Characterization of Cellulosic Pulps Isolated from Two Widespread Agricultural Wastes: Cotton and Sunflower Stalks.

Globally, huge amounts of cotton and sunflower stalks are generated annually. These wastes are being underutilized since they are mostly burned in the fields. So, in this work, we proposed a three-step method consisting of acid pre-treatment, alkaline hydrolysis, and bleaching for the extraction of cellulose pulps. These pulps were characterized to assess their morpho-structural and thermal properties. The design of experiments and response surface methodology were used for the optimization of the acid pre-treatment in order to achieve maximum removal of non-cellulosic compounds and obtain pulps enriched in cellulose. For cotton stalks, optimal conditions were identified as a reaction time of 190 min, a reaction temperature of 96.2 °C, and an acid (nitric acid) concentration of 6.3%. For sunflower stalks, the optimized time, temperature, and acid concentration were 130 min, 73.8 °C, and 8.7%, respectively. The pulps obtained after bleaching contained more than 90% cellulose. However, special care must be taken during the process, especially in the acid pre-treatment, as it causes the solubilization of a great amount of material. The characterization revealed that the extraction process led to cellulose pulps with around 69-70% crystallinity and thermal stability in the range of 340-350 °C, ready to be used for their conversion into derivatives for industrial applications.

Obtaining Cellulose Nanocrystals from Olive Tree Pruning Waste and Evaluation of Their Influence as a Reinforcement on Biocomposites.

The objective of this work is to improve the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) by incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) previously obtained from a cellulose pulp extracted from olive tree pruning (OTP) waste. Composites were manufactured by melt processing and injection moulding to evaluate the effect of the introduction of CNC with conventional manufacturing methods. This OTP-cellulose pulp was subjected to a further purification process by bleaching, thus bringing the cellulose content up to 86.1%wt. This highly purified cellulose was hydrolysed with sulfuric acid to obtain CNCs with an average length of 267 nm and a degradation temperature of 300 °C. The CNCs obtained were used in different percentages (1, 3, and 5%wt.) as reinforcement in the manufacture of PLA-based composites. The effect of incorporating CNC into PLA matrix on the mechanical, water absorption, thermal, structural, and morphological properties was studied. Maximum tensile stress and Young's modulus improved by 87 and 58%, respectively, by incorporating 3 and 5%wt. CNC. Charpy impact strength increased by 21% with 3%wt. These results were attributed to the good dispersion of CNCs in the matrix, which was corroborated by SEM images. Crystallinity index, glass transition, and melting temperatures were maintained.

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex field infections in cattle using fecal volatile organic compound analysis through gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry combined with chemometrics.

Bovine tuberculosis is considered a re-emerging disease caused by different species from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), important not only for the livestock sector but also for public health due to its zoonotic character. Despite the numerous efforts that have been carried out to improve the performance of the current antemortem diagnostic procedures, nowadays, they still pose several drawbacks, such as moderate to low sensitivity, highlighting the necessity to develop alternative and innovative tools to complement control and surveillance frameworks. Volatilome analysis is considered an innovative approach which has been widely employed in animal science, including animal health field and diagnosis, due to the useful and interesting information provided by volatile metabolites. Therefore, this study assesses the potential of gas chromatography coupled to ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) to discriminate cattle naturally infected (field infections) by MTC from non-infected animals. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced from feces were analyzed, employing the subsequent information through chemometrics. After the evaluation of variable importance for the projection of compounds, the final discriminant models achieved a robust performance in cross-validation, as well as high percentages of correct classification (>90%) and optimal data of sensitivity (91.66%) and specificity (99.99%) in external validation. The tentative identification of some VOCs revealed some coincidences with previous studies, although potential new compounds associated with the discrimination of infected and non-infected subjects were also addressed. These results provide strong evidence that a volatilome analysis of feces through GC-IMS coupled to chemometrics could become a valuable methodology to discriminate the infection by MTC in cattle. IMPORTANCE Bovine tuberculosis is endemic in many countries worldwide and poses important concerns for public health because of their zoonotic condition. However, current diagnostic techniques present several hurdles, such as low sensitivity and complexity, among others. In this regard, the development of new approaches to improve the diagnosis and control of this disease is considered crucial. Volatile organic compounds are small molecular mass metabolites which compose volatilome, whose analysis has been widely employed with success in different areas of animal science including animal health. The present study seeks to evaluate the combination of fecal volatilome analysis with chemometrics to detect field infections by bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex) in cattle. The good robust performance of discriminant models as well as the optimal data of sensitivity and specificity achieved highlight volatilome analysis as an innovative approach with huge potential.

Effect of Olive Pit Reinforcement in Polylactic Acid Biocomposites on Environmental Degradation.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biomaterial widely used as an alternative to petroleum-based polymeric matrices in plastic components. PLA-based biocomposites reinforced with lignocellulosic waste are currently receiving special attention owing to their mechanical properties, low toxicity, recyclability, and biodegradability. The influence of the percentage of waste on their properties and resistance to degradation are some of the points of great relevance. Therefore, a series of PLA-based biocomposites containing different percentages of olive pits (5, 15, 25 and 40% wt.) were manufactured and characterized both (a) immediately after manufacture and (b) after one year of storage under environmental conditions. The results obtained were analyzed to evaluate the influence of the incorporation of olive pits on the resistance to degradation (measured through Carbonyl Indices, CI), mechanical properties (tensile, flexural and impact strength), structure (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, FT-IR; and, X-ray Diffraction, XRD), morphology (Scanning Electron Microscopy, SEM) and water absorption capacity of the manufactured materials. PLA degradation, corroborated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), FT-IR, and XRD, resulted in a decrease in tensile and flexural strengths and an increase in the tensile and flexural moduli. This trend was maintained for the biocomposites, confirming that reinforcement promoted the PLA degradation.

Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of the serological test for paratuberculosis in cattle according to tuberculosis status.

BACKGROUND: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are the most widely used diagnostic tools in bovine paratuberculosis (bPTB) control. However, their diagnostic accuracy may be compromised by bovine tuberculosis (bTB) infection, as both diseases share diagnostic targets. METHODS: The bPTB and bTB infection status of 228 animals was determined using microbiological tissue culture as a reference test. The diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios and predictive values) of the bPTB-ELISA on blood serum samples, taking into account the bPTB animal-level prevalence of the area and the bTB status of the animals, was evaluated. RESULTS: A sensitivity of 40.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.5%-53.9%) and a specificity of 94.7% (95% CI: 91.4%-98.0%) were obtained for bPTB-ELISA in all animals. A bPTB-ELISA-positive animal would have a post-test probability of 70% or more of being infected in areas with a bPTB prevalence of 23% or more. A negative bPTB-ELISA result, in areas with a bPTB prevalence of 41% or less, would rule out the disease with more than 70% certainty. In bTB-positive animals, sensitivity increased (94.4% [95% CI: 81.4%-100%] vs. 25.1% [95% CI: 11.8%-38.4%]) and specificity decreased (82.6% [95% CI: 71.8%-93.4%] vs. 99.4% [95% CI: 98.0%-99.9%]). The bPTB-ELISA is a good tool to rule out bPTB co-infection in bTB-positive animals, while in bTB-negative animals, it allows confirmation of disease with more than 70% probability if disease prevalence is 6% or more. LIMITATIONS: The observed differences could be enhanced by the effect of frequent application of the intradermal tuberculin test, which was unknown in the animals studied. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide useful guidance for the application and interpretation of ELISA as a tool for bPTB disease control.

Diagnostic performance of faecal and tissue multiplex qPCR IS900/F57 for the detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in cattle.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is responsible for bovine-paratuberculosis (bPTB), which causes high production losses in cattle. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 228 cattle to evaluate the validity and diagnostic utility of a multiplex real-time PCR (qPCR) on faecal and intestinal samples [ileocaecal valve (ICV) and ileocaecal lymph nodes (ICLN)], using intestinal tissue culture as a reference test. Based on the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios (LR) obtained, the diagnostic value of faecal qPCR for confirming MAP infection was moderate (sensitivity 50.3%, specificity 93.5%, positive LR 7.8), and low to rule it out (negative LR 0.5). In areas with a prevalence of >23% the credibility of positive results was higher than 70%. In the case of negative results, their credibility was higher than 90% in herds with an infection rate below 19%, so faecal qPCR would be very useful in these areas to certify the absence of infection. For post-mortem diagnosis, qPCR on ICV samples showed good diagnostic accuracy to confirm the disease (sensitivity 71.7%, specificity 93.3%, positive LR 10.8), with a credibility higher than 70% in animals from areas or herds with a prevalence of infection greater than or equal to 18%. The best strategy to rule out the disease was the parallel combination of both tissues (ICV + ICLN) (sensitivity 81.3%, specificity 89.5%, negative LR 0.2) with a credibility of over 95% in animals from areas with an infection prevalence of 0-20%. Faecal and tissues qPCR techniques can be used to monitor bPTB, the interpretation of results, according to epidemiological situation of the herd or area, are shown.

Manufacture and Characterization of Recycled Polypropylene and Olive Pits Biocomposites.

The present work studies the use of olive pit (OP) as a reinforcement in the manufacture of composites based on a post-consumer recycled polypropylene (rPP). In this way, it is feasible to provide added value from olive pits, a by-product resulting from the olive industry operations, while promoting the circular economy and reducing the use of fossil-based polymers. For this purpose, suitable samples were manufactured using 25 wt% and 40 wt% of OP. Additionally, the effect of incorporating additives was studied: (a) a process control additive (PA), and (b) a coupling agent of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP). The results showed an improvement in Young's and flexural modulus with the OP addition. The incorporation of PA did not present any significant improvement in the properties of the materials, nevertheless it facilitated the biocomposite manufacturing process. As for the coupling agent, it significantly improved the mechanical properties, achieving the best results with the addition of the two types of additives and 40 wt% of OP. Moreover, the thermal properties were maintained, and there was an increase in crystallinity in all composites compared to rPP. According to the results of the fracture surface analysis, the coupling agent improves reinforcement-polymer matrix cohesion.

Do the Lower Body Strength Assessment Tests in the Spanish Navy Really Measure What They Purport to Measure?

The main objective of this research was to analyse the efficacy of lower body strength assessment tests in the Armed Forces Physical Assessment System. Secondly, it was to determine what relationship exists between the physical evaluation system of the Spanish Armed forces and standardized evaluation protocols (Gold standard). A total of 905 students enrolled in the military/civil bachelor's degree (813 male and 92 female) participated in this study. The influence of the sex of the participants was studied through the student's t-test for independent data, and the degree of association between variables was defined by Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results present moderate correlations (r = 0.67, r = 0.66; p < 0.001) between the vertical jump test used by the Army and the power or elastic force tests commonly used in practice and in research. The results obtained reflect a moderate relationship between the gold standard tests and the tests used by the Army, which suggests that the tests currently used to assess lower body strength should be adapted to more objective measurement tools which would allow a better comparison between samples from different armed forces.

Advanced Photonic Thin Films for Solar Irradiation Tuneability Oriented to Greenhouse Applications.

The world population is growing by 1 billion people every 10 years. There will come a time when there will be more people to feed but less land to grow food. Greenhouses can be the solution to this problem because they provide the highest production yield per m2 and also use less water, provide food safety, and offer high quality. Photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) favors vegetable growth with a specific blue and red light ratio. Thus, increasing the amount of red light improves chlorophyll absorption and photosynthetic efficiency. In this article, we present a hybrid system that combines luminescent materials and photonic crystals for better management of the light reaching the greenhouse. The luminescent dyes considered herein are combined ensuring a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) nonradiative mechanism to enhance the absorption range. The designed photonic crystal maximizes reflections in the Near-Infrared (NIR) range, and therefore, thermal losses are minimized. Thus, by converting harmful or ineffective radiation for plant growth to the PAR region, we aim to demonstrate growth-condition enhancement for the different vegetables that have been used as a model.

Real-Time PCR Validation for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Detection Targeting IS6110 Directly From Bovine Lymph Nodes.

Rapid and accurate diagnostic tools, such as Real-Time PCR (qPCR), need to be implemented as a confirmatory test in the framework of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) surveillance and control programs, shortening the turnaround time to confirm bTB infection. The present study aimed to evaluate a direct qPCR from fresh tissue samples targeting the insertion sequence IS6110 using individually homogenized bovine lymph nodes compared with microbiological culture. Retropharyngeal, tracheobronchial, and mesenteric lymph nodes fresh tissue samples (n = 687) were collected from 230 different cattle carcasses at the slaughterhouse. Only 23 of the 230 examined animals showed tuberculosis-like lesions, with 62 of 230 considered as positive. Among these 62 animals, 61 resulted as culture-positive, whereas 48 were qPCR-positive. Thus, this qPCR targeting IS6110 showed an apparent diagnostic sensitivity and specificity values of 77.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 66.5-87.6%] and 99.4% (95% CI: 98.3-100.6%), respectively, and a positive predictive value of 97.9% (95% CI: 93.9-102.0%) and negative predictive value of 92.3% (95% CI: 88.4-96.2%). Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 130.2 and 0.2, respectively, and the agreement between microbiological culture and this qPCR was almost perfect (κ = 0.82). These results highlight this qPCR targeting IS6110 as a suitable complementary method to confirm bTB in animals with either tuberculosis-like lesions or non-tuberculosis-like lesions, decreasing the number of samples subjected to microbiological culture and, hence, its overall associated costs and the turnaround time (under 48 h) to confirm bTB infection. Besides, sampling mesenteric lymph node, which is uncommonly sampled, together with tracheobronchial and retropharyngeal ones, is advisable during postmortem inspection in bTB surveillance programs at the slaughterhouse, especially in areas with a low bTB prevalence scenario.

Physical fitness in Spanish naval cadets. A four-year study.

BACKGROUND: Military physical readiness largely depends on soldiers maintaining their general health and physical fitness at a level which enables them to perform their requisite occupational duties in garrison and deployment environments. Understanding the physical fitness of naval cadets throughout its formative stages will help us define a training programme tailored to their needs. The objective of this study was to analyse the physical fitness of cadets enrolled in military training in the academic year 2018-2019 in the Military Naval Academy in Marín, Spain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal correlational-descriptive design was undertaken. 167 of the 292 students who participated in the global analysis participated in the pre and post (first and second semester) physical fitness tests (153 males and 14 females, mean age 21.9 ± 3.5) and were stratified into age groups. Anthropometric measurements and data from the Spanish army physical fitness assessment system (2 min push-ups, 1000 and 50 m races, vertical jump and 50 m swimming) were used. A descriptive, inferential, and correlational analysis was carried out and the level of significance set for the study was p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Inferential analysis between age group markers and over the total sample shows statistical differences for the total sample in the 1000 m and 50 m race (p < 0.001) and in vertical jump test (p < 0.010). There was significant statistical correlation between all five tests undertaken. CONCLUSIONS: The level of physical fitness of cadets at the Military Naval Academy in Marín, Spain appears to be acceptable when compared to other countries' military naval corps. Coherence between training and evaluation is extremely important, and a re-evaluation of stamina and strength training is probably advisable.

Synthesis and Characterisation of Acrylic Resin-Al Powder Composites Suitable for Additive Manufacturing.

Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing technology commonly used to build either prototypes or final parts. Nevertheless, the manufacture of structural parts has been ruled out owing to the poor mechanical properties of conventional UV-curable resins. Moreover, the inventory of available commercial resins is still limited and they exhibit low thermal and electrical conductivity values. In this work, some composite materials were designed using Al microparticles dispersed within an SLA commercial resin matrix. These composites overcame the difficulties caused by the light scattering effect during the photopolymerisation process in the SLA technology. Dispersion of the filler was characterised by means of SEM/EDX and AFM. The composites exhibited improved thermal and mechanical behaviour in comparison with the pristine resin. The simplicity of the synthesis method used to prepare the composites provides a convenient starting point to explore new ways of designing composites for SLA with improved mechanical and functional properties.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Trueperella pyogenes isolated from food-producing ruminants.

A total of 96 Trueperella pyogenes isolates, an opportunistic pathogen of food-producing ruminants, obtained from cattle (n = 34), sheep (n = 35) and goats (n = 27), and identified by Real Time PCR (qPCR), were analysed to determine the susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials commonly used in livestock, using a broth microdilution. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) distribution was unimodal for half of the antimicrobials tested with the exception of apramycin, gentamicin, streptomycin, oxytetracycline, tylosin, and erythromycin all of which showed bimodal MIC distributions. Low MIC90 values for penicillin, amoxicillin, ceftiofur, enrofloxacin, and gentamicin (<1 µg/ml) were obtained, suggesting that these antimicrobials would be the most effective first line empiric treatment for T. pyogenes infections in livestock. Furthermore, according to the specific T. pyogenes breakpoints for penicillin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and erythromycin, 93.7 % of isolates were susceptible to penicillin and 77.2 % to erythromycin, whereas 92.7 % were non-susceptible to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. Significant differences were observed in the MIC distribution of almost all antimicrobials, except enrofloxacin, tylosin and erythromycin against cattle, sheep or goat isolates, although all antimicrobials showed similar MIC90 values, except apramycin and oxytetracycline that showed higher values when tested against cattle isolates. These data provide interesting information on the antimicrobials of choice for the treatment of infections caused by T. pyogenes in ruminants.

Development of Surface-Coated Polylactic Acid/Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PLA/PHA) Nanocomposites.

This work reports on the design and development of nanocomposites based on a polymeric matrix containing biodegradable Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) coated with either Graphite NanoPlatelets (GNP) or silver nanoparticles (AgNP). Nanocomposites were obtained by mechanical mixing under mild conditions and low load contents (<0.10 wt %). This favours physical adhesion of the additives onto the polymer surface, while the polymeric bulk matrix remains unaffected. Nanocomposite characterisation was performed via optical and focused ion beam microscopy, proving these nanocomposites are selectively modified only on the surface, leaving bulk polymer unaffected. Processability of these materials was proven by the fabrication of samples via injection moulding and mechanical characterisation. Nanocomposites showed enhanced Young modulus and yield strength, as well as better thermal properties when compared with the unmodified polymer. In the case of AgNP coated nanocomposites, the surface was found to be optically active, as observed in the increase of the resolution of Raman spectra, acquired at least 10 times, proving these nanocomposites are promising candidates as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates.

Radionuclides as natural tracers of the interaction between groundwater and surface water in the River Andarax, Spain.

The identification of specific aquifers that supply water to river systems is fundamental to understanding the dynamics of the rivers' hydrochemistry, particularly in arid and semiarid environments where river flow may be discontinuous. There are multiple methods to identify the source of river water. In this study of the River Andarax, in the Southeast of Spain, an analysis of natural tracers (physico-chemical parameters, uranium, radium and radon) in surface water and groundwater indicates that chemical parameters and uranium clearly identify the areas where there is groundwater-surface water interaction. The concentration of uranium found in the river defines two areas: the headwaters with U concentrations of 2 µg L-1 and the lower reaches, with U of 6 µg L-1. Furthermore, variation in the 234U/238U isotopic ratio allowed us to detect the influence that groundwater from the carbonate aquifer has on surface water in the headwaters of the river, where the saline content is lower and the water has a calcium bicarbonate facies. The concentration of 226Ra and 222Rn are low in the surface waters: <1.6 × 10-6 µg L-1 and <5.1 × 10-12 µg L-1, respectively. There is a slight increase in the lower reaches where the water has a permanent flow, greater salinity and a calcium-magnesium-sulphate facies. All this is favoured by the influence of groundwater from the detritic aquifer on the surface waters. The results of this study indicate the utility in the use of physico-chemical and radiological data conjointly as tracers of groundwater-surface water interaction in semiarid areas where the lithology of aquifers is diverse (carbonate and detritic) and where evaporitic rocks are present.

Survival of selected foodborne pathogens on dry cured pork loins.

The safety of ready-to-eat products such as cured pork loins must be guaranteed by the food industry. In the present study, the efficacy of the dry curing process of pork loins obtained from free-range pigs in the reduction of three of the most important foodborne pathogens is analysed. A total of 28 pork loin segments, with an average weight of 0.57±0.12kg, were divided into four groups with three being inoculated by immersion with 7logCFU/ml of either Salmonella Typhimurium, Campylobacter coli or Listeria innocua and the last one inoculated by immersion with sterile medium (control group). The loin segments were treated with a seasoning mixture of curing agents and spices, packed in a synthetic sausage casing and cured for 64days. Microbiological analysis, pH and water activity (aw) were assessed at four stages. The values of pH and aw decreased with curing time as expected. S. Typhimurium and C. coli dropped significantly (3.28 and 2.14 log units, respectively), but limited reduction of L. innocua (0.84 log unit) was observed along the curing process. In our study, three factors were considered critical: the initial concentration of the bacteria, the progressive reduction of pH and the reduction of aw values. Our results encourage performing periodic analysis at different stages of the manufacturing of dry cured pork loins to ensure the absence of the three evaluated foodborne pathogens.

Gender differences in patients with venous thromboembolism and five common sites of cancer.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of cancer patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) may differ according to gender. METHODS: We used the RIETE database to compare the rate of VTE recurrences, major bleeding and mortality in patients with lung, colorectal, pancreatic, hematologic or gastric cancer during the course of anticoagulation, according to gender. RESULTS: As of January 2016, 11,055 patients with active cancer were enrolled: 1,727 had lung cancer, 1,592 colorectal, 840 hematologic, 517 pancreatic and 459 had gastric cancer. Compared with men (N = 3,130), women (N = 2,005) were more likely to have colorectal, pancreatic or hematologic cancer, and less likely to have lung cancer. Most patients (91%) were initially treated with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), but women received higher daily doses per body weight. Then, 66% kept receiving LMWH for long-term therapy. During the course of anticoagulation, 302 patients developed recurrent VTE, 220 bled and 1,749 died. Compared with men, women had a similar rate of VTE recurrences or major bleeding, and a lower mortality (risk ratio [RR]: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.82-0.99). When separately comparing outcomes according to cancer site, women with lung cancer had a lower mortality (RR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.70-0.92), those with colorectal cancer had a higher mortality (RR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.02-1.54) and those with gastric cancer had a higher rate of VTE recurrences than men (RR: 2.47; 95% CI: 1.04-5.89). CONCLUSIONS: VTE women with lung, colorectal, pancreatic, haematological or gastric cancer experienced a similar outcome during the course of anticoagulant therapy than men with similar cancers.

Evaluation of five serologic assays for bovine tuberculosis surveillance in domestic free-range pigs from southern Spain.

In countries where bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is still prevalent the contact among different animal species in extensive systems contributes to the circulation of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) and other members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). Thus, free-range pigs can develop subclinical infections and may contribute to disease spread to bovine and wildlife. Serodiagnosis has been proposed as a screening tool for detecting infected pig herds; however, the value of this method to obtain an accurate diagnosis in this species is still not clear. In this study, sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) estimates of four ELISAs and a lateral flow immunochromatographic antibody assay based on different M. bovis antigens, including MPB70 and MPB83 proteins, were evaluated in naturally infected domestic free-range pigs. For this purpose, submandibular lymph nodes and blood samples from 217 pigs from both TB-infected and historically negative farms were sampled at slaughterhouse and analysed by gross examination, histopathology, bacteriological culture and qPCR. Se and Sp estimates of the 5 evaluated assays ranged from 66.1% to 78% (CI95 from 52.6 to 87.7%) and from 98.9% to 100% (CI95 from 93.8 to 100%), respectively. Results of our study suggest that all the evaluated assays could be used as a first screening tool to conduct bTB surveillance in domestic pigs at population level; however, animals from seropositive herds should later be surveyed by other methods in order to reduce false negative results.

Analysis of clinical factors affecting the rates of fatal pulmonary embolism and bleeding in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: In cancer patients with symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) (deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE)), clinical factors that influence the benefit-risk balance of anticoagulation need to be identified so treatment intensity and duration can be optimally adjusted for the individual patient. METHODS: Using clinical data for cancer patients with VTE obtained from the RIETE registry, we compared how rates of fatal PE and fatal bleeding during and after anticoagulation vary depending on patients' clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Data were analysed from the 10,962 cancer patients with VTE (5,740 with PE with or without DVT; 5,222 with DVT alone) in RIETE registry as of March 2016. Fatal PE occurred in 2.18% of patients, while fatal bleedings occurred in 1.55%. During the 12 months from initial VTE, fatal PE was the most common cause of death, after disseminating cancer, and bleeding the fourth most common. In patients initially presenting with PE, fatal PE during anticoagulation was 4-fold more frequent than fatal bleeding (204 vs 51 deaths) and occurred mostly during the first month of treatment (196/223, 88%). In patients initially presenting with DVT, fatal PE was 3-fold lower than fatal bleeding during (25 vs 85 deaths) and after anticoagulation treatment (8 vs 37 deaths). During the 12-month follow-up, other characteristics of cancer patients with VTE were identified as more common in fatal cases of PE and/or bleeding than in surviving cases. INTERPRETATION: Baseline clinical characteristics may determine anticoagulation outcomes in cancer patients with VTE and should be further investigated as possible factors for guiding changes in current practices of anticoagulation, such as adjusting anticoagulation intensity and duration in selected patients.

U-isotopes and (226)Ra as tracers of hydrogeochemical processes in carbonated karst aquifers from arid areas.

Sierra de Gádor is a karst macrosystem with a highly complex geometry, located in southeastern Spain. In this arid environment, the main economic activities, agriculture and tourism, are supported by water resources from the Sierra de Gádor aquifer system. The aim of this work was to study the levels and behaviour of some of the most significant natural radionuclides in order to improve the knowledge of the hydrogeochemical processes involved in this groundwater system. For this study, 28 groundwater and 7 surface water samples were collected, and the activity concentrations of the natural U-isotopes ((238)U, (235)U and (234)U) and (226)Ra by alpha spectrometry were determined. The activity concentration of (238)U presented a large variation from around 1.1 to 65 mBq L(-1). Elevated groundwater U concentrations were the result of oxidising conditions that likely promoted U dissolution. The PHREEQC modelling code showed that dissolved U mainly existed as uranyl carbonate complexes. The (234)U/(238)U activity ratios were higher than unity for all samples (1.1-3.8). Additionally, these ratios were in greater disequilibrium in groundwater than surface water samples, the likely result of greater water-rock contact time. (226)Ra presented a wide range of activity concentrations, (0.8 up to about 4 × 10(2) mBq L(-1)); greatest concentrations were detected in the thermal area of Alhama. Most of the samples showed (226)Ra/(234)U activity ratios lower than unity (median = 0.3), likely the result of the greater mobility of U than Ra in the aquifer system. The natural U-isotopes concentrations were strongly correlated with dissolution of sulphate evaporites (mainly gypsum). (226)Ra had a more complex behaviour, showing a strong correlation with water salinity, which was particularly evident in locations where thermal anomalies were detected. The most saline samples showed the lowest (234)U/(238)U activity ratios, probably due to fast uniform bulk mineral dissolution, which would minimize the impact of solubility-controlled fractionation processes. Furthermore, the high bulk dissolution rates promoted greater groundwater (226)Ra/(234)U ratios because the Ra has a comparatively much greater mobility than U in saline conditions.