A Conceptual Tool for the Implementation of the Circular Economy Emissions Reuse Closed Loops through Process Equipment

Nowadays industry is immersed in a transition to the Circular Economy (CE) as a way to achieve resource efficiency in production processes. However, the implementation of CE closed loops is still in an initial phase and it focuses mainly on the recycling of components of products instead of the reuse of emissions. The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of accelerating the transition of the CE in production processes through a conceptual tool that allows the possibility of evaluating the reuse of emissions between the equipment involved in a process. The Environmental Analysis of Relations of Coexistence of the Equipment (EARC) tool is a novelty in the implementation of the CE emissions reuse closed loops at the company level. The EARC tool focuses on the identification and analysis of the equipment involved in a process and in the material inputs and emissions outputs of each of its operations with the objective of evaluating the possibility of reusing emissions among them. This paper presents a conceptual tool as the basis for the development of a redesign methodology for the reuse of emissions in production processes with the objective of reducing the consumption of resources and the generation of emissions as well as the reduction of production costs.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Efecto de las heladas sobre la capacidad germinativa de bellotas de encina

Un aspecto clave para lograr la regeneración de dehesas y montes bajos, los sistemas más extensos de aprovechamiento de la encina en España, son las características fisiológicas de la bellota. Se analizó la capacidad germinativa de bellotas procedentes de 15 encinas (familias) en dehesa y 15 familias en monte bajo de la misma finca, tras someterlas en laboratorio a heladas de distinta intensidad (-3ºC, -6ºC, -9ºC, -12ºC, -15ºC). Las bellotas procedentes de dehesa tuvieron una capacidad germinativa menor y con mayor variabilidad entre familias, aunque heladas incluso moderadas (-6ºC) afectaron en mayor medida a la germinación de las bellotas de montes bajos, si bien la reducción fue ya generalizada (60% en todas las familias); tras la exposición a -12ºC o inferior, la germinación fue residual en todos los casos. Se concluye que bajas temperaturas son un factor limitante para la regeneración de la encina en el interior de la península Ibérica

La población no adulta del asentamiento de la Edad del Cobre de Valencina de la Concepción (Sevilla): una aproximación demográfica, contextual y sociológica

This article draws together work from previous studies and new mortuary evidence in order to describe the non-adult population at the Copper Age settlement of Valencina de la Concepción (Sevilla). In total, we examine 39 non-adult individuals found in a range of burial structures which span the entire chronology of the site. We observed a high variability in both the proportion of the non-adult segment of the population interred in each burial structure, as well as evidence of differentiated funerary treatment related to age. We discuss the distribution of these individuals across different types of burials, as well as their association with adult individuals and grave goods, thus providing the basis for an assessment of their demographic and social significance.A partir de la revisión de estudios previos y de la aportación de datos inéditos se realiza un análisis de la población no adulta del asentamiento de la Edad del Cobre de Valencina de la Concepción (Sevilla). En total se examinan 39 sujetos no adultos inhumados en contenedores funerarios de distinto tipo y repartidos a lo largo de la amplia cronología de este asentamiento. Como resultado se constata la alta variabilidad de la proporción de este segmento de la población en las estructuras funerarias de Valencina así como la existencia de indicios de un tratamiento diferenciado para el mismo. Como parte de la discusión se examina la asociación de estos individuos con tipos de contenedores funerarios, individuos adultos y ajuares, valorándose su significación demográfica y social

Effects of a persistent binge drinking pattern of alcohol consumption in young people: a follow-up study using event-related potentials

Aims: The objective of this study was to examine brain activity related to visual attention processes in youths who had maintained a binge drinking (BD) pattern of alcohol consumption for > 2 years. Methods: The participants were 57 university students (26 binge drinkers: BDs) with no personal or family history of alcoholism or psychopathological disorders in first-degree relatives. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while participants performed a visual oddball task (twice within a 2-year interval). The latency and amplitude of the P3b component of the ERPs were analysed. Results: The P3b amplitude was larger in young BDs than in aged-matched controls at both evaluation times, and the difference was more pronounced after 2 years of maintenance of a BD pattern of consumption. The larger P3b amplitude was associated with an earlier onset of regular drinking and with a greater quantity and intensity of consumption. Conclusions: These findings suggest that young BDs exhibit anomalies in neural activity involved in attentional/working memory processes, which increase after 2 years of maintenance of BD. This anomalous neural activity may reflect underlying dysfunctions in neurophysiological mechanisms as well as the recruitment of additional attentional/working memory resources to enable the binge drinkers to perform the task adequately.The study was supported by a grant from the Galician Regional R&D Autorithy, Xunta de Galicia, (INCITE08PXIB211015PR) and two grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (EDU2008-03400; PSI2011-22575). Eduardo Lopez-Caneda was supported by the FPU program (AP2008-03433) of the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion; S.D. was supported by a postdoctoral contract from the Isidro Parga Pondal program (Xunta de Galicia, Spain), and A.F.G. was supported by the FPI program (CG2008-0461-C02-01) of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion

Impact of alcohol use on inhibitory control (and vice versa) during adolescence and young adulthood

Aims: Adolescence is usually the time when individuals first drink alcohol and this has been associated with relatively weak or immature inhibitory control. This review examines the changes on brain development and inhibitory function that take place during adolescence and youth as well as the relationship between inhibitory control and alcohol use at this early age. Methods: Narrative review of the chief studies related to (a) the development of inhibitory control during adolescence, (b) the deficits in the inhibitory ability in alcohol use disorders and (c) the effects of acute alcohol intake and binge drinking on inhibitory control in adolescents and young adults. Results: Inhibitory control processes are developing during adolescence and youth. Poor inhibitory functions may predispose the individual to alcohol misuse. Likewise, acute and binge alcohol drinking may impair the inhibitory control and compromise the ability to prevent or stop behaviour related to alcohol use. Conclusion: Poor inhibitory control can be both the cause and the consequence of excessive alcohol use. Adolescence and young adulthood may be a particularly vulnerable period due to (a) the weak or immature inhibitory functioning typical of this stage may contribute to the inability of the individual to control alcohol use and (b) alcohol consumption per se may alter or interrupt the proper development of inhibitory control leading to a reduced ability to regulate alcohol intake. Further longitudinal research is needed to evaluate the interaction between inhibitory control dysfunction and alcohol use in both situationsThe study was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PSI2011-22575) and the Ministerio de Sanidad y Política Social, Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (exp 2010/134)S

Evolution of the binge drinking pattern in college students: neuropsychological correlates

It is well known that alcohol impairs response inhibition and that adolescence is a critical period of neuromaturation where cognitive processes such as inhibitory control are still developing. In recent years, growing evidence has shown the negative consequences of alcohol binge drinking on the adolescent and young human brain. However, the effects of cessation of binge drinking on brain function remain unexplored. The objective of the present study was to examine brain activity during response execution and inhibition in young binge drinkers in relation to the progression of their drinking habits over time. Event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by a Go/NoGo task were recorded twice within a 2- year interval in 57 undergraduate students (25 controls, 22 binge drinkers, and 10 ex-binge drinkers) with no personal or family history of alcoholism or psychopathological disorders. The results showed that the amplitude of NoGo-P3 over the frontal region correlated with an earlier age of onset of regular drinking as well as with greater quantity and speed of alcohol consumption. Regression analysis showed that NoGo-P3 amplitude was significantly predicted by the speed of alcohol intake and the age of onset of regular drinking. The group comparisons showed that, after maintaining a binge drinking pattern for at least 2 years, binge drinkers displayed significantly larger NoGo-P3 amplitudes than controls, whereas ex-binge drinkers were in an intermediate position between the two other groups (with no significant differences with respect to controls or binge drinkers). These findings suggest that binge drinking in young people may impair the neural functioning related to inhibitory processes, and that the cessation of binge drinking may act as a brake on the neurophysiological impairments related to response inhibitionThe study was supported by grants from the Consellería de Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia (CN 2012/024), the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PSI2011-22575) and the Ministerio de Sanidad y Política Social, Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (exp 2010/134).S

Molecular remission induced by gemtuzumab ozogamicin associated with donor lymphocyte infusions in t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapsed after transplantation

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Heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related injuries: An open cohort study among college students

Aim: The objective of this study is to assess the effects of Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED) on the incidence of alcohol-related injuries among university students in Spain, taking sex into consideration. Methods: We carried out an open cohort study among college students in Spain (992 women and 371 men). HED and alcohol-related injuries were measured by question 3rd and 9th of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test to every participant at the ages of 18, 20, 22, 24 and 27. For data analysis we used a Multilevel Logistic Regression for repeated measures adjusting for alcohol and cannabis use. Results: The incidence rate of alcohol-related injuries was 0.028 year−1 for females and 0.036 year−1 for males. The multivariate analysis showed that among females a high frequency of HED and use of cannabis are risk factors for alcohol-related injuries (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.64 and OR = 3.68), while being more than 23 is a protective factor (OR = 0.34). For males, bivariate analysis also showed HED like risk factor (OR = 4.69 and OR = 2.51). Finally, the population attributable fraction for HED among females was 37.12%. Conclusions: HED leads to an increase of alcohol-related injuries in both sexes and being over 23 years old acts as a protective factor among women. Our results suggest that about one third of alcohol-related injuries among women could be avoided by removing HEDThis work was supported by the Spanish National Plan on Drugs (N.P.D)(grant number 2005/PN014), and MICINN (grant number PSI2011-22575)S