Changes in the lifestyle and feeding habits that could improve the planet and human health: the reproductive case

There is a link between food systems, environment, and human health. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations-FAO, food production from animal and plant origin, using unsustainable agricultural practices with the excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides have adverse effects on the environment and could contaminate water sources and even the soil.1 Also, the production of food from animal origin is one of those responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases, fresh water expenditure, and soil loss. Therefore, with the current food consumption and unsustainable human practices, the future of humanity will be uncertain

Nanocrystalline cathodes for PC-SOFCs based on BCZY

Perovskites based on BaCeO3-δ exhibit the highest proton conductivity among this class of materials, however, they are susceptible to hydration and carbonation in presence of water vapor and CO2 [1]. In contrast, the chemical stability of BaZrO3-based protonic conductors is better, but they require sintering temperatures as high as 1700 ºC and suffer from high intrinsic grain boundary resistance, limiting the final performance. Partial substitution of Zr for Ce in Ba(Ce0.9-xZrx)Y0.2O3-δ allows obtaining electrolytes with both high proton conductivity and good chemical stability. The performance of a PC-SOFC at low temperatures depends significantly on the ohmic resistance of the electrolyte, although it can be lowered by reducing the electrolyte thickness. Another important limiting factor is the increase of the cathode polarization resistance due to the thermally activated nature of the oxygen reduction reaction. For this reason, it is essential to obtain high efficiency cathodes operating at reduced temperatures. In this work, BaCe0.6Zr0.2Y0.2O3-δ (BCZY) powders were prepared by freeze-drying precursor method. These powders were mixed with a Zn-containing solution as sintering additive in order to obtain dense pellets with submicrometric grain size at only 1200 ºC. After that, La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3 nanocrystalline electrodes were deposited symmetrically onto dense pellets BCZY by conventional spray-pyrolysis [3]. The structure, microstructure and electrochemical properties of these electrodes have been examined by XRD, FE-SEM and impedance spectroscopy. The stability of these electrodes at intermediate temperatures was evaluated as a function of time. These nanocrystalline cathodes exhibit a substantial improvement of the electrode polarization resistance with respect to the same materials prepared by screen-printing method at high sintering temperatures, e.g. 0.7 and 3.2 cm2 at 600 ºC for LSCF cathodes prepared by spray-pyrolysis and screen-printing method respectively (Figure). An anode supported cell with composition LSCF/BCZY/NiO-BCZY was also prepared to test the electrochemical performance.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Activated carbon from flash pyrolysis of eucalyptus residue

AbstractForestry waste (eucalyptus sp) was converted into activated carbon by initial flash pyrolysis followed carbonization and CO2 activation. These residues were obtained from a pilot plant in Spain that produces biofuel, the biochar represented 10–15% in weight. It was observed that the highest activation was achieved at a temperature of 800 °C, the specific surface increased with time but, on the contrary, high loss of matter was observed. At 600 °C, although there was an important increase of the specific surface and the volume of micropores, at this temperature it was observed that the activation time was not an influential parameter. Finally, at 400 °C it was observed that the activation process was not very significant. Assessing the average pore diameter it was found that the lowest value corresponded to the activation temperature of 600 °C, which indicated the development of microporosity. When the activation temperature increases up to 800 °C the pore diameter increased developing mesoporosity

Male mutation bias is the main force shaping chromosomal substitution rates in monotreme mammals

In many species, spermatogenesis involves more cell divisions than oogenesis, and the male germline, therefore, accumulates more DNA replication errors, a phenomenon known as male mutation bias. The extent of male mutation bias (α) is estimated by comparing substitution rates of the X, Y, and autosomal chromosomes, as these chromosomes spend different proportions of their time in the germlines of the two sexes. Male mutation bias has been characterized in placental and marsupial mammals as well as birds, but analyses in monotremes failed to detect any such bias. Monotremes are an ancient lineage of egg-laying mammals with distinct biological properties, which include unique germline features. Here, we sought to assess the presence and potential characteristics of male mutation bias in platypus and the short- beaked echidna based on substitution rate analyses of X, Y, and autosomes. We established the presence of moderate male mutation bias in monotremes, corresponding to an α value of 2.12–3.69. Given that it has been unclear what proportion of the variation in substitution rates on the different chromosomal classes is really due to differential number of replications, we analyzed the influence of other confounding forces (selection, replication-timing, etc.) and found that male mutation bias is the main force explaining the between-chromosome classes differences in substitution rates. Finally, we estimated the proportion of variation at the gene level in substitution rates that is owing to replication effects and found that this phenomenon can explain >68% of these variations in monotremes, and in control species, rodents, and primates

Análisis del espesor coroideo en pacientes con queratocono

Objective. To determine and compare choroidal thickness (CT) in keratoconus (KC) patients using Enhanced Depth Imaging (EDI) OCT. Methods. A comparative cross-sectional study including 26 patients with KC and 26 healthy controls assessed with Pentacam and EDI-OCT. CT was measured manually with the Caliper function at thirteen locations at 500 µm regular intervals. Results. The average CT in T6 was 253.96 ± 88.95 μm in the KC group, and of 309.39 ± 94.11 μm in the control group (p <0.041). No significant differences in mean CT were observed in the rest of the points, including the subfoveal CT (M), 351.48 ± 106.3 vs 365.35 ± 114.6 μm, (p = 0.66). No correlation was observed between the mean subfoveal CT (M), the mean CT in the KC group, and the values of K1 (p = 0.977 and p = 0.498 respectively), K2 (p = 0.450 and p = 0.656), corneal asphericity (Q ) (p = 0.986 and p = 0.902), minimal pachymetry (Pachy) (p = 0.408 and p = 0.688), keratoconus index (KI) (p = 0.601 and p = 0.217), vertical asymmetry index (VAT) (p = 0.296 and p = 0.523), staging of KC (TKC) (p = 0.549 and p = 0.08) and corneal apex morphology. Conclusion. Significant lower CT was found in the KC group in T6 (3000 μm temporal to the fovea). No significant difference of CT values in KC patients and healthy subjects was found in the other twelve measurement locations.We found no association between the refractive and keratometric indexes obtained by corneal topography and subfoveal CT.Objetivo. Determinar y comparar el grosor de la coroides (CT) en pacientes con queratocono (KC) usando OCT con Enhanced Depth Imaging (EDI). Métodos. Estudio comparativo transversal que incluye 26 pacientes con KC y 26 controles sanos evaluados con Pentacam y EDI-OCT. El KC fue medido manualmente con la función Caliper en trece puntos a intervalos regulares de 500 µm. Resultados. El promedio de CT en T6 fue de 253,96 ± 88,95 μm en el grupo KC, y de 309,39 ± 94,11 μm en el grupo de control (p <0,041). No se observaron diferencias significativas en la media de CT en el resto de los puntos, incluyendo el CT subfoveal (M), 351.48 ± 106.3 vs 365.35 ± 114.6 μm, (p = 0.66). No se observó ninguna correlación entre la media de CT (M) subfoveal, la media de CT en el grupo KC, y los valores de K1 (p = 0,977 y p = 0,498 respectivamente), K2 (p = 0,450 y p = 0,656), la asfericidad corneal (Q) (p = 0,986 y p = 0. 902), paquimetría mínima (Pachy) (p = 0,408 y p = 0,688), índice de queratocono (KI) (p = 0,601 y p = 0,217), índice de asimetría vertical (VIA) (p = 0,296 y p = 0,523), estadificación del KC (TKC) (p = 0,549 y p = 0,08) y morfología del ápice corneal. Conclusión. Se observó un CT significativamente menor en el grupo KC en T6 (3000 μm temporal a la fóvea). No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los valores del CT en los pacientes con KC y en los sujetos sanos en los 12 puntos de medida restantes. No se encontró ninguna asociación entre los índices refractivos y queratométricos obtenidos por la topografía corneal y el CT subfoveal

Thermal-aware real-time scheduling using timed continuous Petri Nets

We present a thermal-aware, hard real-time (HRT) global scheduler for a multiprocessor system designed upon three novel techinques. First, we present a modeling methodology based on Timed Continuous Petri nets (TCPN) that yields a complete state variable model, including job arrivals, CPU usage, power, and thermal behavior. The model is accurate and avoids the calibration stage of RC thermal models. Second, based on this model, a linear programming problem (LPP) determines the existence of a feasible HRT thermal-aware schedule. Last, a sliding-mode controller and an online discretization algorithm implement the global HRT scheduler, which is capable of managing thermal constraints, context switching, migrations, and disturbances

Effect of Defoliation Frequency and Planting Density on Yield and Nutritive Value of \u3ci\u3eCoursetia ferruginea\u3c/i\u3e (HBK) Lavin

The aim of the present study was to asses the influence of the frequency of defoliation and density of sowing on yield and nutritive value of Coursetia ferruginea. Three defoliation frequencies (6, 8 and 10 weeks) and three densities of planting (1 x 1 m, 1 x 1.5 m and 1 x 2 m) were evaluated. A randomized block design, in a split plot arrangement and four repetitions, was used. Frequency of defoliation has a strong significant (P\u3c 0.01) effect on dry matter (DM) yield (13.6, 18.1 and 27.8 g DM/plant for 6, 8 and 10-week defoliation frequencies), plant height (63.5, 76.6 and 101.2 cm) and plant survival (71, 74 and 86%). Nutritive value was significantly (P\u3c 0.05) affected by the frequency of defoliation. Mineral content was reduced as the defoliation interval increased. Density of planting did not affect (P\u3e 0.05) any of the variables. It is concluded that, C. ferruginea is a forage shrub with potential to improve animal feed quality, but it does not stand frequent defoliation