Redox and Catalytic Properties of Promoted NiO Catalysts for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane

[EN] NiO and metal-promoted NiO catalysts (M-NiO, with a M/(M+Ni) atomic ratio of 0.08, with M = Nb, Sn, or La) have been prepared, tested in the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane, and characterized by means of XRD, TPR, HRTEM, Raman, XPS, and in situ XAS (using H-2/He, air or C2H6/He mixtures). The selectivity to ethylene during the ODH of ethane decreases according to the following trend: Nb NiO Sn NiO > La NiO > NiO, whereas the catalyst reducibility (determined by both TPR and XAS using H-2/He mixtures) shows the opposite trend. However, different reducibility and catalytic behavior in the absence of oxygen (ethane/He mixtures) have been observed, especially when comparing Nb- and Sn-promoted NiO samples. These differences can be ascribed mainly to a different phase distribution of the promoter. The results presented here are discussed in terms of the nature of active and selective sites for ODH of ethane in selective and unselective catalysts, but also the role of promoters and the importance of their phase distribution.The authors would like to acknowledge the DGICYT in Spain CTQ2012-37925-C03-2, CTQ2015-68951-C3-1-R, and CTQ2015-68951-C3-3-R. Authors thank European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, ESRF (Project CH-4512; BM25-SpLine Beamlime). Authors from ITQ also thank Project SEV-2016-0683 for financial support. D.D. thanks MINECO and Severo Ochoa Excellence Program for his fellowship (SVP-2014-068669). B.S. also thanks UV-INV-AE16-484416. Finally, the authors thank the Electron Microscopy Service of Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for their support.Delgado-Muñoz, D.; Solsona Espriu, BE.; Ykrelef, A.; Rodriguez-Gomez, A.; Caballero, A.; Rodríguez-Aguado, E.; Rodriguez-Castellón, E.... (2017). Redox and Catalytic Properties of Promoted NiO Catalysts for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 121(45):25132-25142. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b07066S25132251421214

Plan de trabajo Arrendadora ProParking, S. de R.L de C.V Investigación de Mercado Paralelo en China

El proyecto PAP elaborado para la empresa Arrendadora Pro-Parking S. de R.L de C.V. plantea realizar una investigación en mercados internacionales de donde surge el interés por un mercado particular, o mejor dicho un régimen preferencial para la importación de automóviles nuevos a China llamado “Parallel imports” de donde emana el know how el trabajo y a donde se vio dirigido todo el esfuerzo. Para ello, se investigará con especialistas en el rubro, que puedan proporcionar información que no está escrita en la Web, periódico o en libros. Esta afirmación surge de un constante freno en la búsqueda de información sensible del país destino (China). Creemos, con ello, obtener Información pertinente que nos dé la pauta para que ProParking pueda comenzar a exportar vehículos a este mercado, a la vez tratar de eliminar intermediarios y crear un flujo de efectivo más sano y rentable para la empresa y quienes están involucrados.ITESO, A.C

First simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of the black hole candidate IGR J17091-3624: ATCA, INTEGRAL, Swift, and RXTE views of the 2011 outburst

We present the results of the first four (quasi-)simultaneous radio (ATCA), X-ray (Swift, RXTE), and Gamma-ray (INTEGRAL) observations of the black hole candidate IGR J17091-3624, performed in February and March 2011. The X-ray analysis shows that the source was in the hard state, and then it transited to a soft intermediate state. We study the correlated radio/X-ray behaviour of this source for the first time. The radio counterpart to IGR J17091-3624 was detected during all four observations with the ATCA. In the hard state, the radio spectrum is typical of optically thick synchrotron emission from a self-absorbed compact jet. In the soft intermediate state, the detection of optically thin synchrotron emission is probably due to a discrete ejection event associated with the state transition. The position of IGR J17091-3624 in the radio versus X-ray luminosity diagram (aka fundamental plane) is compatible with that of the other black hole sources for distances greater than 11 kpc. IGR J17091-3624 also appears as a new member of the few sources that show a strong quenching of radio emission after the state transition. Using the estimated luminosity at the spectral transition from the hard state, and for a typical mass of 10 M_sun, we estimate a distance to the source between ~11 and ~17 kpc, compatible with the radio behaviour of the source.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 online table, accepted for publication in A&

SHARDS: Constraints on the dust attenuation law of star-forming galaxies at z~2

We make use of SHARDS, an ultra-deep (<26.5AB) galaxy survey that provides optical photo-spectra at resolution R~50, via medium band filters (FWHM~150A). This dataset is combined with ancillary optical and NIR fluxes to constrain the dust attenuation law in the rest-frame NUV region of star-forming galaxies within the redshift window 1.5<z<3. We focus on the NUV bump strength (B) and the total-to-selective extinction ratio (Rv), targeting a sample of 1,753 galaxies. By comparing the data with a set of population synthesis models coupled to a parametric dust attenuation law, we constrain Rv and B, as well as the colour excess, E(B-V). We find a correlation between Rv and B, that can be interpreted either as a result of the grain size distribution, or a variation of the dust geometry among galaxies. According to the former, small dust grains are associated with a stronger NUV bump. The latter would lead to a range of clumpiness in the distribution of dust within the interstellar medium of star-forming galaxies. The observed wide range of NUV bump strengths can lead to a systematic in the interpretation of the UV slope ($\beta$) typically used to characterize the dust content. In this study we quantify these variations, concluding that the effects are $\Delta\beta$~0.4.Comment: 13 pages, 11+2 figures, 3 tables. MNRAS, in pres

Spectroscopic ellipsometry study of Cu2ZnSnS4 bulk poly-crystals

The linear optical properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 bulk poly-crystals have been investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry in the range of 1.2-4.6 eV at room temperature. The characteristic features identified in the optical spectra are explained by using the Adachi analytical model for the interband transitions at the corresponding critical points in the Brillouin zone. The experimental data have been modeled over the entire spectral range taking into account the lowest E0 transition near the fundamental absorption edge and E1A and E1B higher energy interband transitions. In addition, the spectral dependences of the refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient, and normal-incidence reflectivity values have been accurately determined and are provided since they are essential data for the design of Cu2ZnSnS4 based optoelectronic devicesThe research leading to the presented results was partially supported by the European Project INFINITE-CELL (Ref. H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017-777968, 2017–2021, www.infinitecell.eu) and the Spanish MINECO Projects “WINCOST” (ENE2016-80788-C5-2-R) and PHOTOMANA (TEC2015- 69916-C2-1-R). The authors from the Institute of Applied Physics appreciate the financial support from STCU 6224 and from the Institutional Project No. CSSDT 15.817.02.04

Biocrust restoration: a key tool to recover degraded arid ecosystem functioning

peer reviewedBiocrusts are autotroph and heterotroph communities that cover 12% of the Earth land’s surface, where they act as ecosystem engineers. They are very vulnerable to climate change and disturbance caused by different anthropic activities. In this work, we revise the impacts of both disturbance types, which negatively affect biogeochemical cycles and water and energy balances, accelerate erosion processes and dust emissions, and decrease biodiversity, reducing ecosystem ability to provide services. We also explore the ability of these communities to recover after disturbance, which in general requires long time periods for the most developed communities. Because of this, new biotechnologies have emerged to accelerate their restoration, based on the inoculation of biocrust-forming organisms. Results from two main strategies according to the origin of the biocrust propagules used are revised: a) translocation of biocrust fragments from a donor area to the degraded area. This strategy is recommended for planned activities in which the existing biocrust before disturbance is applied; b) large-scale cultivation of biocrust-forming organisms (cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses or the whole community) in laboratory or greenhouse conditions for their later inoculation in the degraded area. Finally, we identify future challenges to maximize restoration success and biocrust conservation

Clinical validation of the EndoPredict test in node-positive, chemotherapy-treated ER+/HER2− breast cancer patients: results from the GEICAM 9906 trial

INTRODUCTION: EndoPredict (EP) is an RNA-based multigene test that predicts the likelihood of distant recurrence in patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HER2−) breast cancer (BC) who are being treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy. Herein we report the prospective-retrospective clinical validation of EP in the node-positive, chemotherapy-treated, ER+/HER2− BC patients in the GEICAM 9906 trial. METHODS: The patients (N = 1,246) were treated either with six cycles of fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) or with four cycles of FEC followed by eight weekly courses of paclitaxel (FEC-P), as well as with endocrine therapy if they had hormone receptor–positive disease. The patients were assigned to EP risk categories (low or high) according to prespecified cutoff levels. The primary endpoint in the clinical validation of EP was distant metastasis-free survival (MFS). Metastasis rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate analysis was performed using Cox regression. RESULTS: The molecular EP score and the combined molecular and clinical EPclin score were successfully determined in 555 ER+/HER2− tumors from the 800 available samples in the GEICAM 9906 trial. On the basis of the EP, 25% of patients (n = 141) were classified as low risk. MFS was 93% in the low-risk group and 70% in the high-risk group (absolute risk reduction = 23%, hazard ratio (HR) = 4.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.5 to 9.5; P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that, in this ER+/HER2− cohort, EP results are an independent prognostic parameter after adjustment for age, grade, lymph node status, tumor size, treatment arm, ER and progesterone receptor (PR) status and proliferation index (Ki67). Using the predefined EPclin score, 13% of patients (n = 74) were assigned to the low-risk group, who had excellent outcomes and no distant recurrence events (absolute risk reduction vs high-risk group = 28%; P < 0.0001). Furthermore, EP was prognostic in premenopausal patients (HR = 6.7, 95% CI = 2.4 to 18.3; P = 0.0002) and postmenopausal patients (HR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.3 to 8.5; P = 0.0109). There were no statistically significant differences in MFS between treatment arms (FEC vs FEC-P) in either the high- or low-risk groups. The interaction test results between the chemotherapy arm and the EP score were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: EP is an independent prognostic parameter in node-positive, ER+/HER2− BC patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy followed by hormone therapy. EP did not predict a greater efficacy of FEC-P compared to FEC alone