 % vs. 27 %, p = 0.01; 46 % vs. 22 %, p = 0.02). On multivariate analysis, low cytoplasmic pMEK and high nuclear pMEK predicted worse DFS and OS (p = 0.01; p = 0.04 and p = 0.02; p = 0.02 respectively)., [Conclusions] Subcellular localisation of pMEK has different prognosis in locally advanced head and neck cancer treated with radiochemotherapy., This work was supported by the “Sociedad Andaluza de Cancerología” (N0:2013).

To describe the benefits and the disadvantages of angioplasty in dialysis fistulas using only ultrasound guidance.This is a prospective study in 132 failing or non-maturing arteriovenous accesses that underwent 189 ultrasound-guided balloon angioplasties. The technical success was defined as non-use of X-ray fluoroscopy during the procedure.127 procedures (67%) were successfully completed without fluoroscopy. Most failures were due to difficulty to traverse aneurismal segments, as well as anastomotic stenoses. Including initial failures, the primary patency rates at 6, 12 months and 2 years were 75 ± 3, 41 ± 3 and 14 ± 2%, respectively.Endovascular repair of the dysfunctional vascular access for haemodialysis under ultrasound guidance is feasible and safe in roughly two-thirds of cases.

First-principles total-energy calculations were performed to investigate the structural and electronic properties of thymine (T) adsorption on pristine and Al-doped two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (2D-hBN) surfaces. Periodic density functional theory, as developed in the PWscf code of the quantum espresso package, was applied. The pseudopotential theory was used to deal with electron–ion interactions. The generalized gradient approximation was applied to treat the exchange-correlation energies. Van der Waals interactions were incorporated in the calculations. Considering T as an elongated molecule and the interactions through one oxygen atom of the molecule ring, two geometries were explored in pristine and Al-doped systems: in (1) the ring side O interacts with B, and (2) the O at the molecule end interacting with the B. The pristine case yields (4 × 4-a), (5 × 5-b) and (6 × 6-b) as the ground states, , while the doped system shows (4 × 4-a), (5 × 5-a) and (6 × 6-a) as the ground states. Calculations of the adsorption energies indicate chemisorption. Doping enhances the surface reactivity, inducing larger binding energies. The total density of states (DOS) was calculated and interpreted with the aid of the projected DOS. Below the Fermi energy, the DOS graphs indicate that p orbitals make the largest contributions. Above the Fermi level, the DOS is formed mainly by –s and H-s orbitals. The DOS graphs indicate that the structures have non-semiconductor behavior.

In light of the emerging field of Epi-informatics, ie, computational methods applied to epigenetic research, molecular docking, and dynamics, pharmacophore and activity landscape modeling and QSAR play a key role in the development of modulators of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), one of the major epigenetic target families. The increased chemical information available for modulators of DNMTs has opened up the avenue to explore the epigenetic relevant chemical space (ERCS). Herein, we discuss recent progress on the identification and development of inhibitors of DNMTs as potential epi-drugs and epi-probes that have been driven by molecular modeling and chemoinformatics methods. We also survey advances on the elucidation of their structure-activity relationships and exploration of ERCS. Finally, it is illustrated how computational approaches can be applied to identify modulators of DNMTs in food chemicals.

Bilioenteric fistulas are the abnormal communication between the bile duct system and the gastrointestinal tract that occurs spontaneously and is a rare complication of an untreated gallstone in the majority of cases. These fistulas can cause diverse clinical consequences and in some cases be life-threatening to the patient.To identify the incidence of bilioenteric fistula in patients with gallstones, its clinical presentation, diagnosis through imaging study, surgical management, postoperative complications, and follow-up.A retrospective study was conducted to search for bilioenteric fistula in patients that underwent cholecystectomy at our hospital center due to cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, or cholangitis, within a 3-year time frame.Four patients, 2 men and 2 women, were identified with cholecystoduodenal fistula. Their mean age was 81.5 years. Two of the patients presented with acute cholangitis and 2 presented with bowel obstruction due to gallstone ileus. All the patients underwent surgical treatment and the diagnostic and therapeutic management of each of them was analyzed.The incidence of cholecystoduodenal fistula was similar to that reported in the medical literature. It is a rare complication of gallstones and its diagnosis is difficult due to its nonspecific symptomatology. It should be contemplated in elderly patients that have a contracted gallbladder with numerous adhesions.

Ajuda rebuda: Sociedad Española de Pneumología y Cirugía Torácica (207/2011) Objective: To determine the case-fatality rate (CFR) at the end of the intensive phase of tuberculosis (TB) treatment, and factors associated with fatality. Methods: TB patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2013 were followed-up during treatment. We computed the CFR at the end of the intensive phase of TB treatment, and the incidence of death per 100 person-days (pd) of follow-up. We performed survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression, and calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of 5,182 patients were included, of whom 180 (3.5%) died; 87 of these deaths (48.3%) occurred during the intensive phase of treatment, with a CFR of 1.7%. The incidence of death was 0.028/100 pd. The following factors were associated with death during the intensive phase: being >50 years (HR = 36.9;CI:4.8-283.4); being retired (HR = 2.4;CI:1.1-5.1); having visited the emergency department (HR = 3.1;CI:1.2-7.7); HIV infection (HR = 3.4;CI:1.6-7.2); initial standard treatment with 3 drugs (HR = 2.0;CI:1.2-3.3) or non-standard treatments (HR = 2.68;CI:1.36-5.25); comprehension difficulties (HR = 2.8;CI:1.3-6.1); and smear-positive sputum (HR = 2.3-CI:1.0-4.8). Conclusion: There is a non-negligible CFR during the intensive phase of TB, whose reduction should be prioritised. The CFR could be a useful indicator for evaluating TB programs.

A lo largo de los anos se han desarrollado distintas metodologias para controlar las cargas de entrenamiento y optimizar el rendimiento. La prevencion de lesiones se ha convertido en uno de los grandes objetivos del cuerpo tecnico. Algunos estudios plantean que variables como el volumen de trabajo, la intensidad y la frecuencia en su realizacion pueden ser la clave para lograrlo. El proposito de este trabajo es analizar en que magnitud han influido las diferentes medidas preventivas adoptadas referidas a estas variables en el plan de entrenamiento de un equipo profesional de futbol sala y comprobar si existen diferencias con respecto a otra temporada del mismo equipo y de las mismas caracteristicas. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 12 jugadores. Los resultados muestran una disminucion del volumen mensual y total, del numero de microciclos de mayor intensidad y del numero de sesiones semanales entre la primera y la segunda temporada. Las medidas adoptadas han sido efectivas para disminuir la incidencia lesional. PALABRAS CLAVE: Futbol sala, lesiones, incidencia lesional, medidas preventivas, cuantificacion del entrenamiento. ABSTRACT Over the years different methodologies have been developed to control the training loads and optimize performance. Injury prevention has become one of the major objectives of the coaching staff. Some studies suggest that variables such as workload, intensity and frequency may be important to achieving this. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of the different preventive measures related to these variables in the training plan of a professional football team and see if there are differences with respect to another season of the same team and the same characteristics. The sample consisted of 12 players. The results show a decrease in the monthly volume and total volume, a decrease in the number of microcycles with greater intensity and a decrease in the number of weekly sessions in the second season. The measures have been effective in reducing the incidence of injury. KEY WORDS : Futsal, injuries, injury incidence, preventive measures, quantification of training.

Nowadays demand side management has become an important issue. Managing the energy resources in an optimal manner has become imperative among energy planners and policy makers. An integrated energy management approach is essential for the sustainable development of any electricity grid. The main objective of this work is the development of a forecasting model in order to predict one day ahead the energy demand of Tilos Island, Greece. For this purpose, an artificial neural network (ANN) forecasting model was developed to predict the energy demand of the entire island region. Prediction concerns 24-h ahead on an hourly basis, with the developed ANN model being fed with historical data of energy demand, historical data of solar irradiation and historical data of a biometeorological index known as Cooling Power Index. Results show that the proposed methodology gives a sufficient forecast of energy demand in order to design an automated energy demand information tool for end-users such as distribution and transmission system operators.

La necesidad de estudiar los problemas de la investigación social a partir de las nuevas tendencias y paradigmas más generalizados y aceptados en la actualidad. El desarrollo de técnicas de investigación y de análisis en búsqueda de criterios de objetividad, cuantificación y coherencias en la investigación social, donde la investigación cuantitativa cuyos fundamentos epistemológicos, interaccionista y dialéctico suscitan la puesta en marcha de un proceso que tiene en cuenta más ampliamente la complejidad de las situaciones, sus contradicciones, la dinámica de los procesos y de los puntos de vista de los agentes sociales.

Dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) is an outstanding nanofabrication technique with a combination of resolution and versatility. In this work we explored the use of a novel ink composed of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and N, N dimethylformamide (DMF), as solvent, to obtain nanostructures. PAN is a largely used polymer that has been explored as a precursor to obtain carbon nanofibers. Our results show the feasibility of defining PAN lines on gold substrates using DPN. Humidity and contamination issues, like PAN oxidation play a major role in this nanolithography process.

Mexico with a population of 112 million in 32 federal states, has made great progresses in the lasts years in regulation, access and security of blood and components; actually the challenge is to reverse the reposition to voluntary blood donation system. The blood system counts with 555 blood banks and 4,342 transfusion services. 25% of the blood banks belong to the Ministry of Health, 15% to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) and 10% to the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), the blood banks of the Ministry of Defense, Navy and “Petroleos Mexicanos” constitute only 3% and more than 40% are private. Only 31 of them collect more than 10,000 units/year, 64 have an annually average collection between 10,000 and 5,000 and 101 collect over 2,000 and less than 5,000; 70% of the blood banks participated in the external quality control program. In 2011 the total country collection was 1,698,124 blood units, with an average increase of 50,000/year. PAHO’s rate of blood donors for every 10,000 inhabitants in Mexico is 148, indicating self-sufficiency, but only 2·38% is obtained from voluntary blood donors. The IMSS collects more than 40% of the blood in country; but 99·7% is obtained by replacement donors. The frequency of transfusion transmission infectious diseases in blood donors was for HIV 0·31%, HBV 0·20%, HCV 0·60%, syphilis 0·47%, Chagas’s disease 0·46% and brucellosis 0·39%. The analyzed results highlight the need to promote voluntary blood donation, regionalization of blood services and to increase the participation in external quality programs in order to reduce the risks associated to blood transfusions in Mexico. The Ministry of Health promotes voluntary blood donations through external collects in universities, enterprises and embassies obtaining good responds. The “National Policy of Use of Blood and Blood Components” from 1993, was reviewed and updated including a mandatory establishment of a quality system based in GMP′s, participation in external quality programs, voluntary blood donation promotion, evaluation of the performance services information and hemovigilance reports.

Background Paclitaxel is an antimitotic antitumour drug highly effective against a broad range of cancers considered refractory to conventional chemotherapy. One of the main serious side effects of paclitaxel treatment is the induction of peripheral neuropathic pain that often diminishes the patient's quality of life. In this study, we evaluated the severity of the neuropathy induced by paclitaxel and the inflammatory reaction in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in young, adult and aged male CD1 mice. Method Hyperalgesia to noxious thermal stimulus and allodynia to non-noxious mechanical stimulus were evaluated using the plantar test and the von Frey filament model, respectively. Spinal cord microglia and astrocytes expression was assessed using Iba1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Results All groups of mice showed a higher nociceptive reaction to thermal noxious (hyperalgesia) and mechanical non-noxious (allodynia) stimuli after paclitaxel treatment. However, these signs of neuropathy were enhanced in young mice followed by aged animals. Additionally, paclitaxel evoked a marked microglial and astrocytic response in the spinal cord of young and aged mice, whereas this enhanced reactivity was less important in adult mice. Indeed, the most severe glial activation observed in juvenile animals correlated well with major signs of neuropathy in this group of age. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that paclitaxel-induced neuropathy in mice is an age-dependent phenomenon whose severity devolves on glial response.

The present work has been directed at studying the structures and stabilization energetics of different conformers of the ground state He 2I 2 cluster. The full interaction between I 2 molecule and the He atoms is obtained from a sum-of-potentials scheme, using an analytical He-I 2 potential parametrized to ab initio calculations plus the He-He interaction. Quantum mechanical variational calculations are carried out, and binding energies as well as radial/angular probability density distributions are computed for the lower-lying vibrational van der Waals states. We found that they correspond to three different structural models, namely tetrahedral, linear and 'police-nightstick'. Comparison of these results with recent experimental data available from high-resolution spectroscopy for similar tetraatomic He 2-dihalogen complexes, contributes to evaluate their relative stability, and provides information about the importance of the multiple minima (global and local) of the potential surface used. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., This work has been supported by DGICYT, Spain, Grant No. FIS2010-18132. P.B. acknowledges a postdoctoral fellowship from the Ramón Areces Foundation, Spain.

The need to study the problems of social research from the new trends and paradigms more widespread and accepted today. The development of research techniques and analysis in search of objective criteria, quantification and coherence in social research where quantitative research whose epistemological, interactionist and dialectical raise the launching of a process that takes into account more widely complex situations, contradictions, the dynamics of the processes and points of view of the social partners.

Resumen La luxacion de codo es la segunda en frecuencia, tras la de hombro; en cambio, la luxacion bilateral es poco comun, siendolo aun menos las que presentan fracturas concomitantes asociadas. Una de las asociaciones menos frecuentes es la lesion de Essex-Lopresti, la cual consiste en fractura de cabeza radial mas afeccion de articulacion radiocubital distal con lesion de la membrana interosea. Se presenta un caso de luxacion bilateral de codo, presentando uno de los codos asociada una lesion de Essex-Lopresti. En el tratamiento de la luxacion de codo aislada prima la reduccion cerrada precoz, comprobando posteriormente la estabilidad del codo; premisa que decidira el tratamiento ortopedico versus quirurgico de la lesion.

Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), although a much smaller fraction of the microirrigated land area than sur- face drip irrigation, is growing at a much faster rate and is the subject of considerable research and educational efforts in the U.S. This article discusses the growth of SDI, highlights some of the research and extension efforts, and points out some of the challenges to SDI adoption and some of the future opportunities for SDI.

Elbow dislocation is second in frequency, after the shoulder, whereas bilateral dislocation is uncommon, even less than dislocations with concurrent associated fractures. One of the least frequent associations is the Essex-Lopresti injury which consists of a fracture of the radial head affecting the distal radioulnar joint with injury to the interosseous membrane. This is a case of bilateral elbow dislocation, one of the elbows associated with the Essex-Lopresti injury. During treatment, the premature closed reduction prevails, previously making sure that the elbow is stable, the premise which will determine the orthopaedic or surgical treatment of the injury.

Within the COST Action 863 in 2009-2010 23 cultivars have been observed in three European regions: north Europe (Polli in Estonia, Dobele in Latvia and Babtai in Lithuania); central Europe (Skierniewice in Poland, Conthey in Switzerland, Ljubljana in Slovenia, Douville in France, Ferrara, Cesena and Ancona in Italy; south Europe (Marsala and Lamezia in Italy, Huelva in Spain and Antalya in Turkey). Several parameters have been evaluated for each cultivar according to the protocol of evaluation within the previous COST Action 836: robustness, production, tolerance to pests and diseases, fruit appearance, sensory attributes and shelf life ability. Finally, a general value has been given for each cultivar. Finally, a decision has been made upon the possibility of adaptation to the region and its market. In the three regions the cultivars performed better than the control cultivars were: in north Europe cultivars ‘Elegance’, ‘Lucy’ and ‘Zumba’; in central Europe cultivars ‘Elegance’, ‘Lia’, ‘Tecla’ and ‘Zumba’; in south Europe cultivars ‘Aguedilla’, ‘Coral Rociera’, ‘Fuentepina’, ‘Kilo’, ‘Nora’ and ‘Siba’.

Objective: real time PCR analysis for the detection of seven bovine pathogenic viruses: Bovine Adenovirus (BAdV), Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Types 1 and 2 (BVDV-1 and BVDV-2), Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV), Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), Bovine Parainfluenza Virus 3 (BPIV-3), Bovine Herpes Virus-1 (BoHV-1), and Mycoplasma was conducted using fetal bovine serum (FBS, MICROGEN®) obtained in Colombia, aiming to include it as part of the serum quality control. Methods: bovine derived MDBK and human derived HEp-2 cell lines were cultured with the test serum for 21 days, collecting supernatant and cellular samples every 7-days. Once DNA and RNA were extracted, the later was converted into cDNA and both samples were subjected to real time PCR using specific primers and Resolight® (DNA-binding fluorescent dye). Standard curves were generated using serial dilutions of cloned specific viral sequences. Accurate amplification and high efficiency was demonstrated in these reactions. Results: realtime PCR amplification did not show a persistent increase of viral counts in cultures during the 21-day follow-up. However, for vesicular stomatitis virus, a transient increase was observed at 7 and 14 days in both cell lines, but considered as not conclusive for viral presence. Conclusions: real time PCR analysis showed to be a suitable method for viral detection in fetal bovine serum samples and through this method no consistent viral or mycoplasma presence was detected in the MICROGEN® fetal bovine serum.Objetivos: se empleó el método de PCR en tiempo real para detectar los virus patógenos bovinos: Adenovirus bovino (BAdV), virus de la diarrea Viral Bovina tipos 1 y 2 (BVDV-1 y BVDV-2), Virus Respiratorio Sincitial Bovino (BRSV), Virus de la Estomatitis Vesicular (VSV), Virus de la Parainfluenza Bovina tipo 3 (BPIV-3), Herpesvirus Bovino-1 (BoHV-1) y Mycoplasma, en suero fetal bovino (FBS, MICROGEN ®)obtenido en Colombia, con el objetivo de incluir estos análisis en el control de calidad del FBS. Metodos: las líneas celulares MDBK de origen bovino y HEp-2 de origen humano se cultivaron con el FBS MICROGEN® por 21 días, tomando muestras de cultivos y sobrenadantes cada 7 días. Una ves extraido el DNA y RNA, a partir de este último se sintetizó cDNA, y en los dos tipos de muestras se analizó la presencia de los agentes patógenos mencionados por PCR en tiempo real empleando iniciadores específicos para cada uno y Resolight® (colorante fluorescente de unión a DNA). Se generaron curvas estándar con diluciones seriadas de secuencias virales específicas clonadas en plásmidos, que mostraron amplificación específica y altas eficiencias. Resultados: el análisis de los cultivos mantenidos con el FBS en estudio no mostró aumento del número de copias virales detectadas a lo largo del periodo de 21 días de seguimiento, excepto para el virus de la estomatitis vesicular, que mostró un incremento transitorio en los sobrenadantes de los cultivos de las dos líneas celulares a los 7 y 14 días de cultivo, que no se consideró concluyente para la presencia del virus. Conclusiones: el método de PCR en tiempo real mostró utilidad para la detección de virus patógenos y mycoplasma en FBS, y mediante este método no se obtuvieron resultados que permitan concluir que los patógenos virales o los mycoplasmas están presentes en los cultivos mantenidos con el suero fetal bovino MICROGEN®.Objetivo: Foi utilizado o método de PCR em tempo real para detectar os vírus patogénicos bovinos: Adenovírus Bovino (BAdV), Vírus da Diarreia Viral (BVDV-1 e BVDV-2), Vírus Respiratório Sincicial Bovino (BRSV ), Vírus da Estomatite Vesicular (VSV), Vírus da Parainfluenza Bovina tipo 3 (BPIV- 3), Herpesvírus Bovino-1 (BoHV-1) e Mycoplasma, em soro fetal bovino (FBS, Microgen®) obtido na Colômbia, de modo a incluir esta análise no controle de qualidade FBS. Métodos: as linhas celulares de MDBK de origem bovina e HEp-2 de origem humana foram cultivadas com FBS Microgen® durante 21 dias, tomando amostras de cultura e sobrenadantes cada 7 dias. Uma vez retirado o DNA e RNA, foi sintetizado o cDNA a partir do RNA. Nos dois tipos de amostras foram analisadas para determinar a presença de patógenos mencionados por PCR em tempo real usando primers específicos para cada um e Resolight®(corante fluorescente de união à DNA). As curvas padrão foram geradas com diluições em série de sequências virais específicas, clonadas em Resultados: plasmídeos, que mostram amplificação específica e altas eficiências. a análise das culturas mantidas em FBS em estudo, não mostraram aumento no número de cópias virais detectadas ao longo do período de 21 dias de seguimento, exceto para o vírus da estomatite vesicular, que mostrou um aumento transitório nos sobrenadantes das culturas de duas linhas celulares aos 7 e 14 dias de cultura, que não foi considerado conclusivo para a presença do vírus. Conclusões: O método de PCR em tempo real foi útil para a detecção de vírus patogênicos e mycoplasma em FBS, e por este método foram obtidos resultados que demonstram que patógenos virais ou mycoplasmas estão presentes nas culturas mantidas com soro fetal bovino Microgen®.

This study seeks to highlight the key role played by relational capital in new business start‐ups. Following a review of previous research examining the success factors of new ventures and the role...

Nanocrystalline Fe/Zr alloys have been prepared after milling for 9 h the mixture of elemental Fe and Zr powders or the arc-melting produced Fe2Zr alloy by using mechanical alloying and mechanical milling techniques, respectively. X-ray and Mossbauer results of the Fe and Zr powders, mechanically alloyed, suggest that amorphous Fe2Zr phase and $\upalpha$ -Fe(Zr) nanograins have been produced with relative concentrations of 91% and 9%, respectively. Conversely, the results of the mechanically milled Fe2Zr alloy indicate that nanograins of the Fe2Zr alloy have been formed, surrounded by a magnetic inter-granular phase that are simultaneously dispersed in a paramagnetic amorphous phase.

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics with (K0.48Na0.52)0.96Li0.04Nb0.85Ta0.15O3 composition were sintered by conventional pressureless (PLS) and spark plasma sintering (SPS) techniques. A comparative analysis of the sintering effect on the piezoelectric and dielectric properties was conducted. The SPS treated specimen revealed an enhancement in the piezoelectric properties as compared to the PLS counterpart. The piezoelectric and dielectric parameters of PLS sintered sample were k ′ p = 0.41 , s ′ 11 E = 11.80 × 10 − 12 m 2 / N , d ′ 31 = − 55.7 ( pC / N ) , e ′ 33 T = 464.5 and tan δ = 0.010 at 10 kHz, whereas these parameters for the SPS sintered sample were k ′ p = 0.50 , s ′ 11 E = 12.20 × 10 − 12 m 2 / N , d ′ 31 = − 66.17 ( pC / N ) , e ′ 33 T = 557.4 and tan δ = 0.024 at 10 kHz. The piezoelectric properties enhancement of the SPS treated sample is attributed to, both the lower sintering temperature and the higher density achieved over the PLS sintered sample.

The longevity of subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems is a key factor in the profitability of these systems when used for lower-value commodity crops (typically the fiber and grain crops). The system management and maintenance protocols, as well as the source water quality, can greatly impact the longevity of these systems. This study evaluated 10 subsurface drip irrigation systems in 2008 and 8 additional systems in 2009 that had been in operation between 6 and 20 years. System uniformity was evaluated by the uniformity parameters, emitter discharge variation, qvar, and the lower quartile distribution uniformity of emitter discharge, DUlq. Pressure measurements along the dripline also were used to determine if qvar was primarily explained by friction losses. Two-thirds of the evaluated SDI systems had qvar less than 20% and DUlq greater than 80 which would be acceptable and one-third of the systems had qvar less than 10% and DUlq greater than 90 which would be good to excellent uniformity. There was very little correlation in system uniformity and system life with the oldest system (20 years) having the greatest uniformity. Uniformity problems on nearly two-thirds of the systems appeared to have been exacerbated by incorrect operating pressure (both too low and too high) with the six best performing systems operating between 65% and 100% of the manufacturer's specified nominal operating pressure. Water hardness and total dissolved salts were the major water quality concerns. Poor maintenance (e.g., no or infrequent chlorination; inadequate filtration system backflushing) appeared to reduce uniformity in between one-third and one-half of the systems. The producer's lack of installation records and operator's guides likely negatively impacted system uniformity through these poor management and maintenance procedures. The use of both qvar and DUlq to evaluate performance of SDI systems appeared to enhance the determination of the primary causes of SDI system nonuniformity.

Introduction Simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplantation is associated with a high rate of complications when it is compared with transplantation of other organs; these increased complications can result in increased financial costs of the procedure. The objective of this study was to determine operating costs and financial results of simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplantation and its different variables in a Brazilian hospital. Patients and Methods Between January 2008 and December 2011, the monthly costs of 105 patients were calculated. These patients were divided into 2 groups; the first consecutive 53 patients were labeled group I and the second set of 52 patients were labeled group II. The cost evaluation was made in US dollars. Results A total of 89 patients corresponded to the public health system and 16 patients to the supplementary health system. The percentage of hospital discharge was 92.4%. There was an increase in operating room costs in group II compared with group I with no statistically significant difference ($18,749.33 for group I and $17,608.26 for group II). The outcome of the operation was positive; it was greater for group II than for group I ($16,303.22 vs $3494.53). Conclusions Simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplantation is a financially feasible procedure in Brazil, with the public health system being the main payment source.

Resumen Caso clinico Se describen los hallazgos clinicos y la cirugia conservadora de un paciente con un adenoma no pigmentado del cuerpo ciliar. El adenoma presentaba un tamano de 5 × 7 mm. El paciente fue intervenido con una cirugia conservadora mediante iridociclectomia parcial asociada a esclerouvectomia lamelar. Discusion Los adenomas del cuerpo ciliar clinicamente pueden imitar a los melanomas amelanoticos. La cirugia conservadora del globo ocular permite realizar un diagnostico y un tratamiento del paciente manteniendo la funcion visual.

Case report We report the clinical features and surgery of a patient with an adenoma of the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium. The adenoma measured 5 mm × 7 mm. The patient underwent radical ocular surgery consisting of partial iridocyclectomy associated to lamellar sclerouvectomy. Discussion Adenomas of ciliary body can mimic clinically amelanotic melanomas. We present details of the patient's medical records and review the literature. Clinically, adenoma in ciliary body can mimic amelanotic melanomas. Conservative surgery of the eye allows diagnosis and treatment, maintaining visual function.

Current standardization initiatives have greatly contributed to share the information derived by proteomics experiments. One of these initiatives is the XML-based repository PRIDE (PRoteomics IDEntification database), although an XML-based document does not appear to present a user-friendly view at the first glance. PRIDEViewer is a novel Java-based application that presents the information available in a PRIDE XML file in a user-friendly manner, facilitating the interaction among end users as well as the understanding and evaluation of the compiled information. PRIDEViewer is freely available at: http://proteo.cnb.csic.es/prideviewer/.

The authors thank Centro de Calculo (IFF), CTI (CSIC), and CESGA, for allocating the time for computer

In this work (Paper I), we analyse Herschel-PACS spectroscopy for a subsample of 23 O-rich and 3 S-type evolved stars, in different evolutionary stages from the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) to the planetary nebula (PN) phase, from the THROES catalogue. (C-rich targets are separately studied in Paper II). The broad spectral range covered by PACS (∼55–210 μm) includes a large number of high-J CO lines, from J = 14 − 13 to J = 45 − 44 (v = 0), that allow us to study the warm inner layers of the circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of these objects, at typical distances from the star of ≈1014–1015 cm and ≈1016 cm for AGBs and post-AGB-PNe, respectively. We have generated CO rotational diagrams for each object to derive the rotational temperature, total mass within the CO-emitting region and average mass-loss rate during the ejection of these layers. We present first order estimations of these basic physical parameters using a large number of high-J CO rotational lines, with upper-level energies from Eup ∼ 580 to 5000 K, for a relatively big set of evolved low-to-intermediate mass stars in different AGB-to-PN evolutionary stages. We derive rotational temperatures ranging from Trot ∼ 200 to 700 K, with typical values around 500 K for AGBs and systematically lower, ∼200 K, for objects in more advanced evolutionary stages (post-AGBs and PNe). Our values of Trot are one order or magnitude higher than the temperatures of the outer CSE layers derived from low-J CO line studies. The total mass of the inner CSE regions where the PACS CO lines arise is found to range from MH2 ∼ 10−6 to ≈10−2 M⊙, which is expected to represent a small fraction of the total CSE mass. The mass-loss rates estimated are in the range Ṁ ∼ 10−7 − 10−4 M⊙yr−1, in agreement (within uncertainties) with values found in the literature. We find a clear anticorrelation between MH2 and Ṁ vs. Trot that probably results from a combination of most efficient line cooling and higher line opacities in high mass-loss rate objects. For some strong CO emitters in our sample, a double temperature (hot and warm) component is inferred. The temperatures of the warm and hot components are ∼400–500 K and ∼600–900 K, respectively. The mass of the warm component (∼10−5–8 × 10−2 M⊙) is always larger than that of the hot component, by a factor of between two and ten. The warm-to-hot MH2 and Trot ratios in our sample are correlated and are consistent with an average temperature radial profile of ∝ r−0.5 ± 0.1, that is, slightly shallower than in the outer envelope layers, in agreement with recent studies.

Las especies exóticas invasoras son una de las mayores amenazas para la biodiversidad. Particularmente, las especies de cnidarios son frecuentemente dispersadas lejos de sus áreas de origen por mediación de actividades humanas. Así, muchos hidrozoos han sido exitosamente transportados en las aguas de lastre, fijadas en los cascos de los barcos y como fauna asociada al tráfico comercial de otras especies acuáticas. Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankester, 1880 (Hydrozoa: Olindiidae) es la medusa de agua dulce más ampliamente distribuida en el planeta. Esta especie de hidrozoo es considerada probablemente nativa del valle del Yangtze (China) e invasora en ambientes epicontinentales de prácticamente todo el mundo. En esta nota, señalamos la presencia de una población de C. sowerbii establecida en el bajo Guadalquivir (Andalucía Occidental, Suroeste de España) y proporcionamos los datos ambientales asociados con su ocurrencia. La distribución espacial de C. sowerbii en la Península Ibérica está aún poco estudiada y la mayoría de la información proviene de publicaciones académicas regionales, informes técnicos de limitado acceso, observaciones puntuales de naturalistas o noticias de prensa sobre cuestiones ambientales. Por tanto, se han revisado estas fuentes para presentar reunidos todos los registros conocidos sobre esta especie en la Península Ibérica. Esta nota contribuye al conocimiento de su distribución en la Península Ibérica, un importante paso previo para evaluar posteriormente el impacto de esta especie invasora en los ecosistemas ibéricos.

One of the main goals in proteomics is to solve biological and molecular questions regarding a set of identified proteins. In order to achieve this goal, one has to extract and collect the existing biological data from public repositories for every protein and afterward, analyze and organize the collected data. Due to the complexity of this task and the huge amount of data available, it is not possible to gather this information by hand, making it necessary to find automatic methods of data collection. Within a proteomic context, we have developed Protein Information and Knowledge Extractor (PIKE) which solves this problem by automatically accessing several public information systems and databases across the Internet. PIKE bioinformatics tool starts with a set of identified proteins, listed as the most common protein databases accession codes, and retrieves all relevant and updated information from the most relevant databases. Once the search is complete, PIKE summarizes the information for every single protein using several file formats that share and exchange the information with other software tools. It is our opinion that PIKE represents a great step forward for information procurement and drastically reduces manual database validation for large proteomic studies. It is available at http://proteo.cnb.csic.es/pike.

The Human Proteome Organisation's Proteomics Standards Initiative has developed the GelML (gel electrophoresis markup language) data exchange format for representing gel electrophoresis experiments performed in proteomics investigations. The format closely follows the reporting guidelines for gel electrophoresis, which are part of the Minimum Information About a Proteomics Experiment (MIAPE) set of modules. GelML supports the capture of metadata (such as experimental protocols) and data (such as gel images) resulting from gel electrophoresis so that laboratories can be compliant with the MIAPE Gel Electrophoresis guidelines, while allowing such data sets to be exchanged or downloaded from public repositories. The format is sufficiently flexible to capture data from a broad range of experimental processes, and complements other PSI formats for MS data and the results of protein and peptide identifications to capture entire gel-based proteome workflows. GelML has resulted from the open standardisation process of PSI consisting of both public consultation and anonymous review of the specifications.