Variation of discrete spectra for non-selfadjoint perturbations of selfadjoint operators

Let B=A+K where A is a bounded selfadjoint operator and K is an element of the von Neumann-Schatten ideal S_p with p>1. Let {\lambda_n} denote an enumeration of the discrete spectrum of B. We show that \sum_n \dist(\lambda_n, \sigma(A))^p is bounded from above by a constant multiple of |K|_p^p. We also derive a unitary analog of this estimate and apply it to obtain new estimates on zero-sets of Cauchy transforms.Comment: Differences to previous version: Extended Introduction, new Section 5, additional references. To appear in Int. Eq. Op. Theor

Quality classification of Spanish olive oils by untargeted gas chromatography coupled to hybrid quadrupole–time of flight mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and metabolomics-based statistical approach

The novel atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source has been used in combination with gas chromatography (GC) coupled to hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry (MS) for determination of volatile components of olive oil, enhancing its potential for classification of olive oil samples according to their quality using a metabolomics-based approach. The full-spectrum acquisition has allowed the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in olive oil samples, including extra virgin, virgin and lampante qualities. A dynamic headspace extraction with cartridge solvent elution was applied. The metabolomics strategy consisted of three different steps: a full mass spectral alignment of GC-MS data using MzMine 2.0, a multivariate analysis using Ez-Info and the creation of the statistical model with combinations of responses for molecular fragments. The model was finally validated using blind samples, obtaining an accuracy in oil classification of 70 % taking the official established method, “PANEL TEST” as reference.The authors acknowledge the financial support of Generalitat Valenciana, as research group of excellence (PROMETEO II/2014/023) and Collaborative Research on Environment and Food-Safety (ISIC/2012/016). This work and C. Sales grant has been supported by Universitat Jaume I research promotion plans (P1-1B2013-70

In vivo selection of Plasmodium falciparum parasites carrying the chloroquine-susceptible pfcrt K76 allele after treatment with artemether-lumefantrine in Africa

Background: Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is a major and highly effective artemisinin-based combination therapy that is becoming increasingly important as a new first-line therapy against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, recrudescences occurring after AL treatment have been reported. Identification of drug-specific parasite determinants that contribute to treatment failures will provide important tools for the detection and surveillance of AL resistance. Methods: The findings from a 42-day follow-up efficacy trial in Tanzania that compared AL with sulfadoxinepyrimethamine (SP) were analyzed to identify candidate markers for lumefantrine tolerance/resistance in the chloroquine resistance transporter gene (pfcrt) and multidrug resistance gene 1 (pfmdr1). The findings were corroborated in vitro with genetically modified isogenic P. falciparum parasite lines. Results: Treatment with AL selected for the chloroquine-susceptible pfcrt K76 allele (P \u3c .0001) and, to a lesser extent, the pfmdr1 N86 (P = .048) allele among recurrent infections. These genotypes were not selected during SP treatment. No pfmdr1 gene amplifications were observed. Isogenic pfcrt-modified parasite lines demonstrated a 2-fold increase in susceptibility to lumefantrine, which was directly attributable to the K76T mutation. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the pfcrt K76T mutation is a drug-specific contributor to enhanced P. falciparum susceptibility to lumefantrine in vivo and in vitro, and they highlight the benefit of using AL in areas affected by chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum malaria. © 2009 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved

Exploring Corporate Social Responsibility under the Background of Sustainable Development Goals: A Proposal to Corporate Volunteering

The research into corporate volunteering (CV) has been prolific, although few studies have focused their approach on senior and retired workers under the framework of the corporate social responsibility (CSR). The social participation of retirees in CV activities contributes to the businesses'' socially responsible performance and can be intimately connected with the global commitment pursued by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030. This article aims to explore the key issues that might have influence the effective implementation of CV programs to integrate retired and pre-retired workers, promoting a participatory and healthy aging. Based on the interface of internal and external corporate social responsibility, we discuss how CV can achieve social legitimacy, influencing the health and well-being of workers beyond the employment relationship. The main contribution of this article to the state of art is to extend the literature on CSR and CV by elaborating a theoretical model that integrates both perspectives with the focus on the SDGs. The results suggest that SDGs represent an opportunity and a frame of reference for CSR strategies. Companies engaged in senior CV activities could enhance their corporate and social images within the strategic action of social responsibility, indisputably improving people''s health and well-being

Corporate Volunteering: a Tool for Promoting a Strategy for Internal Corporate Social Responsibility Integrating Retirees

This paper aims to make an exploratory analysis of the effectiveness of implementing a Corporate Volunteering program aimed at the context of retired workers, as a tool for participatory and healthy aging. The research study focused on the importance of the social participation of retirees in a company as a priority interest for the development of Corporate Volunteering programs, and delved into the expression of the socially responsible performance of organizations in volunteering actions carried out by their retired employees. Results show that the performance of retirees in a company’s volunteering activities can count on intimately connected theoretical supports and is closely related to Corporate Social Responsibility, fostering an active, healthy and fair old age, with socialbenefit to the community

Hyperspectral imaging to evaluate the effect of irrigation water salinity in lettuce

International audienceSalinity is one of the most important stress factors in crop production, particularly in arid regions. This research focuses on the effect of salinity on the growth of lettuce plants; three solutions with different levels of salinity were considered and compared (S1 = 50, S2 = 100 and S3 = 150 mM NaCl) with a control solution (Ct = 0 mM NaCl). The osmotic potential and water content of the leaves were measured, and hyperspectral images of the surfaces of 40 leaves (10 leaves per treatment) were taken after two weeks of growth. The mean spectra of the leaves (n = 32,000) were pre-processed by means of a Savitzky-Golay algorithm and standard normal variate normalization. Principal component analysis was then performed on a calibration set of 28 mean spectra, yielding an initial model for salinity effect detection. A second model was subsequently proposed based on an index computing an approximation to the second derivative at the red edge region. Both models were applied to all the hyperspectral images to obtain the corresponding artificial images, distinguishing between the 28 that were used to extract the calibration mean spectra and the rest that constituted an external validation. Those virtual images were studied using analysis of variance in order to compare their ability for detecting salinity effects on the leaves. Both models showed significant differences between each salinity level, and the hyperspectral images allowed observations of the distribution of the salinity effects on the leaf surfaces, which were more intense in the areas distant from the veins. However, the index-based model is simpler and easier to apply because it is based solely on the reflectance at three different wavelengths, thus allowing for the implementation of less expensive multispectral devices

Estudio fisiológico de Dinophysis spp. durante un ciclo de afloramiento/hundimiento en la Ría de Pontevedra

HABITFloraciones Algales Nocivas en Capas Fina

A novel electrochemical device as a disinfection system to maintain water quality during washing of ready to eat fresh produce

Electrolyzed water (EW) is known by its bactericidal efficacy and capability to oxidize organic matter. The present research evaluated the efficacy of recently developed electrolytic cells able to generate higher concentration of reactive oxygen species using lower power and salt concentration than conventional cells. This study tested the inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7, the organic matter depletion and trihalomethane (THM) generation by EW in process wash water under dynamic conditions. To achieve this, clean tap water was continuously added up to 60 min with artificial process water with high chemical oxygen demand (COD) inoculated with E. coli O157:H7, in experiments performed in a pilot plant that recirculated water through one electrolytic cell. Plate counts of E. coli O157:H7, COD, THMs, free, combined and total chlorine, pH, temperature and oxidation-reduction potential were determined. Results indicate that the novel electrolysis system combined with minimal addition of NaCl (0.05%) was able to suppress E. coli O157:H7 population build-up and decreased the COD accumulation in the process wash water. THM levels in the water were relatively high but its concentration in the washed product was marginal. Highly effective electrolysis has been proven to reduce the occurrence of foodborne diseases associated to cross-contamination in produce washers without having an accumulation of THMs in the washed product.Ciencias de la Alimentació

Thermal Effect on TL Response of Single Doped LiF+NaF:RE Polycrystalline Phosphors

In this work, the sintering and annealing effects on the thermoluminescent (TL) behavior of undoped and rare earth (RE)-doped LiF+NaF powder samples (RE = Ce3+, Eu3+, Lu3+ or Tl+, at 0.5 mol%) was analyzed by evaluating the sensitivity to gamma radiation and TL response of the material. The polycrystalline samples were obtained by solid state reaction at 1000°C. The samples were irradiated in a Gammacell-3000 Elan irradiator loaded with 137Cs sources. The glow curves of the LiF+NaF doped with lutetium or thallium show an intense glow peak at about 175°C and 135°C, respectively. When the phosphor was doped with cerium or europium the glow curves were complex in their structure, with TL peaks observed at 155°C and 165°C, respectively. The linear dose-response was between 10 and 50 Gy for cerium, europium or lutetium doped LiF+NaF samples, while for the thallium doped and undoped samples such intervals were 10-100 Gy and 10-500 Gy, respectively. Because the shape of the glow curves were complex, the analysis was carried out in (i) samples without a sintering treatment where the TL response was found insensitive to pre-irradiation annealing treatment, and (ii) sintered samples (300, 350, 400 or 500 °C), in this last case the TL response was dependent on the annealing temperature (100-400 °C), finally (iii) the kinetics parameters of the glow curves were analyzed by assuming a general order kinetics model. The observed glow curves and TL characteristics of the LiF+NaF:RE phosphor make attractive this material to be useful in gamma dose dosimetry

Potential of Electrolyzed Water as an Alternative Disinfectant Agent in the Fresh-Cut Industry

Water disinfection is one of the most critical processing steps in fresh-cut vegetable production. Technologies capable for the efficient disinfection of process water and recycled water would allow reducing wastewater and have less impact on the environment. Among the chemical disinfectants, hypochlorite solutions are still the most widely used. Electrochemical disinfection of the wash water has been demonstrated to be effective in eliminating a wide spectrum of pathogens in process water. Both hypochlorite solutions and electrochemically produced chlorine compounds, in particular hypochlorous acid, are effective disinfectants when adequate doses are used. A new electrochemical process using borondoped diamond electrodes can generate additional reactive oxidant species than chlorine and further enhance the disinfecting capacity. However, there are pros and cons on the use of one or other disinfectant agents. In this review, the technological advantages and the limitations of electrolyzed water, particularly regarding the organic matter content, are discussed and compared to the use of hypochlorite.Ciencias de la Alimentació