Impacts of environmental issues on health and well-being: a global pollution challenge

Every 2 years, the environmental, chemical, and health research communities meet in Costa de Caparica, Portugal to showcase the latest technologies, methodologies and research advances in pollution detection, contamination control, remediation, and related health issues. Since its inception in 2015, the International Caparica Conference on Pollution Metal Ions and Molecules (PTIM) has become a biennial global forum to hear from those who protect the land, the water, and the air at all environmental scales. During past PTIM editions, we have learned about numerous efforts to develop new recovery and clean-up processes to restore the natural equilibria of our planet. Soil, land, water, and air are the key focus of efforts that will require deeper understanding and better control.publishersversionpublishe

Preyssler Heteropolyacids in the Self-Etherification of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 5,5′-[Oxybis(methylene)]bis-2-furfural Under Mild Reaction Conditions

The synthesis of 5,5′-[oxybis(methylene)]bis-2-furfural (OBMF) from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) was studied using bulk and alumina-supported Preyssler heteropolyacids (HPAs). The formation of OBMF was related to the amount of Brønsted acid sites, and the lowest yield of OBMF was obtained with supported HPAs. However, the Lewis acidity of the HPA supported on Al2O3 favored the formation of 2,5-dimethylfurane. The effects of solvent, catalyst loading, temperature, and reaction time on the selectivity to OBMF from 5-HMF were studied to optimize OBMF production using bulk Preyssler HPAs; a yield of 84 % to OBMF was obtained at 5 h and 343 K. These results demonstrate that bulk Preyssler HPA is a good candidate for OBMF synthesis under mild reaction conditions.Fil: Páez, Alexander. Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Rojas, Hugo A.. Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia;Fil: Portilla Zúñiga, Omar Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; ArgentinaFil: Sathicq, Angel Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; ArgentinaFil: Afonso, Carlos A. M.. Universidade de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Romanelli, Gustavo Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, José J.. Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia; Colombi

Seguridad y salud ocupacional en el sector industrial

The objective of this article was to analyze the impact of occupational safety and health (OSH) training on occupational incidents in an industry in Mexico. This training was given through an intervention in the USG Mexico industry, as a result of the implementation of the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PHVA) methodology. The methodology used was exploratory factor analysis to explain the correlation of the variables. The results showed that the implementation of the PHVA methodology was positively correlated with the decrease in accident rates in general, although the interdepartmental relationship was negative since there were significant differences in the areas of maintenance and production. These results demonstrate the opportunity for sustained improvement of working conditions and their immediate effects on productivity and competitiveness of the industries.El objetivo del presente artículo fue analizar el impacto de la capacitación en la seguridad y salud ocupacional (SySO) en una industria de México. Esta capacitación se dio a través de una intervención sobre en la industria USG México, como resultado de la implementación de la metodología Planear-Hacer-Verificar-Actuar (PHVA). La metodología utilizada fue la regresión lineal para explicar la correlación de las variables. Los resultados mostraron que la implementación de la metodología de PHVA se correlacionó positivamente con la disminución de los índices de siniestralidad de manera general, aunque de manera departamental las relaciones variaron entre los diversos departamentos que integran la industria. Estos resultados evidenciar la oportunidad para mejorar en forma sostenida las condiciones laborales y sus efectos inmediatos en la productividad y la competitividad de las industrias

Hybrid Artificial Neural Network Coupled with Kalman Filters for Air Quality Forecasting in Guadalajara, Mexico

This study aims to develop a novel hybrid scheme of Artificial Neural Networks (ARN) coupled to a non-linear Kalman filter for air quality forecasting in Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, in Mexico. ARN’s are widely used for air quality forecasting, however these schemes need large amounts of data regarding the pollutants concentration levels and meteorological data in order to manage reliable forecasting. To address this issue, we present a scheme consisting of Neural Network models assisted by nonlinear Kalman filter that manage to considerably improve the forecasting performance, adding robustness in case of lack of data, and reducing the need of retraining over time

Prediction of the Static Modulus of Elasticity Using Four non Destructive Testing

The static modulus of elasticity (Es) is an important parameter in the analysis of hydraulic concrete structures, changes have been made to the regulation of construction; these changes require minimum values for the Es, so now, in addition to concrete compressive strength (f´c) also Es values should be ensured. A methodology to predict Es is proposed, specifically, the Es were modeled by testing: ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), electrical resistivity test (ERT), resonance frequency test (RFT), the Hammer Test Rebound (HTR) and f´c. In order to generate models multiple linear regression technique was used. Cylindrical specimens were prepared in two stages, in the first stage was simulated laboratory conditions in the second stage was simulated conditions of concrete made in situ. All cylinders were subjected to non-destructive and destructive tests at different ages. The research objective is to predict Es from the results of destructive tests (traditionally employed to obtain Es) and nondestructive testing. It was possible to obtain a model whose correlation coefficient indicates the good approximation in the generated predictions

A Validation Employing Convolutional Neural Network for the Radiographic Detection of Absence or Presence of Teeth

Dental radiography plays an important role in clinical diagnosis, treatment and making decisions. In recent years, efforts have been made on developing techniques to detect objects in images. The aim of this study was to detect the absence or presence of teeth using an effective convolutional neural network, which reduces calculation times and has success rates greater than 95%. A total of 8000 dental panoramic images were collected. Each image and each tooth was categorized, independently and manually, by two experts with more than three years of experience in general dentistry. The neural network used consists of two main layers: object detection and classification, which is the support of the previous one. A Matterport Mask RCNN was employed in the object detection. A ResNet (Atrous Convolution) was employed in the classification layer. The neural model achieved a total loss of 0.76% (accuracy of 99.24%). The architecture used in the present study returned an almost perfect accuracy in detecting teeth on images from different devices and different pathologies and ages

Síndrome de Klippel Trenaunay Weber en el embarazo. Reporte de caso y revisión de literatura

Background: Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (SKT) is a congenital disorder characterized by the presence of vascular cutaneous nevus, venous malformations, and soft tissue and bone hypertrophy affecting one or more extremities. Case report: A 20-year-old female, primiparous, diagnosed with SKT since childhood, was attended at 34 weeks of gestation with multiple cervical and vulvar varices and the presence of a vasculocutaneous nevus in the right pelvic limb; Contrast angioresonance was performed, where multiple arteriovenous malformations were confirmed at the level of the right pelvic limb, compromising the inguinal, vulvar, femoral region and discreetly the uterine segment. Treatment with low molecular weight heparin was started until it was suspended 24 hours prior to the scheduling of caesarean section at 39.1 weeks of gestation. Discussion: An uncomplicated newborn was obtained with transsurgical bleeding of 450 ml. She went home 48 hours post-surgery without evidence of complications and subsequent follow-up in an outpatient clinic for angiology and obstetric critical medicine.Introducción: El síndrome de Klippel-Trenaunay (SKT) es un trastorno congénito que se caracteriza por la presencia de nevo cutáneo vascular, malformaciones venosas e hipertrofia de tejidos blandos y huesos que afectan una o más extremidades Caso clínico: Una mujer de 20 años, primípara, diagnosticada con SKT desde la infancia, fue atendida a las 34 semanas de gestación con múltiples várices cervicales y vulvares y la presencia de un nevo vasculocutáneo en el miembro pélvico derecho; Se realizó angiorresonancia de contraste, donde se confirmaron múltiples malformaciones arteriovenosas a nivel de la extremidad pélvica derecha, comprometiendo la región inguinal, vulvar, femoral y discretamente el segmento uterino. El tratamiento con heparina de bajo peso molecular se inició hasta que se suspendió 24 horas antes de la programación de la cesárea a las 39,1 semanas de gestación. Discusión: Se obtuvo un recién nacido sin complicaciones con sangrado transquirúrgico de 450 ml. Se fue a su casa 48 horas después de la cirugía sin evidencia de complicaciones y posterior seguimiento en una clínica ambulatoria de angiología y medicina crítica obstétrica

Development of Cyanine 813@Imidazole-Based Doped Supported Devices for Divalent Metal Ions Detection

PM003/2016 IF/00007/2015 CEECIND/00648/2017A NIR cyanine@imidazole derivative Cy1 was synthesized and evaluated as a metal ion sensor in solution. Cy1 was shown to be very sensitive to all metal ions tested, presenting a blue shift in the absorption from 668 nm to 633 nm, followed by a change in colour from pale green to blue with Zn2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Hg2+ ions. Despite the blue shift in the absorption, a decrease at 633 nm (with a colour change from pale green to colourless), as well as a quenching in the emission intensity at 785 nm were observed for Cu2+ ions. The results show the formation of sandwich complexes of two ligands per metal ion with the highest association constant observed for Cu2+ (Log Kass.abs = 14.76 ± 0.09; Log Kass.emis. = 14.79 ± 0.06). The minimal detectable amounts were found to be 31 nM and 37 nM, with a naked eye detection of 2.9 ppm and 2.1 ppm for Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions, respectively. These results prompted us to explore the applicability of Cy1 by its combination with nanomaterials. Thus, Cy1@ doped MNs and Cy1@ doped PMMA nanoparticles were synthesized. Both nanosystems were shown to be very sensitive to Cu2+ ions in water, allowing a naked-eye detection of at least 1 ppm for Cy1@ doped MNs and 7 ppm for Cy1@ doped PMMA. This colourimetric response is an easy and inexpensive way to assess the presence of metals in aqueous media with no need for further instrumentation.publishersversionpublishe

Interfaces naturales como complemento educativo, cognitivo y social en personas que padecen TEA

El trastorno de espectro autista (TEA) es una alteración del desarrollo que se especifica por deficiencias cualitativas en la comunicación y en la interacción social, comportamiento caracterizado por patrones repetitivos y estereotipados. Los niños con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA), como también otros niños que no padecen este trastorno, presentan una característica bien definida por la aceptación de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC).En este artículo describiremos un proyecto cuyo objetivo es investigar acerca del uso de interfaces naturales para ayudar a la mejora de las actividades sociales como también las cognitivas, en personas que padecen TEA.Eje: Tecnología en EducaciónRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informátic

Competitividad internacional de la cadena de vinos finos de la Argentina

p.149-157Se analizó la cadena de los vinos finos en la Argentina, con el objetivo de conocer los factores que hacen a la creciente competitividad de las exportaciones. En primer lugar, se calculó la distribución de la superficie plantada entre los productores primarios, se relevó el grado de concentración de las bodegas y se efectuó un análisis descriptivo de la distribución en el mercado interno y de las exportaciones. En segundo lugar, se elaboró un análisis FODA (Fortalezas, Oportunidades, Debilidades y Amenazas) de la cadena, particularmente enfocado a su desempeño en el mercado externo, con el fin de sugerir estrategias para mejorar la competitividad internacional de la cadena de vinos finos. Asimismo, a partir de la información relevada, se elaboró una aproximación cuantitativa al concepto de competitividad a través del índice de ventajas comparativas relevadas de Bela Ballasa. Por último, se resalta que el concepto de competitividad involucra un abordaje sistémico de la cadena, comprendiendo el estudio de distintos niveles de análisis, que deben ser considerados en conjunto para una mejor aproximación