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Anaerobic digestion (AD) technology has become increasingly important due to its contribution to sustainability and a circular bioeconomy. While AD technologies are widespread in developing countries, developed countries have mainly driven research. The aim of this research is to analyze the biogas sector development from the point of view of a developing country like Colombia. AD research ranges from laboratory mesophilic AD to psychrophilic full-scale digesters, which are intergrated with household farms as a thermal energy source for cooking, nutrient recycling for agriculture, and waste management. Research on agricultural waste substrates, inocula, and co-digestion has dominated the Colombian publications, while full-scale digesters performance research is incipient. A survey of installed digesters collected information about 996 systems and found that 79% were psychrophilic low-cost tubular digesters. Regulations for biogas were reviewed, and it was found that they are not adequate for low-cost digesters and are inherited from developed countries, ignoring the national context. Five case studies are presented on the characterization of AD technology experiences, analyzing barriers and opportunities for the technology. National networks that include farmers, NGOs, and academia are driven slowly by Colombia's widespread AD technology, mainly on small-to medium-scale farms.

Autologous T cells expressing the Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) have been approved as advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) against several hematological malignancies. However, the generation of patient-specific CART products delays treatment and precludes standardization. Allogeneic off-theshelf CAR-T cells are an alternative to simplify this complex and timeconsuming process. Here we investigated safety and efficacy of knocking out the TCR molecule in ARI-0001 CAR-T cells, a second generation aCD19 CAR approved by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) under the Hospital Exemption for treatment of patients older than 25 years with Relapsed/Refractory acute B cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). We first analyzed the efficacy and safety issues that arise during disruption of the TCR gene using CRISPR/Cas9. We have shown that edition of TRAC locus in T cells using CRISPR as ribonuleorproteins allows a highly efficient TCR disruption (over 80%) without significant alterations on T cells phenotype and with an increased percentage of energetic mitochondria. However, we also found that efficient TCRKO can lead to on-target large and medium size deletions, indicating a potential safety risk of this procedure that needs monitoring. Importantly, TCR edition of ARI-0001 efficiently prevented allogeneic responses and did not detectably alter their phenotype, while maintaining a similar anti-tumor activity ex vivo and in vivo compared to unedited ARI-0001 CAR-T cells. In summary, we showed here that, although there are still some risks of genotoxicity due to genome editing, disruption of the TCR is a feasible strategy for the generation of functional allogeneic ARI-0001 CAR-T cells. We propose to further validate this protocol for the treatment of patients that do not fit the requirements for standard autologous CAR-T cells administration., Spanish ISCIII Health Research Fund, European Commission PI15/02015 PI18/00337 PI21/00298, Red TerAv RD21/ 0017/0004 PI18/ 00330 PI17/00672, CECEyU and CSyF of the Junta de Andalucia FEDER/European Cohesion Fund (FSE) for Andalusia 2016000073391-TRA 2016000073332-TRA PI-57069 PAIDIBio326 CARTPI-0001- 201 PECART-0031-2020 PI0014-2016 PEER-0286-2019, Spanish Government 00123009/SNEO-20191072 PLEC2021-008094, regional Ministry of Health 0006/2018 C2-0002-2019, Spanish Government FPU16/05467 FPU17/02268 FPU17/04327, Junta de Andalucia PECART-00312020, Consejeria de Salud y Familias PECART-0027-2020 MCI DIN2018-010180 DIN2020-011550

This study carried out an anaerobic co-digestion treatment of cheese whey using cattle manure as a co-substrate. A co-digestion process was implemented in three tubular reactors, each one with a different organic load rate (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg CODfed m−3digester day−1). A biochemical and microbiological analysis along the axial axis of each reactor showed that it was possible to obtain a phase separation with an organic load rate of 1.0 kg CODfed m−3digester day−1. The volatile fatty acid production phase takes place in the first reactor section and the consumption phase in the second section. Results from high-throughput sequencing analysis showed differences in the microbial communities between the samples of the three reactors for both eubacterial and archaeal compositions. In the reactor with intermediate organic loading rate, acetoclastic communities predominate, while at lower load, both acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic communities are detected. Additionally, a microbial consortium stratification was observed.

Multifunctional biocompatible materials have evoked considerable interest in the field of medical applications. Here we report the thermal decomposition preparation of homogeneous fluorescent-magnetic particles with a composite structure containing CoFe2O4 nanoparticles as nucleation seeds for fluorescent Gd2-xO3:Eux. The composite exhibited a wide range of fluorescence transitions in the whole visible spectrum, displaying 18 different emission peaks when excited at a 250 nm wavelength. Moreover, at low temperature the peaks of the composite were wider than the peaks of the fluorescent material, which may be attributed to a set of new energy levels due to a combination of Stark splitting with the magnetic field of CoFe2O4. Because this material is intended to be used for biomedical applications, the potential toxicity of the composite was tested using an invertebrate hemocyte cell model. The cells showed slight morphological and biochemical changes upon exposure to the composite; however, there was no increase in cell death at concentrations of up to 40 ppm. In addition, the material could be tracked by its fluorescence inside the cells, when excited at a more bio-friendly and less energetic wavelength of 405 nm. Furthermore, MRI showed T1 and T2 dual contrast with relaxivity values in the range of most reported materials.

The definition of the term gastronomy encompasses both the knowledge of food and its handling, preparation and consumption. Beyond a sense of cultural identity and tradition, gastronomy also represents a pole of tourist attraction. This is the case of Galicia, a region in north-western Spain. Within this framework, local dishes, which include distinctive elements of the Atlantic diet, have gained popularity. This research delves into the sustainability of 60 Galician recipes by performing a hierarchical cluster analysis to study their carbon footprint, the energy return on investment ratio and cost. The life cycle assessment methodology was followed to account for the carbon footprint and the energy return on investment ratio of the recipes. The scope was bounded to the cradle-to-fork phases through the life cycle: production of the ingredients, transport, and meal preparation. The functional unit selected was one serving of a Galician meal. The results suggest that the recipes could be classified into three main groups according to the presence of a greater or lesser amount of animal-based products. Cluster 1 comprises 10 meat recipes. Cluster 2 encompasses 31 recipes rich in fish with some vegetables and moderate consumption of red meat and dairy products. Cluster 3 includes 22 vegetable-based recipes. The higher the portion of animal products in the recipes (mainly red meat), the higher the costs and carbon footprint and the lower the energy return on investment ratio. Conversely, plant-based recipes tend to reduce greenhouse gases emissions and increase cost competitiveness and energy efficiency indicators. Based on this study, the food service could promote eco-labelling that support and certify restaurant menus. This research could also provide transformative climate education for sustainable food for consumers, giving advice to improve food-based dietary guidelines in Spain The Galiat project received funding from the ERDF-Interconecta for Galicia Program (ITC-20133014 & ITC-20151009), managed by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. The authors thank the participating companies that assisted in this study; these include the Belarmino Fernández Iglesias Hostelry School, Bodegas Terras Gauda, Bodegas Pazo de Rivas, Conservas A Rosaleira, Conservas Friscos, Aceites Olei, and Quescrem. C.C.-F. would like to thank the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for financial support (Grant reference FPU 19/06648). C.C-F, S.G.-G., G.F. and M.T.M. belong to the Galician Competitive Research Group (GRC ED431C 2017/29) and to the Cross-disciplinary Research in Environmental Technologies (CRETUS Research Center, ED431E 2018/01). All these programs are co-funded by FEDER (EU) SI

Resumen El avance tecnologico en el campo del diagnostico clinico ha generado una diversidad de pruebas de laboratorio aplicables en el lugar de asistencia al paciente (POCT), y ha permitido contar con una mayor calidad analitica de los procedimientos implementados. La elaboracion de un cuadro de mando integral es una herramienta util para el exito en la gestion de un proceso trasversal, complejo e interdisciplinario, como es el de obtener resultados analiticos fiables, transferibles de forma inmediata mediante sistemas POCT. Para la elaboracion de un cuadro de mando integral se deben considerar cuatro perspectivas: la de los clientes (pacientes, medicos, grupos de interes), la financiera (inversores privados o publicos), la de los procesos operativos internos (sistemas, procesos) y la de los profesionales (cultura organizativa). El objeto de este documento es establecer recomendaciones para la elaboracion de un cuadro de mando integral para gestionar los sistemas POCT disponibles en una institucion.

This paper describes a localization module for an autonomous wheelchair. This module includes a combination of various sensors such as odometers, laser scanners, IMU and Doppler speed sensors. Every sensor used in the module features variable covariance estimation in order to yield a final accurate localization. The main problem of a localization module composed of different sensors is the accuracy estimation of each sensor. Average static values are normally used, but these can lead to failure in some situations. In this paper, all the sensors have a variable covariance estimation that depends on the data quality. A Doppler speed sensor is used to estimate the covariance of the encoder odometric localization. Lidar is also used as a scan matching localization algorithm, comparing the difference between two consecutive scans to obtain the change in position. Matching quality gives the accuracy of the scan matcher localization. This structure yields a better position than a traditional odometric static covariance method. This is tested in a real prototype and compared to a standard fusion technique.

Te work was supported by the Oral Medicine, Oral surgery and Implantology Unit. School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain., Three diferent bioadhesive gels were evaluated in a double-blind randomized clinical trial in which microbial growth in the suture thread was assessed following post-surgical application of the aforementioned gels. Also assessed in this trial were, the intensity of post-surgical pain as well as the degree of healing of the patients’ surgical wounds. A total of 21 patients (with 42 wisdom teeth) participated in this trial. Chlorhexidine gel, chlorhexidine-chitosan gel, and hyaluronic acid gel were evaluated, with a neutral water-based gel serving as the control agent. The aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacterial recovery on blood agar was lower in the placebo group than in the experimental groups. The most signifcant diference (p=0.04) was observed in the chlorhexidine-chitosan group. in which the growth of Blood Agar and Mitis Salivarius Agar was signifcantly higher than in the placebo group. The intensity of post-surgical pain was very similar among all the groups. Signifcantly better healing rates were observed in the patients treated with chlorhexidine-chitosan gel when compared with those who used the placebo gel (p=0.03), and in particular when compared with those patients who used hyaluronic acid gel (p=0.01). Through our microbiological analyses, we were able to conclude that none of the bioadhesive gels tested resulted in benefcial reductions in the bacterial/fungal populations. However, the healing rates of patients who were treated with chlorhexidine-chitosan were better than those of the patients who used either the placebo gel or the hyaluronic acid gel.

Cheese whey (CW) is the main waste generated in the cheesemaking process and has high organic matter content and acidity. Therefore, CW disposal is a challenge for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the dairy industry that do not have any type of treatment plant. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an attractive process for solving this problem. The aim of this research was to determine the biomethane and struvite precipitation potentials of CW from four dairy SMEs. First, changes in CW properties (organic matter and pH) were evaluated. Second, biomethane and struvite potentials were assessed using cattle slurry as inoculum. The organic matter in CW varied from 40 to 65gVS/kg, 65 to 140g COD/L, and 2 to 10g/L for VFAs depending on the sampling time and type of sample. The pH of the CW samples ranged from 3 to 6.5. In the anaerobic biodegradability analysis, methane yields reached 0.51 to 0.60L CH4/g VSadded, which represented electrical and caloric potentials of 54 and 108kWh/m3 for CW, respectively. Organic matter removal in all experiments was above 83%. Moreover, anaerobic digestates presented NH4+/PO43- molar ratios between 2.6 and 4.0, which are adequate for struvite precipitation with potential production of 8.5-10.4g struvite/L CW. Finally, the use of biogas as energetic supplement and struvite as soil fertilizer, represents economics saves of US$ 6.91/m3 CW and US$ 5.75/m3 CW in therms of electricity and fertilizer use, respectively. The energetic, agricultural and economic potentials, evidence that AD process is a feasible alternative for cheese whey treatment.

Leaves intercepted by bromeliads become an important energy and matter resource for invertebrate communities, bacteria, fungi, and the plant itself. The relationship between bromeliad structure, defined as its size and complexity, and accumulated leaf litter was studied in 55 bromeliads of Tillandsia turneri through multiple regression and the Akaike information criterion. Leaf litter accumulation in bromeliads was best explained by size and complexity variables such as plant cover, sheath length, and leaf number. In conclusion, plant structure determines the amount of litter that enters bromeliads, and changes in its structure could affect important processes within ecosystem functioning or species richness. Resumo As folhagens interceptadas pelas bromélias é um importante recurso para a comunidade de invertebrados, bactérias, fungos e para a própria planta. Estudou-se a relação entre a estrutura de 55 bromélias de Tillandsia tumeri, definida como o tamanho, a complexidade da planta, a folhagem acumulada por meio de regressão múltipla e o critério de informação de Akaike. Encontrou-se que as variáveis de tamanho, cobertura, comprimento da bainha e a variável de complexidade do número de folhas explicam a acumulação de folhas nas bromélias. Em conclusão, a estrutura do planta determina a quantidade de folhas armazenada na bromélia e os câmbios da estrutura da bromélia poderiam afetar importantes processos de funcionamento do ecossistema ou a riqueza de espécies.

Objective The main objective of this research is the design and implementation of a new fuzzy logic tool for automatic drug delivery in patients undergoing general anesthesia. The aim is to adjust the drug dose to the real patient needs using heuristic knowledge provided by clinicians. A two-level computer decision system is proposed. The idea is to release the clinician from routine tasks so that he can focus on other variables of the patient. Methods The controller uses the Bispectral Index (BIS) to assess the hypnotic state of the patient. Fuzzy controller was included in a closed-loop system to reach the BIS target and reject disturbances. BIS was measured using a BIS VISTA monitor, a device capable of calculating the hypnosis level of the patient through EEG information. An infusion pump with propofol 1% is used to supply the drug to the patient. The inputs to the fuzzy inference system are BIS error and BIS rate. The output is infusion rate increment. The mapping of the input information and the appropriate output is given by a rule-base based on knowledge of clinicians. Results To evaluate the performance of the fuzzy closed-loop system proposed, an observational study was carried out. Eighty one patients scheduled for ambulatory surgery were randomly distributed in 2 groups: one group using a fuzzy logic based closed-loop system (FCL) to automate the administration of propofol (42 cases); the second group using manual delivering of the drug (39 cases). In both groups, the BIS target was 50. Conclusions The FCL, designed with intuitive logic rules based on the clinician experience, performed satisfactorily and outperformed the manual administration in patients in terms of accuracy through the maintenance stage.

Antlers constitute the only mammal model for limb regeneration. A number of factors affect antler regeneration. In this review, we examine such factors and the potential consequences for organ regeneration. As body mineral stores are depleted to grow antlers, physiological exhaustion is shown in the mineral composition, mechanical performance and, according to preliminary studies, porosity of the antler bone material. Nutrition plays an important role in antler characteristics. Thus, antler composition can be used as a diagnostic tool to assess mineral deficiencies in deer. Studies on ecological effects of exceptional weather in plants suggest that minor minerals, particularly Mn, may play disproportionately roles in mechanical performance of bone material. This suggests that Mn (and perhaps other minerals) is essential to incorporate Ca and P from resorbed skeleton material in antlers. Apart from implications for game management, some effects may have applications for medicine., This review has been possible thanks to projects MCEI-FEDER project CGL2008-00749/BOS, MICINN-FEDER (UNCM08-1E-004), and JCCM (POII10-0129-0562). JAE and FC were funded by JCCM postdoctoral contract.

Climate variability greatly affects animals through direct and indirect effects. Animals with slow reproductive adaptation to ecological changes such as large mammals are likely to have evolved mechanisms to anticipate early such impacts of climate variability on the environment. One of the adaptive mechanisms between reproductive costs and benefits in mammals affects parental investment through biases in sex ratio. Deer might be likely to show an early detection of climate variability because conception takes place in early autumn, but the main raising cost in deer concerns lactation, which takes place at the end of the following spring. The aim of this paper is to assess whether there is a relationship between global indices of climate variability such as El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and sex ratio of a captive population of deer. Results showed that there was a negative correlation (r=-0. 65) between sex ratio and ENSO indices between 1996 and 2008. El Niño enhances drier conditions during the summer in the Iberia Peninsula, which in turn favours a female bias. Results also suggest that the mechanism of early detection of climate variability exerts a strong effect on female reproductive physiology because the long-term stability of food resources in our setting has not markedly reduced it., This study was supported by projects PAC06-01304298 (JCCM), MCYT (PET2006_0263), PBI 05–040 (JCCM), FEDER-MCEI project (CGL2008-00749/BOS) and MICINN (PTQ-08-01-06587).

Deer antler is a bony tissue which re-grows every year after shedding. Growth speed and material properties of this tissue are truly remarkable, making it an interesting model for bone regeneration. Surprisingly, not much is known about the ultrastructure of the calcified tissues and the temporal sequence of their development during antler growth. We use a combination of imaging tools based on light and electron microscopy to characterize antler tissue at various stages of development. We observe that mineralized cartilage is first transformed into a bone framework with low degree of collagen fibril ordering at the micron level. This framework has a honeycomb-like appearance with the cylindrical pores oriented along the main antler axis. Later, this tissue is filled with primary osteons, whose collagen fibrils are mainly oriented along the pores, thus improving the antler’s mechanical properties. This strongly suggests that to achieve very fast organ growth it is advantageous to have a longitudinal porous framework as an intermediate step in bone formation. The example of antler shows that geometric features of this framework are crucial, and a tubular geometry with a diameter in the order of hundred micrometers seems to be a good solution for fast framework-mediated bone formation.

β-Secretase is one of the aspartic proteases involved in the formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease patients. Our previous results using a combination of surface plasmon resonance experiments with molecular modeling calculations suggested that the Asp dyad in β-secretase bound to hydroxylethylene containing inhibitors adopts a neutral charged state. In this work, we show that the Asp dyad diprotonated state reproduced the binding ranking of a set of these inhibitors better than alternative protonation states.

SUMMARY We assessed the hydration state of antlers and its effect on antler mechanical properties compared with wet femur. Red deer antlers were removed from the head at various times, from a few days after velvet shedding till late in the season, and weighed weekly until after casting time. Antlers cut just after losing their velvet lost weight rapidly in the first few weeks, then settled down and changed weight very little, the latter changes correlating with air relative humidity. Antlers cut later showed little weight change at any time. The water content of cortical and trabecular parts of the contralateral antler was assessed after cutting. Most of the weight loss was from the cancellous, not the cortical, part of the antler. Wet and dry specimens from the antlers, and wet specimens from deer femora, were tested mechanically. Compared with wet bone, wet antler had a much lower modulus of elasticity and bending strength, but a higher work to fracture. Compared with wet bone, dry antler showed a somewhat lower Young's modulus, but a considerably higher bending strength and a much higher work to fracture. The impact energy absorption of dry antler was much greater than that of wet bone. In red deer, the antler is effectively dry during its use in fights, at least in southern Spain. In addition, dry antler, compared with ordinary bone, shows mechanical properties that suit it admirably for its fighting function.

We have shown recently that antlers of red deer, at the time that they are used in fights in the rut, are essentially dry. We have also shown that dry antler material has a lower impact energy absorption than that of wet antler, a property which, in a fight, is probably very important in the first clashing of antlers. However, dry antler has a much higher Young's modulus (stiffness) than wet antler, and this property will be important in the pushing match that follows the initial impact. These values were compared with those of wet bone, and it was found that although dry antler had a somewhat lower Young's modulus than wet bone, it had a much higher impact energy absorption. In that paper we did not consider the properties of dry bone. We now rectify that. The present paper compares the Young's modulus and impact energy absorption of wet and dry antler with that of wet and dry long bone of deer. It is found that the Young's modulus of dry antler is slightly less (12%) than that of wet long bone, which is in turn slightly less (7%) than that of dry long bone. On the other hand the impact energy absorption of dry antler is much (x6.6) greater than that of wet bone and even greater (x14.3) than that of dry bone. (The impact energy absorption of wet antler could not be measured consistently; it was certainly very high). We suggest that the material properties of antler (which is necessarily dry when used in fights) are superior to those of dry long bone material because, although they have somewhat lower (18%) Young's modulus, they have a much greater (x14) impact energy absorption. The properties of wet long bone and wet antler material are given for comparison, but neither could be used in reality.

Antler is a unique mineralized tissue, with extraordinary toughness as well as an ability to annually regenerate itself in its entirety. The high fracture resistance enables it to fulfill its biological function as a weapon and defensive guard during combats between deer stags in the rutting season. However, very little is quantitatively understood about the structural origin of the antler's high toughness. We used a unique combination of time-resolved synchrotron small angle X-ray diffraction together with tensile testing of antler cortical tissue under physiologically wet conditions. We measured the deformation at the nanoscale from changes in the meridional diffraction pattern during macroscopic stretch-to-failure tests. Our results show that on average fibrils are strained only half as much as the whole tissue and the fibril strain increases linearly with tissue strain, both during elastic and inelastic deformation. Most remarkably, following macroscopic yielding we observe a straining of some fibrils equal to the macroscopic tissue strain while others are hardly stretched at all, indicating an inhomogeneous fibrillar strain pattern at the nanoscale. This behavior is unlike what occurs in plexiform bovine bone and may explain the extreme toughness of antler compared to normal bone.

The aim of this study is to describe the leptin cycle in male Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) and relate it to antler and testosterone cycles. An additional aim is to assess the relationship between the plasma leptin concentration during antlers’ growth and their final size. Therefore, blood from 21 Iberian red deer males was sampled monthly to analyse leptin and testosterone. At the same time the deer were weighed and their body condition was assessed. The length of antlers was measured every 2 weeks and, after casting, their final length and perimeters were taken. Leptin showed a seasonal cycle, with a peak in June that decreased as testosterone increased. Low values were observed in autumn, winter and early spring. The relationship observed between leptin and body mass or body condition score was different in spring, when plasma testosterone concentration is low, than in autumn, when testosterone increases. Leptin peak amplitude was positively related to final antler size. In conclusion, the relationship between leptin and body mass and body condition score changes through the year, possibly due to the influence of androgens and photoperiod. There was a positive relationship between plasma concentration of leptin during antler growth and final antler length., EGL has been supported by a FPI grant under the Consejería de Educación y Ciencia (JCCM). This study was supported by projects AGL2007-63838/gan, PBI-05-040, PAC 06-01304298 and PET2006-0263.

Deer antlers are bony fighting structures which are unique in that they are both easily accessible for analysis and that they are grown every year; thus, they make up good models for the study of bones. Previous studies have shown that antler bone composition is related to the external quality (antler size and weight) and the mechanical quality of the antlers, and that it reflects mineral nutrition and early growth. Because one of the main nutritional factors influencing early growth is maternal milk production and composition, and because lactation plays an important role in post-weaning growth, we set out to examine whether milk yield and composition are correlated with the mineral composition of spike antlers of 22 yearling Iberian red deer Cervus elaphus hispanicus. Total milk protein yield was positively associated with ash, Ca and P content in antler, inversely with K content, but no relationship was found for Na, Mg, Fe or Zn. This association was evidently exerted through an increase in calf growth during lactation, because in the model, the inclusion of calf weight gain up to week 18 (approximately the age at weaning) rendered milk production and composition non-significant. However, this correlation was not observed for the minor minerals Na, Mg, Fe and Zn. Gains during lactation, but not between lactation and antler growth, influenced the composition of major minerals. Manipulating milk quality could not only affect general calf growth, but also antler quality and very likely the quality of other bones, as well as mechanical performance, which is linked to ash or Ca content., This research has been partly funded by project AGL 2003–08547 (MCYT) and project PBI-05–040 (JCCM).

Antlers are costly bone structures whose size and external characteristics are influenced by nutrition, climatic variability, and other factors. In this study, we examined the effects of a well-managed captive population vs unmanaged free-ranging herds (greatly differing in food availability and energetic and immunological expenditures) on antler structural characteristics of Iberian red deer. We assessed the effect of management and sample position in the antler on cortical bone depth, bone mineral and protein content, and radiographic bone opacity. Cortical bone depth and mineral percent was greater in captive animals on greater food availability and lower energetic and immunological expenditures. After removing the inverse relationship with mineral content in the model, protein percent was also higher in antlers from captive than in those from free-ranging deer. Management system also influenced radio-opacity indirectly as interaction with other factors and cortical bone depth effects. Structural properties also differed between antler points that are very close in the antler and seem to differ only in the role they play. In conclusion, captive management can affect antler structure and composition, possibly as a result of different availability of food and immunological costs., This study was supported by projects PAC06-01304298 (JCCM), PBI 05-040 (JCCM), and AGL2003-08547 (MCYT). JAE wishes to thank the UCLM/Vicerrectorado de Relaciones Internacionales and Vicerrectorado de Profesorado for funding.

The aim of this work consisted on the implementation of sufficiently accurate and sensitive analytical procedure for the analysis of metal concentration in rainwater. Different sample preparation procedures were tested to achieve the required concentration prior to direct total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis. TXRF and anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) were compared in regard to achieved detection limits, precision and accuracy.

In this study, we describe the process of pedicle and first antler growth in Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) and document relationships among body development, maternal milk supply and composition, and maternal weight on the length of first antlers. Antler length of 53 males of Iberian red deer was measured every 2 weeks from birth to 20 months of age. Deer weight, age, and the date of occurrence of the major events during the antler growth cycle were also recorded. The first evidence of pedicle development occurred when the animals were 38.0 ± 0.6 weeks old and weighed 60.7 ± 0.9 kg. Antler cleaning took place at a mean age of 63.8 ± 0.7 weeks and a mean weight of 91.5 ± 1.8 kg. The antler growth period lasted 16.7 ± 0.4 weeks, and the cleaning period lasted 5.1 ± 0.4 weeks. First antler growth followed a sigmoid curve, reaching a final length of 38.3 ± 1.0 cm. Antler length was positively correlated with body weight during the antler growth cycle. Additionally, the final length of the first antler was related to total milk yield, date of antler growth initiation, body weight at 6 months of age, and the antler growth time interval., This study was supported by projects AGL2003-08547 (MCYT) and PBI 05-040 (JCCM).

An epiphytic lichen (Physcia alba sp.) grown over Roystonea regia tree was used as biomonitor of air quality in the Havana City west side. During the survey, 81 sampling sites were selected according to traffic and industry conditions. The concentration for 14 elements (Mg, Al, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd and Pb) was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). Contents of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb obtained by both techniques were compared. Several biological reference materials (RM's) were analyzed in order to assure the quality of analytical results. Some pollution sources were identified using principal component analysis. A total of 5 factors were achieved, of which 4 could be interpreted in terms of anthropogenic pollution sources. However, the expected correlation between traffic influence and lead concentration in lichen could not be demonstrated. The factor values patterns are presented.

The quality of the potable and purified for haemodialysis waters used in the National Institute of Nephrology was evaluated since 2002 up to now. A total of 20 chemical components were analyzed. The analytical results were compared with the admissible maximum concentrations according to the Cuban Standard NC 92-02:85 for potable water and with the Spanish Standard UNE 111-301-90, related to the quality of water for use in haemodialysis. The quality of both types of water was found to comply with the Standards regulations. The CEADEN analytical chemistry laboratory operates a quality management system since 1992, that was credited according to ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.

The aim of this paper is to provide a novel approach to the classical problem of testing the Gaussianity of a stationary process where the data can be assumed to be independent and identically distributed. Some results of Large Deviations theory are used to select a set of asymptotically optimal test statistics so that their combination results in a suitable detection procedure. The Johnson system of distributions has been used as the basis for the design of the detector. The fact that the good asymptotical properties can be extended to finite samples with small sizes provides the motivation for the rest of the work. In this respect, the performance of the proposed procedure is also compared with that of some known Gaussianity tests. The possibility to directly calculate a reliable measure of support such as the Bayesian posterior probabilities, as opposed to P-values, is an additional advantage. Furthermore, it will be shown how the proposed procedure can provide some extra information concerning the type of deviation from Gaussianity, which is present in the data.

A new approach to the classical problem of determining whether or not a set of data has been sampled from a univariate normal distribution is considered. The problem is posed in a pattern recognition framework and the concept of an asymptotically optimal expert is introduced. Some results of Large Deviation theory are used in the selection of experts so that their combined abilities lead to a suitable discrimination procedure. The fact that good asymptotical properties can be extended to finite samples with small sizes is the basis for the rest of the work. The performance of the proposed procedure is also compared to that of some known normality tests. An additional advantage of the procedure is the possibility of computing a reliable measure of support such as the Bayesian posterior probabilities as opposed to the P-values. Furthermore, some extra information can be obtained concerning the type of deviation from normality which is present in the data.

El uso de las tecnologias de la informacion y comunicacion (TIC), con el desarrollo de la historia clinica electronica y mejora de la informacion clinica, formara parte de un futuro que en algunos casos ya es presente en nuestro pais. A pesar del aumento de la evidencia que apoya las ventajas del uso de las TIC, su instauracion ha sido lenta, sobre todo en lo que a la anestesiologia se refiere. Un sistema electronico de recogida de documentacion medica en el ambito anestesico durante el periodo perioperatorio puede proporcionar una informacion clara, concisa y segura1,2. Puede tener la potencialidad de integrar diferente informacion hospitalaria, lo que mejoraria la calidad de los cuidados, reduciria errores, disminuiria riesgos y facilitaria su posterior uso3,4. Sin embargo, no se debe ver la tecnologia como una solucion, sino como una herramienta que con la progresiva instauracion en los hospitales dara a los anestesiologos mejor capacidad para manejar programas de seguridad y de calidad, desarrollar guias de actuacion5-7, facilitar la toma de decisiones y estandarizar cuidados en el periodo perioperatorio para que los pacientes reciban un cuidado optimo8-10. Los obstaculos principales para la mayor extension de estos sistemas parecen ser mas problemas financieros y de conducta que obstaculos tecnicos11. Segun datos obtenidos del Ministerio de Sanidad y Politica Social12, en el ano 2010 el 97% de los hospitales espanoles disponia de sistemas de informacion para la gestion de las admisiones, camas, agendas y citas de consultas externas, mientras que el 85% contaba con sistemas de gestion de radiologia, anatomia patologica y farmacia unidosis. Los sistemas de almacenamiento de imagen en formato digital (PACS) estaban disponibles en mas del 60% de los hospitales espanoles y mas del 90% contaba con un sistema de informacion de laboratorios. En cuanto al desarrollo de la historia clinica electronica, Andalucia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Comunidad Valenciana, Pais Vasco, Baleares, Navarra y Cataluna habian finalizado su implantacion en sus centros de salud. En Galicia estaba extendiendose en todos los centros de salud y consultorios el modulo especifico de su historia clinica para la atencion primaria. Segun el Programa Sanidad en Linea, desarrollado por el Ministerio en colaboracion con las comunidades autonomas, se preven actuaciones que consoliden el acceso a imagen digital e historia clinica electronica desde los quirofanos. En Europa existe un trabajo13, realizado sobre 252 departamentos de anestesiologia en hospitales universitarios europeos, que estudia la prevalencia del manejo de los sistemas de informacion en el ambito anestesico (SIAA). Los SIAA habian sido implantados o estaban en proceso de implantacion en al menos 28 (10%) de los hospitales universitarios europeos. Los motivos principales para adoptar SIAA eran la mejora de la documentacion clinica, la mejora del cuidado del paciente y su seguridad, y la comodidad de los anestesiologos. En los departamentos que habian desarrollado algun tipo de SIAA era mas frecuente la existencia de algun otro tipo de TIC en el hospital. La principal barrera para su instalacion era la falta de fondos. En un estudio similar realizado en Estados Unidos14, se encontro que al menos un 14% de los departamentos de anestesiologia lo

In a sample comprising 51 normotensive subjects and 51 subjects with in-clinic arterial hypertension [blood pressures (BPs)or = 140/90 mmHg), we investigated the prevalence of target organ damage [left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and retinal vasculopathy] in white coat hypertension (WCH) groups defined using: (a) the "optimal ambulatory BP" criterion of the Seventh International Consensus Conference (in-clinic BPs140/90 mmHg, daytime mean BPs130/80 mmHg) and (b) the "normal ambulatory BP" criterion proposed in 1997 by Verdecchia and co-workers (in-clinic BPs140/ 90 mmHg, daytime mean BPs135/85 mmHg), and we compared the results with those obtained for the normotensive group and for a WCH group defined as in a 1996 study of the same data. We found that the newer criteria did not alter the conclusions reached in 1996: namely, that WCH constitutes a state of risk intermediate between normotension and sustained hypertension, which demands in-depth evaluation and active monitoring, if not immediate therapy. We also found that when the WCH group was defined as those patients with in-clinic BPsor = 140/90 mmHg and 24-h mean BPs121/78 mmHg, the prevalence of target organ damage was similar to that found in the control group. We conclude that if WCH status is to imply absence of elevated risk of target organ damage, then the ambulatory BP threshold defining WCH should be lower than the upper limit of ambulatory BPs among subjects who are normotensive in the clinic. The desirability of predicting target organ damage in both hypertensive and normotensive subjects using criteria combining in-clinic BPs, daytime mean ambulatory BPs and night-time mean ambulatory BPs is suggested.

In this study, a procedure planning for a Computer Architecture Course that tries to create a balance between simulation and laboratory procedures is presented. For this planning, we use hardware implementation for parts of this subject that require careful dedication because of its complexity: interconnection networks and parallel processing. On the other hand, we use simulation packages for the teaching of pipelined and vectorial processors. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 10: 11–17, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com.); DOI 10.1002/cae.10012

El carcinoma renal es poco frecuente en niños, por loque es importante comunicar el diagnóstico y seguimientode estos casos. Su comportamiento en adultos es más conocido, y se sabe que el tratamiento de elección es la extirpaciónquirúrgica. Sin embargo, el tratamiento de los tumoresmetastásicos con quimioterapia y/o radioterapia noestá bien definido. Nuestro objetivo es aportar la experienciade un centro en el diagnóstico y tratamiento delcarcinoma renal pediátrico, así como revisar la bibliografíaal respecto. Se revisan de forma retrospectiva los pacientesdiagnosticados de carcinoma renal en los últimos 20 años. La muestra está formada por 3 niños, y se describenlas características clínicas de los pacientes y su tratamiento.Se insiste en que aunque el carcinoma renal esuna entidad rara en niños, es importante sospecharlo enpacientes mayores de 5 años con masas renales, ya que laaproximación diagnóstica y terapéutica difiere del tumorde Wilms. La estadificación y la resección completa parecenser los factores pronósticos fundamentales. Es necesariala colaboración de varios centros para la estandarizacióndel tratamiento de los tumores en estadios avanzados,valorando el papel del trasplante alogénico de progenitoreshematopoyéticos en tumores metastásicos. : Renal cell carcinoma is infrequent in children; consequentlyit is important to communicate its diagnosis andfollow up. The behavior of this type of tumor is bettercharacterized in adults and in this setting the treatment ofchoice is surgical resection. However, chemo- and radiotherapyfor metastatic tumors has not been well defined.Our objective was to report the experience of a single pediatricinstitution in the diagnosis and treatment of renalcell carcinoma and to review the literature on this subject.We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed withrenal cell carcinoma in the last twenty years. Only threepatients were found, and we describe their clinical featuresand therapeutic approach. Although renal cell carcinomais rare in children, clinical suspicion of this diseasein children older than 5 years with renal masses is veryimportant since the diagnostic and therapeutic approachdiffers from that for Wilms' tumor. The main prognosticfactors seem to be staging and complete resection. Multicentercollaboration is required to standardize the treatmentof tumors in advanced stages and to define the roleof allogeneic stem cell transplantation in metastatic tumors.