Monitoring of volatile fatty acids during anaerobic digestion of olive pomace by means of a hand held near infrared spectrometer

The accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) over anaerobic digestion (AD) leads to malfunctioning of industrial reactors, hence decreasing biogas production. Real-time monitoring of VFAs is a challenge due to the complexity and high cost of current methods for their quantification. For this reason, this research evaluated the application of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to quantify volatile fatty acids as a tool for AD reactors monitoring. To do that, 129 samples from various AD reactors fed with olive oil pomace were taken and their NIR spectra were acquired with a hand-held spectrometer. After performing grid search, three spectral variable selection methods, namely competitive adaptive reweighted sampling, uninformative variable elimination (UVE) and successive projections algorithm, were assayed before developing PLRS models to correlate the NIR light transmittance through the samples at the wavelengths selected by those methods with their VFAs concentrations. UVE led to the best performance for all the VFAs assayed. Thus, R2 of validation of UVE-PLSR models for acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric and total VFAs were 0.895, 0.622, 0.866, 0.898 and 0.871, respectively. The predictive model for total VFAs achieved the highest accuracy (RMSEV = 539.5 mg/L), explained by the correlation between the light absorption at the wavelengths selected by UVE and the chemical characteristics of VFAs. All in all, the prediction errors achieved suggest that a portable near infrared spectrometer can be used for monitoring VFAs in AD processes.Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness PID2022-137299OB-100 and PID2020-116698RB-10

Venta de unidades productivas y pre-pack concursal

Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad DER2017-84775-C2-1-

Minimizing energy consumption in 802.15.4 IoT devices with multilevel xRPL (MxRPL)

IoT devices using IEEE 802.15.4 radio links may offer adaptable transmit power. But, since transmit power determines coverage, the problem of choosing the optimal tx power for each node is intertwined with the routing problem. We present a new cross-layer routing approach for reducing energy consumption in IEEE 802.15.4 IoT devices with adjustable radio power level termed multilevel cross-layer RPL (MxRPL). In our scheme, each node sets its tx power level according to the RPL parent chosen in the path with the lowest additive product of ETX and nodes’ tx power. We also propose a new probing mechanism that maintains fresh link statistics for each neighbor and power level restraining the associated control messages. We have implemented our approach in Cooja’s Z1 mote and simulated a network with 15 nodes in areas of different size. The results show that MxRPL achieves energy savings in the radio of up to 34% in reception and 20% in transmission compared to a simpler cross-layer binary approach previously published by the authors (i.e., each node chooses either its maximum or minimum tx power level). Energy savings are even greater compared to default RPL (up to 40% in reception and 26% in transmission). This is mostly attributable to the generation of less control messages and a more efficient use of tx power. Our scheme exhibits better results in medium and large size scenarios (e.g., 25 m 25 m, 42 m2 /node), whereas a simpler binary approach is slightly more advantageous in small and dense scenarios

Dataset of Chain of events and characters

Este artículo tiene como objetivo principal analizar los códigos visuales y el universo diegético manifiestos en el cine negro del director de cine Alberto Rodríguez para averiguar si en sus procedimientos existe una voluntad de resemantización del género. Para ello se ha creado una herramienta metodológica que combina la teoría de la imagen, la narrativa fílmica y la teoría del guion y que se centra fundamentalmente en el análisis de personajes y espacios. La muestra elegida se circunscribe a las últimas cuatro películas del director: Grupo 7 (2012), La isla mínima (2014), El hombre de las mil caras (2016) y Modelo 77 (2022). Tras el análisis y la discusión de los datos, se concluye que el cine de Alberto Rodríguez supone una vuelta a los estándares del género del cine negro clásico, pero actualizando códigos y adaptándolos a los intereses del director, que se centra en plantear preguntas al espectador sobre la realidad de su país en lo referente a cuestiones de dudosa moralidad. De esta forma, la obra de Alberto Rodríguez se revela como paradigma del Spanish Neonoir, que vuelve a patrones básicos para, desde ahí, conectar con el espectador y remover su conciencia.1. El hombre de las mil caras 2. Grupo 7 3. La isla mínim

Profit-efficiency analysis of forest ecosystem services in the southeastern US

Technical, allocative, and profit efficiency of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris. Mill) forests in the southeastern United States, producing ecosystem services such as timber, tree biodiversity, water, and carbon sequestration, were estimated. This study employed a non-parametric two-stage approach involving data envelopment analysis (DEA) and robust linear regression. Utilizing data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program spanning 1977–2015 and covering 2,282 forest plots, most longleaf pine forest plots were technically and profit inefficient in ecosystem service production. The inefficiency in profit appeared more attributable to allocative rather than technical inefficiency. Furthermore, the impact of various exogenous variables on inefficiency scores was assessed through robust linear regression. The findings suggested that forest disturbances under private ownership could reduce technical inefficiency. Surprisingly, contrary to stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) results, the robust regression model, considering geographical factors, disturbance, ownership, management, and time in the presence of outliers/influential observations, indicated that disturbances often increased technical inefficiency. Therefore, forest management strategies aiming to mimic or replicate the effects of forest disturbances might compromise the efficiency of ecosystem service provision

Elementos para una teoría de la autoafección. Contribución a la fenomenología no intencional desde una interpretación del pensamiento de Michel Henry

El propósito de esta tesis es dilucidar la posibilidad de una teoría de la autoafección a la luz del pensamiento filosófico de Michel Henry. La justificación de tal propósito reside en la peculiaridad de la ontología fenomenológica henryana, cuyo planteamiento central ofrece el desarrollo de una concepción de la trascendencia que, en términos fenomenológicos —y aquí está la novedad—, no es un ir hacia lo mundano, o lo externo, sino que es un ir hacia sí mismo. El origen de esta concepción, como se verá en el presente trabajo, lo constató Henry sutilmente en el cogito de Descartes, quien en un primer momento de sus meditaciones, descubrió —dicho muy resumidamente— la afectividad misma del pensamiento, en cuanto «apercepción íntima sin representación»; la cual pronto abandonó y quedaría históricamente olvidada, adoptando únicamente la vía racional de la representación. Entiendo que los análisis fenomenológicos henryanos privilegian toda una constelación de movimientos comprensivos que van de la intencionalidad a la autoafección, de lo objetivo-entitativo a lo inobjetivo-afectivo; en suma: de la trascendencia a la inmanencia. El correlato de tal inversión del movimiento conciencial supone un nuevo entendimiento de lo real, una nueva inteligibilidad de las cosas mismas, y que Michel Henry denominó, de un modo un tanto enigmático, «la gnosis de los simples». En la tesis que aquí presento, el modelo teórico para esa hipotética «archi-inteligibilidad», empleando un término henryano, se corresponde con un concepto de conciencia al que llamo «conciencia autoafectiva». Tal modelo teórico lo construyo con elementos sacados de la fenomenología misma del filósofo francés, pero «retraducidos» en esta tesis para intentar abrir el acceso con aires nuevos a esa comprensión original, a esa otra inteligibilidad

Humanize or personify? Artificial intelligence and robotic foundations

Frente a la doctrina mayoritaria que considera que los robots —aun— con inteligencia artificial no son personas, ni merecen en un futuro ser personificados, al ser simples cosas, sometidas al dominio humano, el autor del presente trabajo, aun compartiendo la vigencia actual de aquella tesis, propone que en un futuro próximo la robótica pueda ostentar una personalidad fundacional, como medio, así, de resolver uno de los mayores problemas que la IA hoy plantea: el de la responsabilidad por los daños que ella misma causa.Faced with the majority doctrine that considers that robots — even — with artificial intelligence are not people, nor do they deserve to be personified in the future, as they are simple things, subject to human domination, the author of this work, even sharing the current validity of That thesis proposes that in the future robotics can have a foundational personality, as a means, thus, of solving one of the biggest problems that AI poses today: that of responsibility for the damage it itself causes

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the ultrasound diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse (MUDPOP)

We want to determine what the diagnostic criteria for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) should be for each pelvic compartment, establishing their diagnostic capability based on the current literature. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published until March 2024 that compared the diagnosis of POP between transperineal ultrasound and clinical POP-Q examination. The authors searched various databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool was used to assess study quality. Estimates of odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and significance of sensitivity and specificity were obtained by aggregating all selected studies. All analyses were performed with R software. The search identified 2359 citations and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 8 studies were finally included. All studies were considered to have low applicability concerns in terms of patient selection, index test, reference standard, flow and timing. The pooled sensitivity for ultrasound diagnosis of POP was 72.3% with a standard error of 3.1% (p < 0.001), tau of 0.11, I2 of 97.1% (p < 0.001). The pooled specificity for ultrasound diagnosis of POP was 78.0% with a standard error of 4.4% (p < 0.001), tau of 0.16, I2 of 98.6% (p < 0.001). The value of 10 mm is the cut-off point for the diagnosis of symptomatic cystocele (static measurement). A value of 15 mm is used for the diagnosis of symptomatic rectocele (static measurement) and for uterine prolapse (dynamic measurement). The current evidence is limited, so future research is needed to provide further confirmation.Queremos determinar cuáles deben ser los criterios diagnósticos de prolapso de órganos pélvicos (POP) para cada compartimento pélvico, estableciendo su capacidad diagnóstica en función de la literatura actual. Se trata de una revisión sistemática y un metaanálisis de los estudios publicados hasta marzo de 2024, que compararon el diagnóstico de POP entre la ecografía transperineal y el examen clínico POP-Q. Los autores buscaron en varias bases de datos, incluidas PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library y ClinicalTrials.gov. Se utilizó la herramienta Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) para evaluar la calidad de los estudios. Se obtuvieron estimaciones de odds ratio, intervalos de confianza del 95% y significancia de la sensibilidad y especificidad agregando todos los estudios seleccionados. Todos los análisis se realizaron con el software R. La búsqueda identificó 2.359 citas y, tras aplicar los criterios de inclusión y exclusión, se incluyeron finalmente un total de 8 estudios. Se consideró que todos los estudios tenían problemas de aplicabilidad bajos en términos de selección de pacientes, prueba índice, estándar de referencia, flujo y tiempo. La sensibilidad combinada para el diagnóstico ecográfico de POP fue del 72,3% con un error estándar del 3,1% (p < 0,001), tau de 0,11, I2 del 97,1% (p < 0,001). La especificidad combinada para el diagnóstico ecográfico de POP fue del 78,0% con un error estándar del 4,4% (p < 0,001), tau de 0,16, I2 del 98,6% (p < 0,001). El valor de 10 mm es el punto de corte para el diagnóstico de cistocele sintomático (medición estática). Se utiliza un valor de 15 mm para el diagnóstico de rectocele sintomático (medición estática) y para prolapso uterino (medición dinámica). La evidencia actual es limitada, por lo que se necesita investigación futura para proporcionar una mayor confirmación

Key driving forces of energy consumption in a higher education institution using the LMDI approach: The case of the Universidad Autónoma de Chile

Energy consumption in universities is a crucial issue as they aim to balance growing operational demands with environmental sustainability. This study employs the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index method to assess energy consumption variations at Universidad Autónoma de Chile from 2017 to 2022, demonstrating the method's efficacy and simplicity in decomposing energy use into its determinants. The analysis reveals a 19% increase in energy consumption, primarily fueled by heightened energy intensity from increased research activities and rising enrollment. However, weather conditions and infrastructural efficiencies have mitigated this increase. Notably, the 2020 remote learning period saw a 45% decrease in energy consumption, largely due to reduced energy intensity. This study validates the LMDI method for individual institutions and provides a clear, interpretable framework for understanding energy variations. It highlights the impact of the Chilean accreditation system, which indirectly induces energy consumption expansions in universities by requiring enlargements in gross floor area. The findings also emphasize the significant effect of weather on energy usage in extreme climates. Recommendations for Universidad Autónoma de Chile include implementing behavioral change programs, enhancing climate control, and lighting systems, conducting energy audits, pursuing building retrofitting, and considering a partial shift to remote learning to further reduce energy consumption

Understanding and Modeling of Gas Puff Injection for Diagnostic Purposes

This article presents an experimental setup capable of providing high spatial and temporal resolution measurements of neutral gas puff injection using a glow discharge to excite the neutral gas and an ultra-high-speed camera to record the emitted light. Using the proposed setup, the shape and propagation velocity of a thermal deuterium gas puff at 1 bar have been measured. The cloud has a conical shape and a propagation velocity of vprop = 1870 ± 270 m/s. Furthermore, a code has been developed with the aim of studying the relation between the propagation velocity and the initial injection velocity of the gas. The simulations show that an initial injection velocity in the range of vinj ∼ 1650-1950 m/s can reproduce a propagation velocity of vprop = 1870 ± 270 m/s