Mind the Pulp: Environmental and economic assessment of a sugar beet pulp biorefinery for biobased chemical production.

Sugar beet pulp, a byproduct from sugar beet refining, is used by farmers as fertilizer or sold as animal feed. Both options underestimate the potential of sugar beet pulp as a platform to produce specialty and bulky chemicals as a promising pathway for sustainable biochemicals - mind the pulp. This study proposes a biorefinery concept to produce food additives (pectin-derived oligosaccharides) and bulky chemicals (terephthalic acid). Since the biorefinery has a low technology readiness level (TRL = 1), it is relevant to evaluate the feasibility of this biorefinery concept to provide guidance (at an early stage) on the environmental and economic advantages and limitations. For this purpose, the life cycle assessment and techno-economic assessment frameworks are used to assess the environmental impact and economic performance of the biobased terephthalic acid, respectively. Moreover, environmental impacts are accounted for in economic terms using different monetary valuation methods (environmental prices, Ecovalue12, and Ecotax). The environmental impact of biobased terephthalic acid was higher in most impact categories than the fossil counterpart, depending on the selected allocation approach (mass vs economic). The economic feasibility of the proposed biorefinery is highly dependent on the pectin-derived oligosaccharides market price and the valorization of byproducts (humins and levulinic acid). The selection of the monetary valuation method is critical for monetizing environmental impacts when comparing biobased against fossil-based alternatives.

Diseño y validación de los contenidos de un instrumento para el control técnico táctico de la lucha olímpica / Content design and validation of an instrument for the technical and tactical control of olympic wrestling

Resumen La finalidad de este trabajo fue diseñar y validar los contenidos de una herramienta que permita tener un seguimiento del componente técnico táctico en atletas de lucha olímpica utilizando los antecedentes de investigaciones relacionadas con esta temática y una validación de un juicio de expertos. La metodología aplicada consistió en aceptar o rechazar contenidos, teniendo en cuenta unos valores de corte (0,75) determinados por el número de evaluadores (8 sujetos que conformaron el panel de expertos en el deporte) y la escala de calificación utilizada en las encuestas (entre 1 y 5), para la valoración de los ítems (11 de la herramienta y 65 de contenidos de esta), a partir de un proceso de validación de contenidos de un instrumento por medio del estadístico V de Aiken. Los resultados finalmente eliminaron cuatro de doce ítems del instrumento y siete elementos de los contenidos (cuatro de ellos estaban directamente relacionados con los rechazados en el instrumento). En conclusión, se determinó que el diseño de una herramienta para observar, controlar y determinar el comportamiento técnico táctico de luchadores olímpicos es de gran importancia para todos los expertos, pero algunos contenidos se deben eliminar o modificar, ya sea por la dificultad en su comprensión o porque resultan, según los expertos, de poca practicidad. Se infiere la utilidad de una herramienta como la "aprobada" para apoyar el proceso de preparación de los atletas.

Abstract The purpose of this paper was to design and validate the contents of a tool that monitors the technical and tactical component in Olympic wrestling athletes, using related research projects and validation of expert judgment. The methodology applied consisted of accepting or rejecting contents, taking into account cut-off values (0.75) determined by the number of evaluators (8 subjects experts in the sport) and the rating scale recorded in the surveys (between 1 and 5) to assess the items (11 of the tool and 65 of contents), based on the validation of contents of an instrument, using Aiken's V statistic. As a result, four out of 12 items of the instrument and seven elements of the contents (four of which were directly related to those rejected in the instrument) were eliminated. In conclusion, the design of a tool to observe, control, and determine the technical and tactical behavior of Olympic wrestlers is of great importance for all experts, but some contents must be removed or modified either because they are hard to understand or, according to experts, are not practical. The usefulness of a tool such as the one "approved" is inferred to support the preparation process of athletes.

Resumo Este trabalho teve como finalidade desenhar e comprovar os conteúdos de uma ferramenta que permita acompanhar o componente técnico-tático de atletas de luta olímpica mediante o histórico de pesquisas relacionadas com o tema e uma comprovação do julgamento de especialistas. A metodologia aplicada consistiu em aceitar ou rechaçar conteúdos, levando em consideração uns valores de corte (0,75) determinados pelo número de avaliadores (8 indivíduos que conformaram o painel de especialistas no esporte) e a escala de qualificação utilizada nas enquetes (entre 1 e 5), para a avaliação dos itens (11 da ferramenta e 65 de seus conteúdos), a partir de um processo de validação de conteúdo de um instrumento por meio do modelo estatístico V de Aiken. Os resultados finalmente eliminaram quatro de doze itens do instrumento e sete elementos dos conteúdos (quatro deles estavam diretamente relacionados com os rechaçados no instrumento). Em conclusão, determinou-se que o desenho de uma ferramenta para observar, controlar e determinar o comportamento técnico-tático de lutadores olímpicos é sumamente importante para todos os especialistas, porém alguns conteúdos devem ser eliminados ou modificados, seja pela dificuldade em sua compreensão ou porque se mostram, segundo os especialistas, pouco práticos. Infere-se a utilidade de uma ferramenta como a "aprovada" para apoiar o processo de preparação dos atletas.

Eliciting Smiles and Laughter During Intraoperative Electric Stimulation of the Cingulum: Surgical Scenario.

Laughter has a major role in daily social interactions; consequently, its biologic bases have been previously studied. Nevertheless, its cerebral representation remains unclear. The most accepted hypothesis has postulated that laughter has 2 components: mirth, related to the temporal and frontal neocortical areas, and motor aspect, related to the limbic system and brainstem. Furthermore, in prior studies, laughter has been elicited during electric stimulation with depth electrodes in the supplementary motor area and the cingulum. This Video 1 reports resection of a right superior frontal gyrus diffuse astrocytoma (isocitrate dehydrogenase mutant, World Health Organization grade II) with awake intraoperative electric cortical and subcortical stimulation mapping. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography, including all the tracts in relation to the tumor, was obtained preoperatively and postoperatively. Stimulation of the cingulum medially and inferiorly to the tumor elicited a patient's smile and laugh without mirth or merriment. Also, this point correlated with the reconstructed cingulum in the intraoperatively navigated DTI tractography. In conclusion, these findings support the anatomic subdivision of the laughter's mechanism and the role of the cingulum in its motor component. Furthermore, smiles and laughter could be useful functional landmarks to identify the cingulum during subcortical mapping. Although it remains unclear whether pursuing resection beyond this point would have caused permanent postoperative deficits, considering laughter's role in social interaction and other emotion-processing functions associated with the cingulum, in the future it could be potentially considered a functional limit of the resection of intrinsic tumors.

Recovery of long-term paresis following resection of WHO grade II gliomas infiltrating the pyramidal pathway.

Recent publications had reported high rates of preoperative neurological impairments in WHO grade II gliomas (GIIG) that significantly affect the quality of life. Consequently, one step further in the analysis of surgical outcome in GIIG is to evaluate if surgery is capable to improve preoperative deficits. Here are reported two cases of GIIG infiltrating the primary motor cortex and pyramidal pathway that had a long-term paresis before surgery. Both patients were operated with intraoperative electrical stimulation mapping, with identification and preservation of the primary motor cortex and pyramidal tract. Despite the long-lasting paresis, both cases had a significant improvement of motor function after surgery. Knowledge of this potential recovery before surgery is of major significance for planning the surgical strategy in GIIG. Two possible predictors of motor recovery were analyzed: 1) reconstruction of the corticospinal tract with diffusion tensor imaging tractography is indicative of anatomo-functional integrity, despite tract deviation and infiltration; 2) intraoperative identification of motor response by electrostimulation confirms the presence of an intact peritumoral tract. Thus, resection should stop at this boundary even in cases of long lasting preoperative hemiplegia.

Falla ovárica en una yegua de paso fi no colombiano:tratamiento combinado homeopático antihomotóxicoy hormonal: reporte de un caso / Fracasso ovário em uma égua de passo colombiano: manipulação homeopática antihomotoxicae hormonal combinada: reporte de um caso / Ovulation failure in a Colombian Paso fino Mare: A combined antihomotoxic homeopathic therapy and hormonal treatment: a case report

La falla ovulatoria es una de las principales causas de infertilidad en yeguas cíclicas. En el presentecaso, se describe el seguimiento de una yegua nulípara de paso fino colombiano de seis años que ingresóa consulta para ser sometida a reproducción. Al examen ecográfico se le halló el ovario izquierdo de 15x 13 cm con una estructura patológica de aspecto anecóico y contenido líquido de 13 x 11 cm, el ovarioderecho sin estructuras y el útero flácido. La yegua fue sometida a tratamiento con antihomotóxicos deltipo Ovarium compositum®, Damiana injeel®, Cerebrum compositum®, y Phosphor hommacord® durante1½ mes, y terapia FK (terapia neural, dos en 15 días), lo cual disminuyó el tamaño del folículo y delovario, indujo ablandamiento de la pared folicular y leve respuesta uterina. Un mes y medio después,el ovario izquierdo tenía 13 x 11 cm y un folículo de 9 x 8 cm, y el ovario derecho estaba multifolicular.Las concentraciones de progesterona, estradiol y testosterona eran características de anestro. La yeguafue tratada con eCG (3.000 UI/3 días, i.v.), cuatro días después la progesterona ascendió a 14.91 ng/dl, el examen ecográfico reveló un cuerpo lúteo en el ovario izquierdo y a los siete días fue tratada conPGF2α (9 μg/kg/2 días) intramuscular. Cinco días después la yegua presentó estro, fue inseminada y tuvouna gestación que perdió a los 40 días; luego presentó un nuevo estro a los 20 días, fue inseminada, sele confirmó gestación a los 20 días y tuvo una gestación a término con un potro viable al momento del parto. Este caso sugiere la posibilidad de combinar terapia hormonal con medicina alternativa para eltratamiento de algunos tipos de anormalidades en el funcionamiento ovárico en las yeguas.parto. Este caso sugiere la posibilidad de combinar terapia hormonal con medicina alternativa para eltratamiento de algunos tipos de anormalidades en el funcionamiento ovárico en las yeguas.

Ovulation failure is one of the most frequent causes of infertility in mares. In the present case wereport a six-year-old Colombian Paso Fino maiden Mare that was attended for breeding purposes with aprevious history of ovulation failure. At ultrasound (US) examination of the reproductive tract and ovariesthe left ovary measured 15 x 13 cm and a pathologic 13 x 11 cm diameter anecoic structure was diagnosed.The right ovary was found of normal size, and the uterus was found flacid. An anti homotoxic theraphywith Ovarium compositum®, Damiana injeel®, Cerebrum compositum®, and Phosphor hommacord® for1½ months and FK (neural) therapy (twice/15 days) were then established, the ovary size was reduced,and softening of the follicular wall and a slight uterine response were observed. After 1½ month, the leftovary had 13 x 11 cm diameter and showed a 9 x 8 cm follicle, whereas the right ovary was multifollicular.Serum progesterone, estradiol and testosterone levels were those characteristics of an anestrous mare.The mare was treated with hCG (3.000 UI, i.v./3 days) and 4 days later a corpus luteum was diagnosedby US in the left ovary and serum progesterone levels raised to 14.91 ng/dl. At day 7 after hCG treatmentthe mare was given PGF2α (9 μg/kg/for two days) intramuscular, estrous was evident 5 days later, andartificial insemination (AI) with fertile semen was practiced resulting in a viable pregnancy as evaluatedby ultrasound at day 20; however, this pregnancy was lost at 40 days after AI. The mare returned to estrus20 days later, she was then inseminated and the resulting pregnancy was confirmed at day 20th resultingin a successful gestation and foaling of a full term viable foal. This report suggests hormonal therapy andalternative medicine could be successfully combined for treatment of specific ovarian pathologies in mares.

O fracasso ovulatório é uma das principais causas de infertilidade em éguas cíclicas. Neste caso, sedescreveu o acompanhamento de uma égua nulípara da paso fino colombiano, de seis anos idade queconsultou para serem sujeitos a reprodução. No exame ultra-som que ele encontrou o ovário esquerdo,15 x 13 cm, com uma estrutura patológica de 13 x 11 cm, o ovários direito sem estruturas e útero mau. Aégua sofreu tratamento com drogas Ovarium compositum®, Damiana injeel®, Cerebrum compositum®, ePhosphor hommacord® durante 1½ mês, FK terapêutica (terapia neural, duas em 15 dias), o que diminuiuo tamanho do folículo e do ovário, induzida amolecimento da parede uterina e leve resposta folicular.Um mês e meio depois, o ovário esquerdo tinha 13 x 11 cm e um folículo 9 x 8 cm, e do ovário direito foimultifolicular. As concentrações de progesterona, estradiol e testosterona foram características do anestro.A égua foi tratada com eCG (3.000 UI IV/3 dias), quatro dias após a progesterona ascendeu a 14.91 ng/dl, efoi visto por ultra-som corpo lúteo no ovário esquerdo. Em sete dias, a égua foi tratada com PGF2α (9 μg/kg/2 dias) i.m., introduzido estro após cinco dias, foi inseminada e teve uma gestação que perdeu a 40 dias;introduziu um novo estro em 20 dias, foi inseminação, a gravidez foi confirmada em 20 dias e atualmentemantém um 9 meses de gestação. Este caso sugere a utilidade da terapia hormonal combinando commedicina alternativa para o tratamento de certos tipos de anomalias no funcionamento do ovário em éguas.

ISOLATION OF HUMAN BONE MARROW MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS AND EVALUATION OF THEIR OSTEOGENIC POTENTIAL

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) comprise a cell population capable of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation commonly isolated from bone marrow aspirates of large bones. Their osteogenic potential has been extensively exploited for the biological evaluation of scaffolds or biomaterials with applications in bone tissue engineering. This work aimed to isolate hBMSCs from femoral heads of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty and to evaluate their osteogenic potential. Briefly, the trabecular bone was extracted and mechanically disaggregated; the released cells were cultured and non-adherent cells were removed after 4 days. The osteogenic potential was evaluated at the fifth passage after 14 and 20 days of induction, comparing cultures with and without osteogenic supplements, via Alizarin red staining and the quantification of the gene expression levels of the osteogenic markers collagen type I, osteonectin and bone sialoprotein through real-time RT-PCR. The obtained hBMSCs presented a stable undifferentiated phenotype after prolonged cell culture, matrix mineralization capabilities and expression of osteoblast phenotype upon osteogenic induction. The three markers were up-regulated in cultures under osteogenic conditions and 2 fold differences in their expression levels were found to be significant for the onset of the differentiation process. The obtained hBMSCs may have applications on the in vitro evaluation of the osteoinductivity of different biomaterials, bioactive molecules or tissue engineering scaffolds.

Las células madre mesenquimatosas de médula ósea humana (abreviadas hBMSCs) constituyen una fuente de células auto-renovables con alto potencial de diferenciación, comúnmente aisladas a partir de los aspirados medulares en huesos largos. Su diferenciación hacia el linaje osteogénico, por ejemplo, ha sido ampliamente utilizada para la evaluación biológica de biomateriales o matrices con aplicaciones en la ingeniería de tejidos óseos. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en aislar hBMSCs a partir de la cabeza femoral de pacientes sometidos a artroplastia total de cadera, así como evaluar su potencial osteogénico. Brevemente, se extrajo el hueso esponjoso y se disgregó mecánicamente; las células desprendidas se cultivaron y las células no adherentes se eliminaron luego de 4 días. El potencial osteogénico se evaluó en la quinta generación de cultivo, mediante ensayos de diferenciación a 14 y 20 días donde se compararon cultivos con y sin suplementos osteogénicos. La evaluación se realizó mediante tinción con Alizarina Roja y la cuantificación de los niveles de expresión génica de los marcadores osteogénicos colágeno tipo I, osteonectinca y sialoprotiena ósea mediante RT-PCR en tiempo real. Las hBMSCs obtenidas presentaron un fenotipo no-diferenciado estable, así como la capacidad de mineralizar la matriz extracelular y expresar un fenotipo similar al osteoblasto durante la inducción osteogénica. Los tres marcadores evaluados se sobre-expresaron en los cultivos en condiciones osteogénicas, y se encontró que cambios hasta de 2X en sus niveles de expresión son relevantes para el desarrollo del proceso de diferenciación. El modelo de hBMSCS presentado podría ser utilizado para la evaluación in vitro de la osteoinductividad de diferentes biomateriales, moléculas bioactivas o matrices para ingeniería de tejidos.