484 research outputs found
Life-cycle assessment of the thermal and catalytic pyrolysis over sepiolite of face masks
Since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, extensive quantities of face masks have been used and discarded. Most of these masks end up in landfills, causing a high environmental impact and no benefits. However, there are alternative ways to deal with this waste in a more sustainable way. For example, valorisation of face masks through pyrolysis has received special attention because it offers efficient application to produce a liquid oil that can be used as a diesel substitute and a solid char that can be used as an activated carbon substitute after activation. In this context, this study applies the Life-Cycle Assessment methodology to quantify and analyse the environmental impacts of different treatment scenarios based on the pyrolysis of surgical masks and FFP2 masks. It also compares their environmental performance with the conventional practice of landfilling. The scenarios studied include both thermal and catalytic pyrolysis by using sepiolite, a low-cost material abundant in Spain. Data on the pyrolysis process were obtained from laboratory experiments. It was found that the use of the produced oil as a diesel substitute very significantly reduces the environmental impact in all pyrolysis scenarios. Consequently, the pyrolysis of face masks can reduce the environmental impact caused by the treatment of this waste material. Furthermore, the thermal pyrolysis performs environmentally better than the catalytic pyrolysis. In all scenarios, freshwater ecotoxicity and marine ecotoxicity are the environmental impact categories that cause the highest environmental impact overall
Repercusión de un compost de basura urbana sobre la disponibilidad del P, Na, K, Ca y Mg en suelos
A pot experiment has been carried out, under natural conditions, to evaluate the effect of several doses (10, 30, 60 and 180 Tm/Ha) of a town refuse compost on the P, Na, K,"Ca and Mg content of three soils from the Granada province. The according determinations havebeen effectuated at two and four months alter running the experiment. Compost fertilization promotes proportional increases of the Na, K, Ca and Mg content on the sois tested with respect to the increasing doses used. Such increases are maintained throughout a11 the experimental period. On the other hand, this material, althourgh giving at the beginning variable response on the available P, it provides afterward reliable positive values on this element in the soils tested.Se ha llevado a cabo bajo condiciones ambientales naturales, un experimento en macetas, con objeto de evaluar el efecto que ocasiona, la incorporación de diversas dosis de compost de basuras urbanas (10, 30, 60 Y 180 Tm/Ha) sobre el P, Na, K, Ca, y Mg de tres melos de la provincia de Granada, "habiéndose llevado a cabo las determinaciones correspondientes a los dos y cuatro meses del comienzo del ensayo. La fertilización con compost promueve aumentos proporcionales del Na, K, Ca y Mg en los tres suelos ensayados respecto a las dósis crecientes de material utilizado. Dichos aumentos se mantienen durante el transcurso del ensayo. Por otra parte este material, aunque inicialmente ocasiona una respuesta variable sobre el P asimilable, en un estadio posterior de lugar a valores positivos de dicho elemento en los tres suelos empleados
Stellar Population gradients in galaxy discs from the CALIFA survey
While studies of gas-phase metallicity gradients in disc galaxies are common,
very little has been done in the acquisition of stellar abundance gradients in
the same regions. We present here a comparative study of the stellar
metallicity and age distributions in a sample of 62 nearly face-on, spiral
galaxies with and without bars, using data from the CALIFA survey. We measure
the slopes of the gradients and study their relation with other properties of
the galaxies. We find that the mean stellar age and metallicity gradients in
the disc are shallow and negative. Furthermore, when normalized to the
effective radius of the disc, the slope of the stellar population gradients
does not correlate with the mass or with the morphological type of the
galaxies. Contrary to this, the values of both age and metallicity at 2.5
scale-lengths correlate with the central velocity dispersion in a similar
manner to the central values of the bulges, although bulges show, on average,
older ages and higher metallicities than the discs. One of the goals of the
present paper is to test the theoretical prediction that non-linear coupling
between the bar and the spiral arms is an efficient mechanism for producing
radial migrations across significant distances within discs. The process of
radial migration should flatten the stellar metallicity gradient with time and,
therefore, we would expect flatter stellar metallicity gradients in barred
galaxies. However, we do not find any difference in the metallicity or age
gradients in galaxies with without bars. We discuss possible scenarios that can
lead to this absence of difference.Comment: 24 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in A&
The Mass-Metallicity relation explored with CALIFA: I. Is there a dependence on the star formation rate?
We present the results on the study of the global and local M-Z relation
based on the first data available from the CALIFA survey (150 galaxies). This
survey provides integral field spectroscopy of the complete optical extent of
each galaxy (up to 2-3 effective radii), with enough resolution to separate
individual HII regions and/or aggregations. Nearly 3000 individual HII
regions have been detected. The spectra cover the wavelength range between
[OII]3727 and [SII]6731, with a sufficient signal-to-noise to derive the oxygen
abundance and star-formation rate associated with each region. In addition, we
have computed the integrated and spatially resolved stellar masses (and surface
densities), based on SDSS photometric data. We explore the relations between
the stellar mass, oxygen abundance and star-formation rate using this dataset.
We derive a tight relation between the integrated stellar mass and the
gas-phase abundance, with a dispersion smaller than the one already reported in
the literature (0.07 dex). Indeed, this
dispersion is only slightly larger than the typical error derived for our
oxygen abundances. However, we do not find any secondary relation with the
star-formation rate, other than the one induced due to the primary relation of
this quantity with the stellar mass. We confirm the result using the 3000
individual HII regions, for the corresponding local relations.
Our results agree with the scenario in which gas recycling in galaxies, both
locally and globally, is much faster than other typical timescales, like that
of gas accretion by inflow and/or metal loss due to outflows. In essence,
late-type/disk dominated galaxies seem to be in a quasi-steady situation, with
a behavior similar to the one expected from an instantaneous
recycling/closed-box model.Comment: 19 Pages, 8 figures, Accepted for Publishing in Astronomy and
Astrophysics (A&A
Dietary Intake, Nutritional Adequacy and Food Sources of Total Fat and Fatty Acids, and Relationships with Personal and Family Factors in Spanish Children Aged One to <10 Years: Results of the EsNuPI Study
We aimed to determine the usual intake of total fat, fatty acids (FAs), and their main food
sources in a representative cohort of the Spanish pediatric population aged 1 to <10 years (n = 707)
who consumed all types of milk and an age-matched cohort who consumed adapted milk over the last
year (including follow-on formula, toddler’s milk, growing-up milk, and fortified and enriched milks)
(n = 741) who were participants in the EsNuPI study (in English, Nutritional Study in the Spanish
Pediatric Population). Dietary intake, measured through two 24 h dietary recalls, was compared to
the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN-FAO) recommendations. Both cohorts showed a high intake of saturated fatty acids
(SFAs), according to FAO recommendations, as there are no numerical recommendations for SFAs at
EFSA. Also, low intake of essential fatty acids (EFAs; linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA))
and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) of the n-3 series, mainly docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA) were observed according to EFSA and FAO recommendations. The three main sources of
total fat and different FAs were milk and dairy products, oils and fats, and meat and meat products.
The consumption of adapted milk was one of the main factors associated with better adherence to
the nutritional recommendations of total fat, SFAs, EFAs, PUFAs; and resulted as the main factor
associated with better adherence to n-3 fatty acids intake recommendations. Knowledge of the dietary
intake and food sources of total fat and FAs in children could help in designing and promoting
effective and practical age-targeted guidelines to promote the consumption of EFA- and n-3 PUFA-rich
foods in this stage of life
Usual dietary intake, nutritional adequacy and food sources of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D of spanish children aged one to dagger
Bone problems in the population begin to be establish in childhood. The present study aims to assess the usual calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D intakes, along with the food sources of these nutrients, in Spanish children participating in the EsNuPI (Estudio Nutricional en Población Infantil Española) study. Two 24 h dietary recalls were applied to 1448 children (1 to <10 years) divided into two sub-samples: one reference sample (RS) of the general population [n = 707] and another sample which exclusively included children consuming enriched or fortified milks, here called “adapted milks” (AMS) [n = 741]. Estimation of the usual intake shows that nutrient intake increased with age for all nutrients except vitamin D. Using as reference the Dietary Reference Values from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), calcium and magnesium intakes were found to be below the average requirement (AR) and adequate intake (AI), respectively, in a considerable percentage of children. Furthermore, phosphorus exceeded the AI in 100% of individuals and vitamin D was lower than the AI in almost all children studied. The results were very similar when considering only plausible reporters. When analyzing the food sources of the nutrients studied, milk and dairy products contributed the most to calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D. Other sources of calcium were cereals and vegetables; for phosphorus: meat, meat products, and cereals; for magnesium: cereals and fruits; and, for vitamin D: fish and eggs. These results highlight the desirability of improving the intake concerning these nutrients, which are involved in bone and metabolic health in children. The AMS group appeared to contribute better to the adequacy of those nutrients than the RS group, but both still need further improvement. Of special interest are the results of vitamin D intakes, which were significantly higher in the AMS group (although still below the AI), independent of age
CALIFA, the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area survey: I. Survey presentation
We present here the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) survey,
which has been designed to provide a first step in this direction.We summarize
the survey goals and design, including sample selection and observational
strategy.We also showcase the data taken during the first observing runs
(June/July 2010) and outline the reduction pipeline, quality control schemes
and general characteristics of the reduced data. This survey is obtaining
spatially resolved spectroscopic information of a diameter selected sample of
galaxies in the Local Universe (0.005< z <0.03). CALIFA has been
designed to allow the building of two-dimensional maps of the following
quantities: (a) stellar populations: ages and metallicities; (b) ionized gas:
distribution, excitation mechanism and chemical abundances; and (c) kinematic
properties: both from stellar and ionized gas components. CALIFA uses the PPAK
Integral Field Unit (IFU), with a hexagonal field-of-view of
\sim1.3\sq\arcmin', with a 100% covering factor by adopting a three-pointing
dithering scheme. The optical wavelength range is covered from 3700 to 7000
{\AA}, using two overlapping setups (V500 and V1200), with different
resolutions: R\sim850 and R\sim1650, respectively. CALIFA is a legacy survey,
intended for the community. The reduced data will be released, once the quality
has been guaranteed. The analyzed data fulfill the expectations of the original
observing proposal, on the basis of a set of quality checks and exploratory
analysis.
We conclude from this first look at the data that CALIFA will be an important
resource for archaeological studies of galaxies in the Local Universe.Comment: 32 pages, 29 figures, Accepted for publishing in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
Dietary and Lifestyle Patterns in the Spanish Pediatric Population (One to <10 Years Old): Design, Protocol, and Methodology of the EsNuPI Study
The interest in a healthy diet and lifestyle during the early stages of life increased, pointing out its role in the development of noncommunicable chronic diseases throughout adult life. Dietary habits and dietary patterns begin to be established in early childhood and persist during adulthood. Therefore, the EsNuPI ("Nutritional Study in Spanish Pediatric Population") study aims to depict the dietary patterns, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors in Spanish children aged from one to 50,000 inhabitants, stratified by Nielsen areas. Participants were involved in one face-to-face survey, followed by a telephone survey after at least one week. Information about dietary intake and habits was obtained using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire and two 24-h dietary recalls. Physical activity and sedentary behaviors were registered using a specific questionnaire based on a seven-day record. Data were processed and stratified by categorical variables to be statistically analyzed in order to meet the study objectives. This study is the first of its kind in a Spanish reference population of this age range and the first to evaluate whether the consumption of adapted milk formulas and dairy products is associated with healthier dietary patterns and better diet quality and lifestyles in this group
Energy Intake, Macronutrient Profile and Food Sources of Spanish Children Aged One to <10 Years—Results from the EsNuPI Study
Abstract: The present study aimed to assess energy intake, nutrient profile and food sources in Spanish
children participating in the EsNuPI (“Estudio Nutricional en Población Infantil Española”) study.
Plausibility of energy intake and adequacy of nutrient intakes to international recommendations were
analyzed in a final sample of 1448 subjects (728 boys and 720 girls) and one group representative
of the 1 to <10 years old urban Spanish children (reference sample (n = 707)) who consumed milk
and one of the same age who consumed adapted milk over the last year (adapted milk consumers
sample (n = 741)) were compared. Both groups completed data of a face-to-face and a telephone 24-h
dietary recalls. Both the reference and the adapted milk consumers samples reported an adequate daily energy intake (1503 kcal/day and 1404 kcal/day); and a high contribution to total energy from
protein (16.5% and 15.6%) and fat (36.5% and 35.9%). Also, a high percentage of children from
both samples were below the lower limit of the recommendations for carbohydrates (47.8% and
39.3%). As the percentage of plausible energy reporters was high for both groups (84.7% and 83.5%,
respectively), data for the whole sample were analyzed. Milk and dairy, cereals, meat and derived
products, fats and oils, bakery and pastry, fruits and vegetables contributed to about 80% of the total
energy intake in both groups. However, the reference sample reported significantly more contribution
to energy from cereals, meat and meat products, bakery and pastry and ready to cook/eat foods;
meanwhile, the adapted milk consumers sample reported significantly more energy from milk and
dairy products, fruits and eggs. Those results suggest that adapted milk consumers have better
adherence to the food-based dietary guidelines. Further analyses are warranted to characterize food
patterns and the quality of the diet in the EsNuPI study population
Two-dimensional multi-component photometric decomposition of CALIFA galaxies
We present a two-dimensional multi-component photometric decomposition of 404 galaxies from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area Data Release 3 (CALIFA-DR3). They represent all possible galaxies with no clear signs of interaction and not strongly inclined in the final CALIFA data release. Galaxies are modelled in the g, r, and i Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) images including, when appropriate, a nuclear point source, bulge, bar, and an exponential or broken disc component. We use a human-supervised approach to determine the optimal number of structures to be included in the fit. The dataset, including the photometric parameters of the CALIFA sample, is released together with statistical errors and a visual analysis of the quality of each fit. The analysis of the photometric components reveals a clear segregation of the structural composition of galaxies with stellar mass. At high masses (log(M⋆/M⊙) > 11), the galaxy population is dominated by galaxies modelled with a single Sérsic or a bulge+disc with a bulge-to-total (B/T) luminosity ratio B/T > 0.2. At intermediate masses (9.5 < log(M⋆/M⊙) < 11), galaxies described with bulge+disc but B/T < 0.2 are preponderant, whereas, at the low mass end (log(M⋆/M⊙)< 9.5), the prevailing population is constituted by galaxies modelled with either pure discs or nuclear point sources+discs (i.e., no discernible bulge). We obtain that 57% of the volume corrected sample of disc galaxies in the CALIFA sample host a bar. This bar fraction shows a significant drop with increasing galaxy mass in the range 9.5 < log(M⋆/M⊙) < 11.5. The analyses of the extended multi-component radial profile result in a volume-corrected distribution of 62%, 28%, and 10% for the so-called Type I (pure exponential), Type II (down-bending), and Type III (up-bending) disc profiles, respectively. These fractions are in discordance with previous findings. We argue that the different methodologies used to detect the breaks are the main cause for these differences.PostprintPeer reviewe
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