A novel algorithm for optimizing hydrocyclone operations in the decontamination of potentially toxic elements in soils

[EN] We present the Three-Parameter Penalized Attributive Analysis for Upgrading (3PPAA-U) method as a tool for selecting the Best Upgrading Condition (BUC) in process engineering. Conventional approaches tend to consider only maximizing recovery (ε) and minimizing yield (γc); in contrast, the proposed 3PPAA-U introduces and seeks to maximize a third parameter, the grade (λ). This multi-parameter approach has not yet been explored in existing literature. In addition to controlling multiple parameters, the method is also superior to others as it includes inverse standard deviation weighting to avoid the distortion of results due to data dispersion. This reduces the possibility of drawing conclusions based on extreme values. Furthermore, the method can be used with a target-to-distance correction to optimize separation for multi-component feeds. To illustrate our method, we present a practical application of 3PPAA-U. Soil contaminated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was subject to hydrocycloning under 12 different experimental conditions. Results of these 12 experiments were compared using 3PPAA-U and conventional methods to identify the best upgrading conditions (BUC). Analysis reveals that the 3PPAA-U approach offers a simple and effective criterion for selecting BUC. Furthermore, 3PPAA-U has uses beyond soil remediation. It offers a versatile tool for optimizing operations across various processing and manufacturing environments offering a way to manage factors such as concentration, temperature, pressure, pH, Eh, grain size, and even broader environmental and economic considerations.SICarlos Sierra thanks the EURECA-PRO phase I 2020–2023 co-funded by the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union (Ref.: 101004049). Open Access funding provided thanks to the Read and Publish. Nacional. Periodo 2021-2024 agreement between Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Elsevier

Utilization of non-living microalgae biomass from two different strains for the adsorptive removal of diclofenac from water

This article belongs to the Special Issue Removal of Pharmaceuticals from Water: Conventional and Alternative Treatments[EN] In the present work, the adsorptive removal of diclofenac from water by biosorption onto non-living microalgae biomass was assessed. Kinetic and equilibrium experiments were carried out using biomass of two different microalgae strains, namely Synechocystis sp. and Scenedesmus sp. Also, for comparison purposes, a commercial activated carbon was used under identical experimental conditions. The kinetics of the diclofenac adsorption fitted the pseudo-second order equation, and the corresponding kinetic constants indicating that adsorption was faster onto microalgae biomass than onto the activated carbon. Regarding the equilibrium results, which mostly fitted the Langmuir isotherm model, these pointed to significant differences between the adsorbent materials. The Langmuir maximum capacity (Qmax) of the activated carbon (232 mg∙g−1) was higher than that of Scenedesmus sp. (28 mg∙g−1) and of Synechocystis sp. (20 mg∙g−1). In any case, the Qmax values determined here were within the values published in the recent scientific literature on the utilization of different adsorbents for the removal of diclofenac from water. Still, Synechocystis sp. showed the largest KL fitted values, which points to the affinity of this strain for diclofenac at relative low equilibrium concentrations in solution. Overall, the results obtained point to the possible utilization of microalgae biomass waste in the treatment of water, namely for the adsorption of pharmaceuticalsSIThis research was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Lisboa, Portugal), grant number IF/00314/2015; by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, State Secretariat for Research, Development and Innovation (Madrid, Spain), grant number RYC 2010-05634; and by University of León (Spain), grant number UXXI2016/00128. C.E. was funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (Madrid, Spain), grant number FPU12/0307

Economía política de la globalización

Conferencia de clausura de la II Reunión de Economía Mundial. Los números de las páginas corresponden al libro de resúmenes impreso[ES] Conferencia de clausura de la II Reunión de Economía Mundia

The idea of idō in the technical program of Idōkan Yōshin-ryū jujutsu

[EN] The educational process in the Idōkan Yōshin-ryū (sōgō) budō teaching system encompasses a number of disciplines. The leading ones are: jūjutsu, karate and kobudō (Cynarski, 2009; Cynarski, & Sieber, 2016). In this process, idō is explicitly distinguished as: jūdō-dō (German: Judo-Do) and eternal movement, martial arts medicine, and as a specific overarching idea (Cynarski, 2009: 146-181; Sieber, & Cynarski, 2013; Swider, 2018). Here we take idō in the sense of continuous movement; it is the principle of continuity and fluidity. The art of jūjutsu is described as a psycho-physical system, which applies to both traditional and sport jujutsu (cf. Kłośnik, 1909; Galan, & Galan, 2014; Kohoutkova, Masaryk, & Reguli, 2018). The idō is a combination of the principles of softness (jū), aiki (harmonizing opposing energies), and the idea of perpetual movement (idō). Furthermore, idō can be applied in areas of sports/physical culture outside martial arts (cf. Cynarski, 20

Promoción de los ODS mediante la gamificación activa

[ES] La actividad lúdica permite aplicar al ámbito educativo características propias del entretenimiento para intensificar la interacción del estudiante en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje: impulsarle a jugar y, sobre todo, seguir jugando, estimula a aprender y continuar haciéndolo (García-Miguélez et al., 2024). El perfil del alumno-usuario-jugador permite considerar diversas fuentes de motivación intrínseca y, junto al propósito formativo, objetivos como maestría, reconocimiento grupal o autonomía en un campo o temática concreta. Para ello, el docente debe identificar el móvil más eficaz para estimular el aprendizaje de sus estudiantes, diseñando estrategias pedagógicas adecuadas y vinculando los objetivos propios de la materia con las metas formativas personales de aquéllos, como la adquisición de competencias clave para el ejercicio profesional al que aspiran (Prieto-Martín et al., 2014). Asimismo, y frente al mero recurso al uso de juegos preexistentes con fines educativos, introducir un componente creativo adicional (p.e. modificaciones, adaptaciones, diseño de juegos) aumenta los niveles de compromiso, motivación y diversión y atractivo al alumnado (Xiao y Hew, 2024), optimizando resultados (Jaramillo-Mediavilla et al., 2025). Sobre esa base, la presente experiencia docente tiene por objeto reforzar la promoción y educación en valores de los ODS del alumnado, combinando diferentes metodologías: aprendizaje cooperativo, aprendizaje basado en proyectos, design thinking, gamificación (y, como variante específica del GID, implicando al alumnado en el prototipado de juegos), charlas y talleres, y tutorías grupales

El sistema centroamericano de pagos: una valoración de su influencia en el comercio intraregional

[ES] Las implicaciones monetarias y financieras de promover el comercio intraregional en los programas de integración económica entre países en desarrollo han sido confrontadas con el establecimiento de un sistema regional de pagos. Por lo general, éste se ha formado a partir de acuerdos de compensación multilateral de pagos y de acuerdos de concesión de créditos de estabilización, firmados por los correspondientes bancos centrales. En el caso del Mercado Común Centroamericano (MCCA) este sistema de pagos se constituyó a partir de la creación de la Cámara de Compensación Centroamericana (CCCA) en 1961 y del Fondo Centroamericano de Estabilización Monetaria (FOCEM) en 1969. Desde finales de los años ochenta este sistema regional de pagos ha experimentado algunas modificaciones tras el colapso de la CCCA. Este trabajo analiza la influencia del sistema centroamericano de pagos en la evolución de los intercambios intraregionales, así como su potencial contribución para la recuperación sostenida del comercio regional en el MCCA. Para ello se estima empíricamente la contribución relativa del sistema centroamericano de pagos en la evolución de las importaciones intraregionales durante el período de 1961-1990. Los resultados de este estudio sirven de base para extraer inferencias sobre la contribución relativa de este factor a la reactivación del comercio intracentroamericano y se contrastan esas inferencias con la evidencia empírica disponible de los años novent

Oficio de mirar : la faceta periodística de Antonio Pereira

Breviarios de la “Fundación Antonio Pereira” ;15[ES] El día 30 de noviembre de 2017, la Fundación Antonio Pereira organizó una conferencia extraordinaria sobre la labor periodística del escritor que da nombre a dicha Fundación. La conferencia fue impartida en la Fundación Sierra Pambley por el periodista y escritor David Rubio, con el título Oficio de mirar. La faceta periodística de Antonio Pereira. Este Breviario recoge aquella conferencia, con un anexo de textos periodísticos del propio Pereira

Quantifying the Effects of Detraining on Female Basketball Players Using Physical Fitness Assessment Sensors

[EN] This study leverages physical fitness assessment sensors to investigate the effects of a brief in-season break (detraining period) on the physical performance of female basketball players. Sixty-seven players (Senior (n = 19), U18 (n = 19), and U14 (n = 29)) were evaluated before and after a 3-week break using sensor-derived data from a countermovement jump (CMJ), an Abalakov jump (ABK), a linear speed test (20 m sprint), a seated medicine ball throw test (SMBT), and a Basketball-Specific Agility Test (TEA-Basket). The Total Score of Athleticism (TSA), computed as the mean Z-Score across tests, served as a composite indicator of physical fitness. Data obtained from performance sensors revealed significant interactions between time and category for the CMJ, ABK, 20 m sprint, and SMBT, while TEA-Basket measurements showed no significant changes. Time and baseline fitness level interactions were also significant for the CMJ, ABK, and SMBT but not for sprint time or the TEA-Basket. Despite observed declines in explosive strength, speed, and upper-body power across all groups, TSA scores remained stable. These findings underscore the utility of sensor-based evaluation methods in highlighting the adverse effects of short-term detraining and emphasize the necessity of tailored training strategies during competitive breaks.SIThis study received co-financing from the University of Leon (Spain) and the University of Worcester (UK) through the project “Research and Academic Advisory in Basketball” (AL 128 2022/00233/001)

II Reunión de Economía Mundial. Desarrollo, globalización, Europa. Actas de la Reunión, León, 25 y 26 de mayo de 2020

El libro de Actas contiene los resúmenes. El texto completo de las ponencias está disponible en un CD-Rom que acompaña al libro[ES] Contiene la Conferencia inaugural y la Conferencia de clausura así como el resumen de todas las ponencia

Effectiveness of Cytisinicline Treatment in Hospital Smoking Units

[EN] This article synthesizes and analyzes the findings from 14 observational studies (disaggregated to 15 for analysis), presented at the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) Congresses, regarding the real-world effectiveness of cytisinicline for smoking cessation. Cytisinicline, a drug recently funded in Spain, was administered as part of a comprehensive intervention to 1136 patients across these studies. The findings showed high weighted mean abstinence rates: 78.3% at 1 month, 49.7% at 3 months, 38.2% at 6 months, and 27% at 12 months. These rates were generally higher than those reported in previous controlled clinical trials. The analysis found no significant difference in abstinence between prospective and retrospective studies, or between self-reported and biochemically verified abstinence. While cytisinicline showed comparable effectiveness to bupropion, higher abstinence rates were observed when it was used in combination with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or in a sequential regimen starting with cytisinicline followed by NRT. Adverse events were mostly mild (gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, insomnia, weight gain), with a weighted mean incidence of 16.2%. The authors conclude that these observational results provide valuable real-world evidence of cytisinicline's high effectivenessSIThis project has been supported by the Gerencia Regional deSalud (SACYL), Consejería de Sanidad de la Junta de Castilla y Leónwith funding granted as part of a biosanitary research, health man-agement, and social and healthcare project to be developed in 2024.GRS 2748/C/2023. Principal Investigator: Mr. Raúl Majo García. Pro-fessional selected for Intensification of Research Activity for theyear 2024 by Resolution of August 7, 2024 of the Managing Direc-tor of the Regional Health Management of Castilla y León (SACYL),Department of Health, (BOCYL n◦158 of August 14, 2024), grantingeconomic aid to the centers of the Regional Health Managementwhere he practices. Selected file number: INT/E/1/2