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Redescription and revalidation of Plectonchus zondagi (Dale, 1967) Abolafia, Alizadeh & Khakvar, 2016 (Rhabditida, Brevibuccidae) from Iran with notes on taxonomic position of the genus
No full textPlectonchus zondagi is redescribed based on a population found in northern Iran. New morphological characterisations based on light and scanning electron microscopy are provided. Also, molecular analyses based on near full-length of small subunit and partial large subunit (SSU and LSU D2-D3) rDNA are provided. The recovered population of this species is characterised by having lips fused in pairs, amphidial openings posterior to frontal end, stoma with large cheilo-gymnostom, pharynx with scarcely swollen metacorpus, female reproductive system prodelphic, absence of post-vulval uterine sac, male with angular spicules and sigmoid gubernaculum and tail in both sexes conoid with acute tip bearing a refringent cuticular ring between the attached and detached parts of the tail cuticle. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU and D2-D3 fragments of LSU rDNA showed that P. zondagi was nested within the family Brevibuccidae; however, additional sequences from valid species of the genus are required to confirm its classification within this family, as morphological data suggest. © RAZIEH GHAEMI ET AL., 2025
Mechanical design of a minimally invasive surgery trainer using the manipulability as measure of optimization
No full textThe trainers based in virtual reality have come up with an enormous interest in the field of Minimally Invasive Surgery. They provide a non degradable realistic training environment where apprentices are able to gain skills without limitations or risks. They may learn and try as much as desired, with no additional cost after the installation of the system. In this paper, we describe our contribution to a multidisciplinary project for the development of a Minimally Invasive Surgery Trainer. The aim of our work has been to optimize the mechanical relative positioning of haptic devices into the system platform. With this purpose we have defined a measure of how the operation workspace fits within the volume where haptic device provides its best manipulability. Then we have defined another measure that takes into account the frequency with which each zone of the operation workspace is visited during the simulation session. Using these tools, a prototype of mechanical platform involving two haptic devices has been designed and built. The placement of each device has been optimized for each zone of the operation workspace in function of its role, manipulability and frequency of use. ©2007 IEEE
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy-Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential
No full textThis study presents a biorefinery approach for Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, demonstrating its potential as a dual source for phycocyanin and biogas. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was evaluated using the ABTS center dot+ assay, while flow cytometry determined its cytotoxic effects on breast cancer (HCC1806) and brain glioma (U-118 MG) cell lines, comparing pure C-phycocyanin to the non-purified extract. The non-purified extract scavenged 77% of ABTS center dot+ radicals at 2.4 mg/mL, compared to 22% for pure C-phycocyanin. In U-118 MG cells, pure C-phycocyanin accounted for 55.5% of the 29.9 +/- 6.1% total mortality observed with the non-purified extract at 0.75 mg/mL. HCC1806 cytotoxicity (80.9 +/- 5.1% at 1 mg/mL) was attributed to synergistic effects of other extract components. The spent biomass was valorized through anaerobic digestion for biogas production, enhancing process sustainability. At a 2:1 inoculum-to-substrate ratio, the anaerobic digestion of the spent biomass yielded 447 +/- 18 mL CH4/gVS, significantly higher than the 351 +/- 19 mL CH4/gVS from the initial biomass. LCA estimated the environmental impacts of the A. flos-aquae biorefinery for phycocyanin production, targeting the cosmetic, food, and nutraceutical sectors, and highlighting the benefits of spent biomass valorization to produce biogas within a circular economy framework. This integrated approach demonstrates the potential of A. flos-aquae for the sustainable production of high-value compounds and renewable energy.This research was funded by the Community of Madrid and the European Structural Funds (IND2020/BIO-17344), the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Social and
Regional Development Funds (PID2020-114943RB-I00), and the RENUWAL network (320RT0005) (CYTED Program)
Light, but not moderate or vigorous, physical activity is consistently associated with higher levels of positive psychology resources and outcomes in women with fibromyalgia: a cross-sectional study from the al-Ándalus project
No full textAssessment of Trametes versicolor, Isochrysis galbana, and Purple Phototrophic Bacteria for the Removal of Pharmaceutical Compounds in Hospital Wastewater
No full textHospitals are one of the key contributors of pharmaceutical contaminants of emerging concern to the sewer systems. Hospitals wastewaters contain concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds between 3 and 150, which are higher than urban wastewater streams. However, dedicated treatments of the hospital effluents before discharge to the sewer system are not compulsory. Besides, conventional wastewater treatment plants have not been designed to remove pharmaceutical compounds effectively, and consequently, these micropollutants can reach the aquatic ecosystems. The removal of pharmaceutical compounds in real hospital wastewater was gaged using three different microbial cultures (white rot-fungus Trametes versicolor, microalga Isochrysis galbana, and a mixed culture of non-sulfur purple phototrophic bacteria). Before and after bioassays of the hospital wastewater, environmental hazard quotients were used to evaluate the biological treatment efficiency. Up to 45 out of the 79 compounds included in the analytical method were noticed in the hospital wastewater, with a predominance of analgesics/anti-inflammatories (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen). It was followed by antibiotics (azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin, out of which the first two are included in the watch list of substances for monitoring in water in 2020) and anti-hypertensive drugs. Isochrysis galbana reached a reduction of 45% of the total concentration of pharmaceuticals, whereas Trametes versicolor and mixed culture of purple phototrophic bacteria improved the reductions up to 69% and 76%, respectively. Moreover, potential environmental risk compounds (antibiotics, particularly ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin) were removed by Trametes versicolor in higher extension, obtaining a total hazard quotient reduction higher than the other two cultures. Removal efficiency and environmental risk assessment of remaining PhACs were used to evaluate the performance of the new biological systems for the treatment of emerging pollutants. According to both criteria, T. versicolor seems the most capable alternative for removing pharmaceutical compounds in hospital wastewater effluents
Assessment of the ASEAN–Korea FTA: findings on ASEAN-5 manufacturing and high-tech exports
No full textPurpose – The ASEAN–Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed in 2006 and took effect the following year. This research seeks to determine whether the implementation of the ASEAN–Korea FTA has been satisfactory for ASEAN-5 total and high-tech manufactured exports.
Design/methodology/approach – Manufacturing export flows between the ASEAN-5 and Korea are analyzed using the synthetic control method. This approach allows us to develop a counterfactual unit for manufacturing exports in a scenario in which no FTA would have been implemented.
Findings – Our results reveal that the ASEAN–Korea FTA has had a significantly positive impact on manufactured exports from the ASEAN-5 countries, both at the country and aggregate levels. Furthermore, it is observed that this positive outcome has also held for high-tech manufactured exports.
Originality/value – This research expands the literature in the field of trade agreement evaluation. Given the important economic implications of high-tech exports, this paper assesses the consequences that the ASEAN– Korea FTA has for such manufactured ASEAN exports. Moreover, this research studies whether the synthetic indicator is a good predictor of exports for the period before the FTA, analyzing the stochastic properties of the difference between these variables
Morphological and Molecular Identification of Two Florida Populations of Foliar Nematodes (Aphelenchoides spp.) Isolated From Strawberry With the Description of Aphelenchoides pseudogoodeyi sp. n. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) and Notes on Their Bionomics
No full textTwo Florida populations of foliar nematodes were collected from strawberries originating from Cashiers, North Carolina (USA) located west from Willard, the type locality of Aphelenchoides besseyi. Both nematodes were cultured on Monilinia fructicola and identified using morphological characteristics and molecular assays as Aphelenchoides besseyi and Aphelenchoides pseudogoodeyi sp. n., a herein described new species related to Aphelenchoides goodeyi belonging to the Group of Aphelenchoides exhibiting stellate tails. The morphological and biological characters of Florida A. besseyi fit those of the original description of this species. A. pseudogoodeyi sp. n., which was initially misidentified as Aphelenchoides fujianensis, differed from the type population of the latter species from China because it was without males, and females lacked a functional spermatheca, whereas type A. fujianensis is an amphimictic species. Phylogenetic analyses using near full-length 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), the D2-D3 expansion fragments of 28S rRNA, and partial COI gene sequences indicated that A. besseyi is a species complex. A. pseudogoodeyi sp. n. grouped in different clades from those of the type A. fujianensis, instead merging with populations identified of 'A. fujianensis' from Brazil and other countries, suggesting that the latter are conspecific and incorrectly identified. The Florida A. besseyi infected strawberry and gerbera daisy, but not soybean and alfalfa. A. pseudogoodeyi sp. n. is mainly mycetophagous. Localized inoculation of 300 specimens applied with filter paper adhering to the blade of the soybean leaves resulted in nematode penetration into the mesophyll with subsequent development of lesions limited to the inoculated area of the blade
Discopersicus n. gen., a new member of the family tylenchidae Örley, 1880 with detailed SEM study on two known species of the genus discotylenchus siddiqi, 1980 (Nematoda; Tylenchidae) from Iran
No full textDiscopersicus iranicus n. gen., n. comb., previously described from Iran as a new species under the genus Discotylenchus, is illustrated using light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations and further studied using molecular characters. SEM studies revealed the newly proposed genus has oblique amphidial apertures on the lateral sides of the lip region. SEM images are also provided for two species of Discotylenchus, namely D. discretus and D. brevicaudatus, as the first SEM study of the genus. These results confirmed longitudinal amphidial aperture type on lateral sides of the lip region in genus Discotylenchus, as noted by Siddiqi while erecting the genus with D. discretus as the type species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using partial small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences revealed the affinity of the genus Discopersicus n. gen. with members of the subfamily Boleodorinae, as supported by morphological characters (mainly, the oblique amphidial opening)
Welcome Refugees? The Asylum System in Spain
No full textThe Spanish asylum system and refugee reception program demonstrate persistent problems involving initial access to asylum and the processing of applications; access to assistance from the reception system; and the process of integration of asylum seekers, which is characterized by social segregation. This article analyzes these issues and seeks to explain them by looking beyond the immediate circumstances of the substantial increase in applications, mainly from Latin Americans, that has taken place in Spain since 2015. The deficiencies of the asylum system are explained in terms of the restrictive refugee paradigm employed by Spain and the European Union as a whole, as well as the development of a restricted, isolated reception model focused more on the initial assistance process than on social integration. Our analysis is based on two recent studies and provides empirical evidence in an area of study that has been scarcely addressed in Spain.
El sistema de asilo español y su programa de acogida presentan problemas persistentes relacionados con el acceso al asilo y la tramitación de las solicitudes, el acceso y la intervención del sistema de acogida, y los procesos de integración de los solicitantes, marcados por la segregación social. El artículo analiza dichos problemas, y trata de explicarlos yendo más allá de la coyuntura del fuerte crecimiento de las solicitudes ocurrido en España desde el año 2015, protagonizado principalmente por solicitantes latinoamericanos. Se apunta, así, que los déficits del asilo se explican por la existencia de un paradigma restrictivo del refugio en España y en la UE, y el desarrollo de un modelo de acogida restringido, aislado y centrado en el proceso de atención inicial más que en la integración. El análisis se apoya en dos investigaciones realizadas recientemente, aportando evidencia empírica a un área de estudio poco estudiada en España