Comparison of two analytical methods validated for the determination of volatile compounds in virgin olive oil: GC-FID vs GC-MS.

The utility of volatile compounds to explain virgin olive oil aroma descriptors is fully accepted and demanded by the olive oil sector. However, the methodology, and particularly the kind of detector to be used, is a matter of discussion because the high number of volatiles and their different nature. The SPME-GC-MS method has recently been validated for the most relevant volatiles but SPME-GC-FID method still needs to be validated to evaluate its performance in this application. A comparison between these two GC methods in determining 26 volatiles has been carried out in terms of analytical quality parameters (repeatability, intermediate precision, calibration curves, limits of detection and quantification, linear working ranges, selectivity and sensitivity). Good selectivity, linearity and higher upper values of the working range are the main advantages of SPME-GC-FID versus low bottom values of working ranges, better sensitivity and lower limits of detection and quantification of SPME-GC-MS. The limit of blank associated to each individual volatile was also determined and it allowed perfecting the empirical limit of detection. This procedure was carried out for SPME-GC-FID, which resulted in 21 volatiles with empirical limits of detections lower than their odor thresholds, and hence they can be used as markers of virgin olive oil sensory descriptors. Finally, with all the analytical quality parameters checked, a practical example of the ability of the volatiles quantified by SPME-GC-FID to discriminate the different categories (extra-virgin, virgin and lampante) and their main aroma descriptors is also provided.

On the mechanical behaviour of PEEK and HA cranial implants under impact loading.

The human head can be subjected to numerous impact loadings such as those produced by a fall or during sport activities. These accidents can result in skull fracture and in some complex cases, part of the skull may need to be replaced by a biomedical implant. Even when the skull is not damaged, such accidents can result in brain swelling treated by decompressive craniectomy. Usually, after recovery, the part of the skull that has been removed is replaced by a prosthesis. In such situations, a computational tool able to analyse the choice of prosthesis material depending on the patient's specific activity has the potential to be extremely useful for clinicians. The work proposed here focusses on the development and use of a numerical model for the analysis of cranial implants under impact conditions. In particular, two main biomaterials commonly employed for this kind of prosthesis are polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) and macroporous hydroxyapatite (HA). In order to study the suitability of these implants, a finite element head model comprising scalp, skull, cerebral falx, cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissues, with a cranial implant replacing part of the skull has been developed from magnetic resonance imaging data. The human tissues and these two biocompatible materials have been independently studied and their constitutive models are provided here. A computational model of the human head under impact loading is then implemented and validated, and a numerical comparison of the mechanical impact response of PEEK and HA implants is presented. This comparison was carried out in terms of the effectiveness of both implants in ensuring structural integrity and preventing traumatic brain injury. The results obtained in this work highlight the need to take into account environmental mechanical considerations to select the optimal implant depending on the specific patient: whereas HA implants present attractive biointegration properties, PEEK implant can potentially be a much more appropriate choice in a demanding mechanical life style. Finally, a novel methodology is proposed to assess the need for further clinical evaluation in case of impact with both implants over a large range of impact conditions.

Validation of SPME-GCMS method for the analysis of virgin olive oil volatiles responsible for sensory defects.

Volatile compounds are responsible for the aroma of virgin olive oil and also for its quality. The high number and different nature of volatile compounds drive to the need of a reliable analytical method that allows their proper quantification to explain the standard method of panel test. Although there are some analytical solutions available, they have not been validated and the regulatory bodies are reluctant to adopt them since they can be subjected to unknown errors. In this regards, the European Union has encouraged the validation of these analytical tools through the research program Horizon2020, which involves gaining knowledge from the analytical properties of the chemical methods for sensory assessment. This work is focused on the analytical validation of the methodology used to determine the actual concentration of volatiles in virgin olive oils when applying SPME-GCMS. The validation process includes the calibration curves for 29 volatile compounds responsible for the most common sensory perceptions in virgin olive oils, the determination of their working ranges with linear response, the detection and quantification limits, the sensitivity, the accuracy estimated as trueness and precision and the selectivity. Sixty-seven percent of the compounds presented a relative standard deviation in repeatability lower than 10%, and this percentage rises to 95% in lampante virgin olive oils. The accuracy was established in 97% of the studied volatile compounds. Finally, an empirical example of the ability of the method to discriminate virgin olive oils of different categories (extra virgin, virgin, ordinary and lampante) by the quantification of their volatiles is provided.

Olfactory system and demyelination.

Within the central nervous system, the olfactory system represents one of the most exciting scenarios since it presents relevant examples of long-life sustained neurogenesis and continuous axonal outgrowth from the olfactory epithelium with the subsequent plasticity phenomena in the olfactory bulb. The olfactory nerve is composed of nonmyelinated axons with interesting ontogenetic interpretations. However, the centripetal projections from the olfactory bulb are myelinated axons which project to more caudal areas along the lateral olfactory tract. In consequence, demyelination has not been considered as a possible cause of the olfactory symptoms in those diseases in which this sense is impaired. One prototypical example of an olfactory disease is Kallmann syndrome, in which different mutations give rise to combined anosmia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, together with different satellite symptoms. Anosmin-1 is the extracellular matrix glycoprotein altered in the X-linked form of this disease, which participates in cell adhesion and migration, and axonal outgrowth in the olfactory system and in other regions of the central nervous system. Recently, we have described a new patho-physiological role of this protein in the absence of spontaneous remyelination in multiple sclerosis. In the present review, we hypothesize about how both main and satellite neurological symptoms of Kallmann syndrome may be explained by alterations in the myelination. We revisit the relationship between the olfactory system and myelin highlighting that minor histological changes should not be forgotten as putative causes of olfactory malfunction.

Micromorfologia de la capa hibrida de dos sistemas adhesivos. Analisis al MET / Hibrid layer micromorphology of two adhesive systems. TEM analysis

Numerosos estudios evidencian que existen diferencias micromorfológicas entre los sistemas adhesivos monocomponentes y autograbantes. Con el objetivo de comparar la micromorfología de la Capa Híbrida de ambos sistemas, mediante observación al microscopio electrónico de transmisión (MET), se prepararon cavidades en seis premolares en dentina de mediana profundidad. A tres se les aplicó un sistema convencional monocomponente, y en tres se utilizó un sistema adhesivo autograbante. La capa híbrida formada por el sistema autograbante presentó un patrón regular, más delgado y homogéneo que la formada por el sistema adhesivo convencional. Los grosores promedio de esta estructura fueron de 1 μm y 2 μm respectivamente (AU)

Numerous studies show differences in micromorfological aspects between self-etchings and conventional adhesive systems. Dentin cavities were performed on 6 premolars to compare Micromorphology of the hybrid layer between both systems. One three of them self-etching system was applied, on the other three, the monocomponent conventional system. The hybrid layer formed by the self-etching system showed a regular pattern, thinner and more homogenous than the one formed by the conventional system. The average thickness of the structure was 1 ìm and 2 ìm respectively (AU)

Detection of the presence of refined hazelnut oil in refined olive oil by fluorescence spectroscopy.

The fluorescence spectroscopy technique has been tested as regards its ability to differentiate between refined hazelnut and olive oils. Classification of these oils based on their excitation-emission fluorescence spectra data (spectral range 300-500 nm of the excitation spectra at lambdaem=655 and spectral range 650-900 of the emission spectra at lambdaex=50 nm) was performed using principal component analysis and artificial neural networks. Both methods provided good discrimination between the refined hazelnut and olive oils. The results have also pointed out the possibilities of a spectrofluorimetric method joined to multivariate analysis, to differentiate refined oils, and even to detect the presence of refined hazelnut oils in refined olive oils at percentages higher than 9%.

Initial effects of the toxic waste spill (Aznalcóllar mine accident) on the aquatic macrofauna of the Guadalquivir Estuary.

The initial effects of the toxic waste spill in April 1998 at the Aznalcóllar mine (SW Spain) on the nektonic community of the Guadalquivir Estuary were examined at three sampling sites using univariate and multivariate techniques. Since studied communities showed a considerable seasonal trend, only seasonally homogenous periods were compared to analyse effects of the spill: May-August 1997 (before spill) and May-August 1998 (after spill). Results of both techniques (two-way nested ANOVA and ANOSIM tests, P > 0.05) indicated that there was no significant difference between the nektonic community of the estuary before and after the spill (monthly number of species, abundance, biomass and similarity among samples). Conversely, an unusually high density was observed at the outer sampling site immediately after the spill for species typical of more stagnant estuarine habitats. This feature seems to indicate that the fauna in the estuarine area through which the untreated water penetrated into the main course may have been disturbed. Results also suggest that this initial sudden input of fresh water to the estuary could have enhanced the effects of an increased river flow (a drop in the salinity). Nevertheless, longer temporal series of data, especially for permanent estuarine inhabitants, are recommended before conclusions can be drawn on the effects of the toxic waste spill on estuarine communities.