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Poor correlation between the results of in vitro testing and the subsequent in vivo experiments hinders the design of biomaterials. Thus, new characterisation methods are needed. This study used proteomic and histological techniques to analyse the effects of Ca-doped biomaterials in vitro and in vivo and verify the correlation between the two systems. The sol-gel route was employed to synthesise coatings functionalised with 0.5 and 5 wt% of CaCl2. Morphology of the coatings was examined using SEM; the Ca2+ ion release from the materials was ana-lysed by means of ICP-AES spectroscopy. The osteogenic and inflammatory responses were inspected in vitro in human osteoblasts (HOb) and TPH-1 monocytes. The in vivo experiments used a rabbit model. The nLC-MS/MS-based proteomic methods were utilised to analyse the proteins adhering to the material samples incubated with human serum or examine protein expression in the tissues close to the implants. Ca-doped biomaterials caused a remarkable increase in the adsorption of coagulation-related proteins, both in vitro (PLMN, THRB, FIBA and VTNC) and in vivo (FBLN1, G1U978). Enhanced affinity to these materials was also observed for proteins involved in inflammation (CO5, C4BPA, IGHM and KV302 in vitro; CARD6, DDOST and CD14 in vivo) and osteogenic functions (TETN, PEDF in vitro; FBN1, AHSG, MYOC in vivo). The results obtained using different techniques were well matched, with a good correlation between the in vitro and in vivo experiments. Thus, the proteomic analysis of biological responses to biomaterials in vitro is a useful tool for predicting their impact in vivo. This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PID2020-113092RB-C21), University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (MARSA21/07), Basque Government (PRE_2016_1_0141), Universitat Jaume I (UJI-B2021-25) and Generalitat Valenciana (APOSTD/2020/036, PROMETEO/2020/069). The authors would like to thank for technical and staff support provided by SGIker (UPV/EHU/ ERDF, EU), and the company GMI Dental Implantology SL for producing the titanium discs.

Heritage preservation presents uncertainties in the global warming context. Both predicting the performance of environmental variables within the built environment and assessing the preservation conditions of heritage elements are today something of a challenge. Based on current monitorings, this study uses artificial intelligence to predict environmental performance in future scenarios. In addition, heritage elements are assessed according to threshold preservation values. The Chapel of the University of Seville was chosen as case study, applying both the threshold values from UNI 10829 and the performance index (PI) to assess the indoor environmental conditions. A total of 9 environmental treatment zones were identified according to temperature and humidity. To estimate the variables, the multilayer perceptron (MLP) was monitored and applied considering the time series of A2 future scenarios in each decade of the 21st century. The current MLP performances were analysed, thus showing a progressive reduction of the PI inside the church: at the end of the century, PI values oscillated between 6.6 and 6.8% in wooden objects, and between 1.8 and 2.3% in paintings. The results also showed a progressive increase in the number of hours and distance with respect to the optimal preservation values in the zones with a greater temperature and relative humidity, with cooling and dehumidification being the most effective strategies. This study represents a progress towards the most appropriate heritage preservation strategies by using an extrapolated methodology considering the climate change effect. Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad (Junta de Andalucía)

Well cementing operations are crucial during the drilling and completion of oil wells. The cement sheath must have sealing ability throughout the well’s life and provide long-term zonal isolation in hostile downhole conditions to avoid potential remedial costs and environmental impacts. In the development of API cements, the reinforcement with dispersed fibers plays an important role. Screening tests were performed to evaluate fiber types (carbon, polypropylene, mineral) with the aim of comparing cement composites that provide improvements in mechanical behavior. All the slurries showed pumpability values at room temperature below 70 Bc (Beardon units of consistency) and are regarded to be pumpable. All the fiber reinforced cement composites presented a notable increase in impact resistance (up to 120 %) and flexural strength (up to 80%) compared to the values for unreinforced matrix. Carbon and mineral fibers also show a noteworthy capacity to increase or maintain the tensile and compressive strengths (data were usually in the ranges 1–2 and 30–45 MPa, respectively) of API cement systems; however, compressive and tensile strength data decrease significantly with the addition of polypropylene fiber type (up to 65 and 25%, respectively). The study mineral fiber with nano-silica could be useful to carry out well cementing jobs.

El presente trabajo aporta una investigación arqueométrica sobre piezas cerámicas de los siglos III-I a. C. halladas en contextos alfareros de la ciudad de Sevilla (Palacio Arzobispal)y Carmona (zona del Arrabal), pertenecientes en su mayoría a ánforas de tradición púnica y turdetana, o bien ya romanizadas. Entre los principales objetivos se ha pretendido su caracterización tecnológica y composicional, la comparación de las características de cada tradición productiva y la confirmación de la posible procedencia local de estas producciones. En total, han sido 13 las muestras estudiadas con análisis petrográfico de láminas delgadas, análisis químico mediante fluorescencia de rayos X y análisis mineralógico por difracción de rayos X. Los resultados químicos muestran su carácter sílicoaluminoso y cálcico, con contenidos variables de óxido de hierro, así como otros elementos minoritarios y trazas. El tratamiento estadístico ha diferenciado 3 conglomerados y una muestra que se distingue del resto. El análisis mineralógico ha identificado 8 fases cristalinas, unas ya presentes en las materias primas y otras formadas por tratamiento térmico. Destacan la illita, identificada como fase deshidroxilada, anortita, diópsido y gehlenita. En cuanto al análisis petrográfico, se han identificado tres grupos petrográficos que se corresponden composicionalmente con el contexto de origen de las muestras, diferenciando entre las pie-zas procedentes de Sevilla, las formas romanizadas de Carmona y la cerámica común y formas de imitación de este mismo enclave. The present work consists of an archaeometric investigation concerning ceramic samples, mostly unpublished, of the III-I centuries b.C. They were found in connection with kilns of the city of Sevilla (Archbishop's Palace) and the countryside (Arrabal zone, Carmona). They are identified with evolved variations of Iron Age amphorae of Punic and Turdetanian tradition, or already Roman typologies. The main objectives of this research include their technological and compositional characterization as well as the comparison of the characteristics of each manufacture tradition. An assemblage of 13 samples has been studied through petrographic analysis of thin sections, chemical analysis (X-ray fluorescence) and mineralogical analysis (X-ray diffraction). The chemical results showed the silico-aluminous and calcitic character of the samples, with variable contents of iron oxide as well as other minor elements and traces. The statistical treatment of the data by multivariant analysis has differentiated 3 conglomerates and one sample as an outsider. The mineralogical analysis has identified 8 crystalline phases, several of them already present in the raw materials and others formed by thermal treatment. It is interesting to note the illite, identified as dehydroxylated phase, anorthite, diopside and gehlenite. The petrographical analysis has identified 3 different petro-groups, which are correlated by a compositional point of view with the original context of the samples. Thus, according to these results, it has been possible to distinguish the manufactures of Sevilla from the Roman shapes, the common ware and the imitation types of Carmona. It has been discussed the possible solid-state reactions which yielded the crystalline phases identified by X-ray diffraction, besides an estimation of firing temperatures between 820-850 °C in an oxidant atmosphere. Finally, the possible sources for the raw materials used in the fabrication of these amphorae have been proposed in the Guadalquivir River valley, considering their illitic-calcitic characteristics.

The incorporation of crushed glass as a substitute for natural aggregates in mortar and concrete represents a positive impact on the manufacturing processes. The use of glass residues can lead to the improvement of certain properties of sustainable construction products. In these cases, it is important to analyse in detail the behaviour of the material to verify possible applications at an industrial level and contribute to the development of new construction products and solutions. This work studies the behaviour of mortars with recycled glass as a partial replacement of aggregate against common accelerated decay tests, such as salt crystallization, freezing and thermal shock. The influence on the basic physical and mechanical properties has been evaluated by statistical analysis of the results, observing a particularly significant improvement in the resistance of mortars with recycled glass against the expansive action of salt crystallization (>20%). The influence of alteration processes on the internal structure has been analysed by ultrasound transmission tests and its correlation with Young's modulus. The values obtained are in the range of similar materials, having the samples subjected to freezing test a major degree of deterioration. The internal structures have been studied by scanning electron microscopy, observing in samples subjected to salt crystallization tests a greater homogeneity and a lower degree of microcracking in the aggregate/paste interfaces of the glass grains. © 2021 The Author(s)

In recent years, construction and use of buildings in Spain accounted for more than 40% of energy consumption, 36% of CO2 emissions, 50% of material extractions from the earth’s crust and 25% of the solid waste generated. Optimizing the resource requirement in existing buildings is a key step in the task of reaching the community targets for 2030: 27% improvement in energy efficiency and 40% of reduction of greenhouse gases. For this, it is necessary to analyse them through environmental and economic indicators, so that the magnitude of the impacts can be qualified and quantified from the Building Life Cycle (BLC), from its conception, through the extraction of raw materials, for the manufacture of the materials, until the demolition of the building. The paper focuses on the study of residential buildings in Andalusia, covering its entire useful life, from its conception until the time of its demolition or end of life. As a case study, the Ecological Footprint (EF) indicator is applied to a residential project, to calculate the impacts during the BLC.

El Castillo de Alhonoz, catalogado como Bien de Interés Cultural en 1985, es una de las fortalezas más importantes en el término municipal de Écija (Sevilla, España), resultando un enclave estratégico para las poblaciones asentadas en su entorno desde época protohistórica. A fin de contribuir en el avance del conocimiento de estos sistemas defensivos, y facilitar procesos de evaluación y diagnostico de este tipo de estructuras, se ha implementado un procedimiento de modelado fotogramétrico digital basado en la técnica Structure from motion (SfM), estructura desde el movimiento, como parte de una metodología testada ya por los autores. La aplicación de esta sencilla técnica, versátil y de baja especialización, ha permitido realizar una evaluación preliminar fiable para una toma de decisión por parte de los técnicos competentes. The Castle of Alhonoz, catalogued as a heritage asset in 1985, is one of the most important fortresses in the municipality of Ecija (Seville, Spain), being a strategic site for the populations settled in its environment since protohistoric times. The aim of the study is to integrate the procedure of digital photogrammetric modelling based on the Structure from Motion (SfM) technique within a methodology already tested by the authors. By means of a simple technique, it is allowed to obtain straightforward information in order to evaluate and diagnose this type of structures, and also to contribute to the development of knowledge of these defensive systems. Implementing this versatile and low specialization methodology has enabled a reliable preliminary evaluation for decision making by competent technicians.

The incorporation of waste of different nature as components of mortars and cement concretes is a scientifically valid option that allows us to obtain a positive environmental balance in the manufacturing process of these construction materials. Considering the capacity of improvement of the thermal properties provided by glass, this work approaches the recovery by forced rehydration of mortars based on recycled glass after undergoing a process of heating at high temperature. Its mineralogical by XRD, structural evolution by SEM, X-ray computed tomography and DTA/TGA along with its physical-mechanical properties has been analyzed. Results have shown that, although the initial influence of glass can lead to inconsistent results according to the dosage and alteration process suffered, the favourable effect of the crushed glass after a thermal degradation and the subsequent rehydration treatment is observed. The rehydrated material based on recycled glass develops a capacity of mechanical recovery 6.2 times higher than the conventional mortar. This is due to the thermal an alkaline activation of amorphous silica, which favours the new formation of hydrated silicates as manifested the variation of the eccentricity coefficient of the pores: 0.5707 for conventional mortar and 0.6627 for glass based one. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

The replacement of natural aggregates with different recycled materials in mortars and concretes has fostered significant progress in the construction sector, thus reducing the need to extract virgin raw materials. The incorporation of household glass waste in cement mortar was studied to determine its behaviour as a replacement for sand; this paper studies its mechanical properties at room temperature and after a 800 °C heating process. The results were evaluated using Student's t-test. Changes in thermal properties through the addition of glass to mortars were also studied. Various proportions of ground glass were used to replace the aggregate. The resistance values presented statistically significant differences. Mortars with ground glass aggregate also showed a clear improvement in the thermal conductivity coefficient and thermal diffusivity, reflecting a positive behaviour in relation to their thermal response and insulation capacity. Internal mortar structures were not affected by the incorporation of ground glass. © 2020 Elsev

The goal of this research is to propose a new method of characterizing rammed-earth walls. Based on their historic building materials properties, five broad test groups were established for the cha...

In the specific study of medieval fortifications, an advanced knowledge of the state of conservation is required to achieve an effective diagnosis and a detailed evaluation that will provide the basis for establishing the criteria for prevention and restoration. The characterization of the materials and the knowledge of their degree of deterioration is one of the key points to address a restoration project in any rammed earth wall. In the last decades, a number of medieval fortifications built with rammed earth in Spain have been studied and restored. Although there is currently a better knowledge of the construction materials involved and their degradation processes, no detailed work has been carried out to date on the Seville City Wall, which is an outstanding sample of this kind of heritage. The aim of this work is hence to study the material characterization of the most recognisable section of the whole structure, which is known as Macarena Wall, that runs between the Macarena and the Cordoba Gates. The results and discussions presented offer a novel approach for this heritage asset and would play a solid criterion for a correct restoration proposal. For this purpose, ananalytical methodology already known and verified in the literature has been followed, which has been adapted according to the specific requirements of this monumental building. Among the most relevant results of the analytical and experimental phase, it is highlighted that capillary humidity and the transport and crystallisation of salts is one of the main causes of the deterioration of this monument. As this building is a clear reference of rammed earth military structures, the analytical procedure and the results obtained are an interesting reference for other similar interventions. © 2021 The Authors

[EN] One of the events occurring when a biomaterial is implanted in an host is the protein deposition onto its surface, which might regulate cell responses. When a biomaterial displays a compromised biocompatibility, distinct complement pathways can be activated to produce a foreign body reaction. In this article, we have designed different types of biomaterial surfaces to study the inflammation process. Here, we used different concentrations of (3-glycidoxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), an organically-modified alkoxysilane as a precursor for the synthesis of various types of sol-gel materials functionalizing coatings for titanium implants to regulate biological responses. Our results showed that greater GPTMS surface concentrations induced greater secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-10 on RAW 264.7 macrophages. When implanted into rabbit tibia, osseointegration decreased with higher GPTMS concentrations. Interestingly, higher deposition of complement-related proteins C-reactive protein (CRP) and ficolin-2 (FCN2), two main activators of distinct complement pathways, was observed. Taking all together, inflammatory potential increase seems to be GPTMS concentration-dependent. Our results show that a greater adsorption of complement proteins can condition macrophage polarization., This work was supported by MINECO [MAT2017-86043-R]; Universitat Jaume I [Predoc/2014/25, UJI-B2017-37]; Basque Government [IT611-13, Predoc/2016/1/0141]; University of the Basque Country [UFI11/56]; CIC bioGUNE is supported by Basque Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (Etortek and Elkartek programs), ProteoRed-ISCIII [PRB3 IPT17/0019]; CIBERehd Network and Severo Ochoa Grant [SEV-2016-0644]. Authors would like to thank Antonio Coso and Jaime Franco (GMI-Ilerimplant) for their inestimable contribution to this study, and Raquel Oliver, Jose Ortega (UJI), René van Rheden, Vicent Cuijpers (Radboudumc) and Iraide Escobes (CIC bioGUNE) for their valuable technical assistance.

The mud-to-cement conversion or 'slag-mix' technology displays several advantages when compared to conventional well cementing operations. This alternative method means to combine drilling fluids, accelerators, and finely granulated slag as the hydraulic material. Steam injection is commonly used to improve crude oil production in the Lagunillas field (state of Zulia, NW Venezuela). This work compares the use of two slag-mix systems containing two polymer-based drilling muds during cementing of injection wells: an aqueous drilling fluid and an oil-in-water emulsion mud. After comparing the use of the two study drilling mud systems with a typical lignosulfonate slag-mix system, it can be stated that both systems may be suitable to be used in the application of the mentioned-above technology in steam stimulated wells. The aqueous formulations under study and a typical slag-mud slurry containing lignosulfonate show relatively similar values for most physic-mechanical properties. In contrast, the slag-mix emulsion system under consideration shows distinctive rheological and filtration behaviours compared to the other study polymer-based slag-mud slurry, but similar mechanical properties. [Received: April 26, 2019; Accepted: August 1, 2019]

Dental implantology is still an expanding field of scientific study because of the number of people that receive dental therapies throughout their lives worldwide. Recovery times associated to dental surgery are still long and demand strategies to improve integration of metallic devices with hard tissues. In this work, an in vitro ceramic coating is proposed to improve and accelerate osseointegration of titanium surfaces conceived to be used as dental implants or hip or knee prosthesis, shaped either as dishes or screws. Such coating consists of hydroxyapatite microdomains on the implant surfaces obtained in vitro by immersion of titanium alloy samples (Ti6Al4V) in a simulated body fluid. This titanium alloy is highly used in implant dentistry and trauma surgery, among other fields. Once the immersion times under physiological conditions yielding to different ceramic topographies on this alloy were set, the acellular coating time of major interest so as to optimize its biological development was determined. For this purpose, dental pulp mesenchymal cells were cultured on titanium coated surfaces with different hydroxyapatite outline, and cell adhesion, proliferation and morphology were followed through histological techniques and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that 4 days of acellular hydroxyapatite coating led to a significant cell adhesion on the titanium alloys at an early stage (6 h). Cells tended although to detach from the surface of the coating over time, but those adhered on domains of intricated topography or hydroxyapatite cauliflowers proliferated on them, leading to isolated large cell clusters. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2723-2729, 2016.

The non-standardization of rammed earth construction involves the quality control of such a technique to be so troublesome that it is generally avoided. As a possible approach to improve the mentioned quality control, this paper deals with a series of univariate and multivariate statistical analyses concerning the correlation between a pair of non-destructive testings (rebound index and ultrasonic pulse velocity) and the compressive strength of a specific composition of rammed earth. Both non-linear (univariate) and linear (multivariate) regression models are established so that the variability of the compressive strength is accurately explained by means of both kind of non-destructive testings.

The prime objectives in the development of biomaterials for dental applications are to improve the quality of osseointegration and to short the time needed to achieve it. Design of implants nowadays involves changes in the surface characteristics to obtain a good cellular response. Incorporating osteoinductive elements is one way to achieve the best regeneration possible post-implantation. This study examined the osteointegrative potential of two distinct biomaterials: sandblasted acid-etched titanium and a silica sol–gel hybrid coating, 70% MTMOS-30% TEOS. In vitro, in vivo, and proteomic characterisations of the two materials were conducted. Enhanced expression levels of ALP and IL-6 in the MC3T3-E1 cells cultured with coated discs, suggest that growing cells on such surfaces may increase mineralisation levels. 70M30T-coated implants showed improved bone growth in vivo compared to uncoated titanium. Complete osseointegration was achieved on both. However, coated implants displayed osteoinductive properties, while uncoated implants demonstrated osteoconductive characteristics. Coagulation-related proteins attached predominantly to SAE-Ti surface. Surface properties of the material might drive the regenerative process of the affected tissue. Analysis of the proteins on the coated dental implant showed that few proteins specifically attached to its surface, possibly indicating that its osteoinductive properties depend on the silicon delivery from the implant.

This study examines the influence of moulding moisture content on the compressive strength, dry density and porosity of a rammed earth wall, using ultrasound as a complementary technique. Non-parametric and multivariate statistical techniques were applied to analyse the behaviour of variables with a sufficiently large population. The statistical analysis demonstrated that excessive or insufficient moulding moisture content directly determines the physical-mechanical properties of such walls. Ultrasound was confirmed as a valid technique for assessing the quality of a wall, since its response, albeit with certain limitations, was consistent with physical-mechanical properties.

There is an ever-increasing need to develop dental implants with ideal characteristics to achieve specific and desired biological response in the scope of improve the healing process post-implantation. Following that premise, enhancing and optimizing titanium implants through superficial treatments, like silica sol-gel hybrid coatings, are regarded as a route of future research in this area. These coatings change the physicochemical properties of the implant, ultimately affecting its biological characteristics. Sandblasted acid-etched titanium (SAE-Ti) and a silica hybrid sol-gel coating (35M35G30T) applied onto the Ti substrate were examined. The results of in vitro and in vivo tests and the analysis of the protein layer adsorbed to each surface were compared and discussed. In vitro analysis with MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells, showed that the sol-gel coating raised the osteogenic activity potential of the implants (the expression of osteogenic markers, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and IL-6 mRNAs, increased). In the in vivo experiments using as model rabbit tibiae, both types of surfaces promoted osseointegration. However, the coated implants demonstrated a clear increase in the inflammatory activity in comparison with SAE-Ti. Mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis showed differences in the composition of protein layers formed on the two tested surfaces. Large quantities of apolipoproteins were found attached predominantly to SAE-Ti. The 35M35G30T coating adsorbed a significant quantity of complement proteins, which might be related to the material intrinsic bioactivity, following an associated, natural and controlled immune response. The correlation between the proteomic data and the in vitro and in vivo outcomes is discussed on this experimental work.

The commonest way of determining the passivation of steel in reinforced concrete is to spray a pH indicator onto the surface of a reinforced concrete specimen. To do so, the traditional indicator used has been phenolphthalein in ethanol, which shifts from colourless to purple in the pH range of 8.5–10.0. If the concrete encasing the rebar turns purple, it indicates it is passivated; that is, it has a film of iron oxide impermeable to oxygen that protects it from oxidation. However, the reduction in the pH of the concrete due to carbonation (between 11.4 and 8.5) indicates, despite the reddish-purple colour, the disappearance of the passive layer of the steel. Consequently, we propose a novel in situ technique for determining with a high degree of reliability, the passive state (pH over 11.7) and the active state (pH under 11.4) using two reactants: alizarine yellow R and indigo carmine.

Dental implantology is still an expanding field of scientific study because of the number of people that receive dental therapies throughout their lives worldwide. Recovery times associated to dental surgery are still long and demand strategies to improve integration of metallic devices with hard tissues. In this work, an in vitro ceramic coating is proposed to improve and accelerate osseointegration of titanium surfaces conceived to be used as dental implants or hip or knee prosthesis, shaped either as dishes or screws. Such coating consists of hydroxyapatite microdomains on the implant surfaces obtained in vitro by immersion of titanium alloy samples (Ti6Al4V) in a simulated body fluid. This titanium alloy is highly used in implant dentistry and trauma surgery, among other fields. Once the immersion times under physiological conditions yielding to different ceramic topographies on this alloy were set, the acellular coating time of major interest so as to optimize its biological development was determined. For this purpose, dental pulp mesenchymal cells were cultured on titanium coated surfaces with different hydroxyapatite outline, and cell adhesion, proliferation and morphology were followed through histological techniques and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that 4 days of acellular hydroxyapatite coating led to a significant cell adhesion on the titanium alloys at an early stage (6 h). Cells tended although to detach from the surface of the coating over time, but those adhered on domains of intricated topography or hydroxyapatite cauliflowers proliferated on them, leading to isolated large cell clusters. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2723-2729, 2016.

Objective To analyze the role of core needle biopsy of axillary lymph nodes with suspected metastases from breast cancer and to correlate the imaging and histologic findings. Material and methods We retrospectively studied 74 patients diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy of axillary lymph nodes with characteristics suggestive of metastases on ultrasonography. The following ultrasonographic findings were considered suspicious for metastases: cortical thickening and changes in the hilar fat and/or non-hilar cortical vascular flow. Patients with negative findings after axillary biopsy underwent sentinel node biopsy. Results Core needle biopsy confirmed lymph node metastases in 47 (63.5%) patients. The 27 patients (36.5%) with negative findings after lymph node biopsy underwent sentinel node biopsy; 3 (11%) of these had a positive sentinel lymph node and underwent axillary lymph node resection. Of the 50 lymph nodes with metastases, 44 (88%) had cortical thickening, 20 (40%) had changes in the hilar fat, and 29 (58%) had non-hilar cortical vascular flow. All biopsies of lymph nodes with both cortical thickening and non-hilar cortical vascular flow were positive, yielding a 100% positive predictive value in this series. Conclusions Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy of axillary lymph nodes that are suspicious for metastases from breast cancer at ultrasonography is a highly effective procedure that has low morbidity. Findings of cortical thickening and non-hilar cortical vascular flow in the same lymph node yield a positive predictive value of 100% in this series.

Resumen Objetivo Analizar el papel de la biopsia con aguja gruesa de adenopatias axilares con sospecha ecografica de metastasis en pacientes con cancer de mama, y la correlacion radiopatologica. Material y metodos Estudio retrospectivo de 74 pacientes diagnosticadas de cancer de mama, a las que se realizo biopsia con aguja gruesa ecoguiada de adenopatias axilares con caracteristicas ecograficas indicativas de metastasis. Consideramos hallazgos ecograficos sospechosos de metastasis: engrosamiento cortical, alteracion de la grasa hiliar y/o flujo vascular cortical no hiliar. Las pacientes con biopsia axilar negativa se incluyeron en el protocolo de biopsia de ganglio centinela. Resultados La biopsia con aguja gruesa confirmo metastasis ganglionar en 47 (63,5%) pacientes. Las 27 pacientes (36,5%) con biopsia negativa se incluyeron en el protocolo de biopsia de ganglio centinela y 3 (11%) presentaron ganglio centinela positivo, realizandose linfadenectomia axilar. De las 50 adenopatias con metastasis, 44 (88%) presentaron engrosamiento cortical, 20 (40%) alteracion de la grasa hiliar y 29 (58%) flujo vascular cortical no hiliar. En todas las adenopatias con engrosamiento cortical y flujo vascular cortical no hiliar la biopsia fue positiva, indicando un valor predictivo positivo del 100% en esta serie. Conclusiones La biopsia con aguja gruesa ecoguiada de adenopatias axilares con sospecha ecografica de metastasis por cancer de mama es un procedimiento con alta efectividad diagnostica y baja morbilidad. La presencia de engrosamiento cortical y flujo vascular cortical no hiliar en la misma adenopatia mostro un valor predictivo positivo del 100% en esta serie.

The aim of this study was to explore the possible link between variations in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and sea surface temperature (SST) and the abundance of loggerhead turtles around the Strait of Gibraltar, using stranding data for the Andalusian coastal area as a proxy for abundance. The annual average SST (from November to October) in the Gulf of Cadiz was negatively associated with the total number of loggerhead strandings each year from November 1997 to October 2006 in the Gulf of Cadiz and the Alboran Sea. The average NAO index was positively associated with the number of strandings in the Gulf of Cadiz in the following year. Prevailing westerly winds during positive NAO phases and the subsequent delayed decrease in SST may lead to turtles from the west Atlantic accumulating in the Gulf of Cadiz and unsuccessfully attempting to return. Secondary causes, such as buoyancy, cold stunning, longline fisheries, net fisheries, debilitated turtle syndrome, and trauma may also increase the number of turtle strandings. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la posible relación entre las variaciones de la Oscilación del Atlántico Norte (NAO) y la temperatura superficial del mar (SST), y la abundancia de tortugas bobas alrededor del Estrecho de Gibraltar, utilizando los datos de varamientos como sustituto de la abundancia. La SST promedio en el Golfo de Cádiz se relacionó negativamente con el número total de tortugas bobas varadas durante cada año (de noviembre a octubre) desde 1997 hasta 2006 en el Golfo de Cádiz y en el Mar de Alborán, mientras que el promedio del índice NAO se relacionó positivamente con el número de varamientos en el Golfo de Cádiz durante el año siguiente. Vientos predominantes del oeste durante las fases de la NAO positiva, y su posterior retraso en la reducción de la SST, pueden provocar la acumulación en el Golfo de Cádiz de las tortugas que entran desde el Atlántico occidental y, las que sin éxito, tratan de regresar a sus playas de origen. Debido a causas secundarias (como problemas de flotabilitdad, enfriamiento, la pesca con palangre, la pesca con redes, DTS, y traumatismos) aumenta el número de tortugas varadas.

Human and natural factors threaten loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus 1758) survival in the western Mediterranean basin. Loggerhead stranding data in the south of Spain provide evidence that human activities are having a more detrimental effect on larger-sized loggerhead turtles. The straight carapace length of 162 individuals affected by natural causes averaged 35.15 cm; whereas, that of 179 individuals affected by human-related causes averaged 46.23 cm. The difference was highly significant.

Every year, an undetermined number of loggerhead turtles cross the Gibraltar Strait entering and going out of the Mediterranean Sea. An unknown percentage of them strand on the Andalusian beaches, alive or dead, with an unequal distribution along the coast. We found a geographical pattern in the density of strandings, as well as in the proportion of them that were alive and dead. Atlantic areas receive a higher number of strandings, although most of them correspond to dead individuals, especially on the west coast (province of Huelva), whereas on the Mediterranean coast there is less difference between the number of alive and dead turtles stranded. The causes of stranding also presented a spatial segregation along these coasts: net fisheries were concentrated in Huelva, cold stunning was more frequent in Atlantic Cádiz, and debilitated turtle syndrome and longline were biased to the Mediterranean coast. The Atlantic areas might be an important accumulation zone for turtles, but where they endure a high human-induced stress and mortality. In the Mediterranean area, different causes, such as the narrowness of the Alborán basin, the ocean currents, human activity, or the number of turtles crossing, may increase the number of turtles stranding alive on the coast.

Patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) presenting with haemodynamic instability have the worst prognosis. However, what is understood by haemodynamic instability has not been clearly defined. The Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad Tromboembolica (RIETE) is an ongoing registry of consecutive patients with symptomatic, objectively confirmed, acute deep vein thrombosis or PE. The present authors compared the predictive value of a systolic blood pressure (SBP) value of

The aim of this work is to assess the environmental aspects arising during the execution phase of building construction and to analyse the possibilities of reducing the negative impacts. We have studied the environmental factors associated with the use and handling of the materials, focusing the research on two of the most qualitatively significant processes: operations to clean the works and the recovery of concrete-washing water. In both cases, a qualitative analysis of environmental impact has been made. In the wash-water study, basic parameters (density by differential weighing, pH by pHmeter and chemical composition by X ray fluorescence) of ten samples were analysed to evaluate the quality of the discharges and thus be able to propose solutions and technological improvements (filtering, neutralization,…) applicable to construction works with the aim of decreasing the volume of dislodged solids and improve the quality of water discharged., El presente trabajo evalúa aspectos ambientales durante la fase de ejecución de obra de edificación y analiza las posibilidades de reducción de impactos negativos. Se han estudiado factores ambientales asociados al uso y manipulación de los materiales, centrando la investigación en dos de los procesos cualitativamente más relevantes: las limpiezas de la obra y la recuperación de aguas de lavado de hormigones. En ambos casos se hace un análisis cualitativo de la incidencia ambiental; en el estudio de aguas de lavado se han analizado parámetros básicos (densidad por pesada diferencial, pH mediante pHmetría y composición química por fluorescencia de rayos X) de diez muestras procedentes de distintas obras para evaluar la calidad de los vertidos. Se proponen soluciones aplicables y mejoras tecnológicas (filtrado, neutralización,..) en obra con el fin de disminuir el volumen de sólidos arrastrados y mejorar la calidad del agua vertida.