A Decision Tree and S-Transform Based Approach for Power Quality Disturbances Classification

In this paper, it is presented an automated classification based on S-transform as feature extraction tool and Decision Tree as algorithm classifier. The signals generated according to mathematical models, including complex disturbances, have been used to design and test this approach, where noise is added to the signals from 40dB to 20dB. Finally, several disturbances, simple and complex, have been considered to test the implemented system. Evaluation results verifying the accuracy of the proposed method are presented.IEE

Gas phase selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran over Cu-CeO2 coprecipitated catalysts

Furfural is an important chemical derived from lignocellulosic biomass, in particular from C5 sugars like xylose, and it is considered as a platform molecule of great potential for the synthesis of a broad spectrum of chemicals. In this sense, furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran are two important chemicals which can be produced through furfural hydrogenation, either in liquid or vapor phase, although the latter is preferred because it can be carried out at atmospheric pressure. Industrially, a copper chromite catalyst is used, although this catalyst can become very toxic due to the presence of chromium. Therefore, much attention is being paid to the development of chromium-free catalysts, more sustainable and environmentally friendly, as those based on Cu or Ni which are active and selective towards the formation of furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran. Furfuryl alcohol is mainly used for the production of thermostatic resins, intermediate in the manufacture of lysine, vitamin C and dispersing agents. Meanwhile, 2-methyl furan is used in the synthesis of pesticides, or in the pharmaceutical and fragrance industries. The aim of this work is the synthesis of a series of copper based catalysts, which have been synthesized by coprecipitation of copper and cerium(IV) and subsequent thermal programmed reduction. This method allows increasing the dispersion of Cu particles, while the use of a support like CeO2 can modify the electronic density of the active phase, which can influence the catalytic activity and resistance to deactivation.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Economy and Competitiveness Ministry (Project CTQ2012-38204-C03-02), Junta de Andalucía (Project: RNM-1565) and FEDER funds of the European Unio

Effects of nitrogen-doped multiwall carbon nanotubes on murine fibroblasts

"The effect of nitrogen-doped multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNx) on the proliferation of NIH-3T3murine fibroblasts is presented. CNTs were dispersed in distillated water and incubated with mammalian cells in order to evaluate their toxicity. Also, the influence of factors such as dosage (7 and 70 mu g/mL), exposure time (24 to 96 h), and the exposure route (before and after cell liftoff) on the cell proliferation was evaluated. When the CNx were simultaneously incubated with the cells, the control culture reached a maximum cell concentration of 1.3 x 10(5) +/- 3.4 x 10(4) cells per well at 96 h, whereas cultures with 7 mu g/mL reached a concentration of 2.6 x 10(4) +/- 5.3 x 10(3) cells. In the case of 70 mu g/mL of CNx most of the cells were dead. The CNx that were added 24 h after cell dissociation showed that live cells decreased, with a cell concentration of 9.6 x 10(4) +/- 9 x 10(3) for 7 mu g/mL and 5.5 x 10(4) +/- 9.5 x 10(3) for 70 mu g/mL, in contrast to control cultures with 1.1 x 10(6) +/- 1.5 x 10(4). The results showed that the CNx had cytotoxic effects depending on the concentration and exposure route.

Proyecto de transformación e innovación para la Atención integral de niños y niñas con necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo en el Centro de Intervención Educativa y Psicológica, Municipio de San Salvador, Departamento de San Salvador, durante los meses de Diciembre 2021 a Mayo 2022

El proyecto que se describe a continuación será implementado bajo el enfoque de inclusión, participación y protagonismo, ya que permitirá que cada uno de los niños y niñas con necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo se puedan desenvolver de manera natural dentro de sus entornos, ya sean familiares, en la comunidad o en la escuela, tomando en cuenta sus características individuales al momento de realizar las actividades. Se espera alcanzar el desarrollo integral de los niños y niñas desde diversos componentes, entre los que se encuentran salud, nutrición, estimulación al desarrollo, educación, protección y recreación; estableciendo de esta forma, bases sólidas que permitan un desempeño independiente de los niños y niñas en las edades adultas. Por otra parte, este proyecto incluye los lineamientos para elaborar un plan de capacitación que será de beneficio tanto para el ámbito empresarial como el educativo; se definen los detalles de promoción y objetivos del mismo. Además, describe el proceso de elaboración de manuales de procesos que permitirán un cumplimiento mucho más efectivo de cada una de las actividades realizadas por el personal de CIES. Palabras clave: Enfoque de inclusión ; Necesidades Específicas de Apoyo Educativo ; Desarrollo integral ; Centro de Desarrollo Integral ; Trastorno del Espectro Autista ; Estimulación Temprana

NEU screen shows high accuracy in detecting cognitive impairment in older persons living with HIV

The NEUrocognitive (NEU) Screen is a practical tool proposed to screen for HIV-associated cognitive impairment in the clinical setting. This is a pencil-and-paper method that can be applied rapidly (<=10 minutes for administration) and has no copyright limitations. In this study, we aimed at investigating its diagnostic accuracy in an older population of persons living with HIV (PLWH), with cutoffs set at 30, 40, 50, and 60 years. Data were collected from a sample of 368 PLWH who underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological tests battery (gold standard). Results of statistical tests showed that accuracy of the NEU Screen increased with age of the participants. The highest degree of precision, with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 92%, was obtained for people ages 60 years or older (correct classification: 91%). These optimal results point to the great potential of the NEU Screen as a tool for detecting cognitive disorders in older PLWH

Adapting our sea ports to the challenges of climate change: development and validation of a Port Resilience Index

Climate change, which is largely caused by anthropogenic emissions of CO2, is one of the main challenges facing humankind today. In this context, and from the logistics point of view, ports are critical infrastructures not only because of their great vulnerability to such device phenomena, but also because of their key importance in global supply chains. We therefore need indications that will allow us to both determine a port’s resilience to the various challenges posed by climate change and take preventive actions to ensure the port can function correctly over time. This study presents a port resilience index (PRI), which, unlike existing indices, considers all stakeholders to determine the level of operational resilience of port processes. The index was validated in the external port of A Coruna ˜ (Galicia), chosen because of its especially adverse conditions and because in Spain, the effects of climate change are likely to be especially damaging. The results show that this port has an overall PRI of 52% and that its infrastructure and facilities and operational environment against the climate change challenge are especially sensitive. Analysis of the different factors of resilience allows port managers and policy makers to focus their actions on the factors that have the greatest impact of resilience. This should lead to better use of resources and more efficient contingency plans

New and Old Mechanisms Associated with Hypertension in the Elderly

Hypertension is a widely prevalent and important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases that increase with aging. The hallmark of hypertension in the elderly is increased vascular dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanisms by which increased blood pressure leads to vascular injury and impaired endothelial function are not well defined. In the present paper, we will analyze several mechanisms described in the scientific literature involved in hypertension in the elderly as endothelial dysfunction, increased oxygen delivery to tissues, inflammation, cellular apoptosis, and increased concentration of active metabolites. Also, we will focus on new molecular mechanisms involved in hypertension such as telomeres shortening, progenitor cells, circulating microparticles, and epigenetic factors that have appeared as possible causes of hypertension in the elderly. These molecular mechanisms may elucidate different origin for hypertension in the elderly and provide us with new targets for hypertension treatment

Direct and residual impacts of olive-mill waste application to rice soil on greenhouse gas emission and global warming potential under Mediterranean conditions

The olive oil industry produces high amounts of waste, which need to be valorized in a more sustainable way as an alternative to its traditional use as an energy source, with high associated CO2 emissions. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important crops for global food security; however, the traditional cropping systems under flooding lead to an important decrease of soil quality, as well as relevant emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). The aim of this study was to assess the GHG emission from rice fields amended with composted two-phase olive mill waste (C-TPOW), in Mediterranean conditions. A field experiment was carried in rice cultivated by the traditional system, either unamended (Control) or amended with C-TPOW (Compost). GHG emissions were measured over three years following a single C-TPOW application (80 Mg ha−1 only in the first year of study), so that the results found in the first and third years correspond to its direct and residual effects, respectively. Compost decreased CO2 emissions relative to Control by 13% and 20% in the first and third year after C-TPOW application, respectively. However, in the case of CH4 and N2O, increases in the total cumulative emission were recorded in Compost relative to Control throughout the study, in agreement with the highest β-glucosidase and urease activity observed in the amended soil. The values of global warming potential (GWP) and yield-scaled GWP increased by 14% and 11%, respectively, in Compost relative to Control in the first year, but no significant differences between treatments were observed three years after application for GWP and yield-scaled GWP. Therefore, the use of C-TPOW as soil amendment in rice fields could be a good option since its impact on GHGinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adherence and long-term outcomes of growth hormone therapy with easypod™ in pediatric subjects: Spanish ECOS study

E-health; Easypod; Electronic deviceE-salut; Easypod; Dispositiu electrònicE-salud; Easypod; Dispositivo electrónicoBackground: Non-adherence to r-hGH treatments occurs in a variable percentage of subjects. One problem found when evaluating adherence is the great variability in methods of detection and definitions utilized in studies. This study assessed the level of adherence in subjects receiving r-hGH with the easypod™ electronic device. Methods: National, multicenter, prospective and observational study involving 238 subjects (144 with GH deficiency (GHD), and 86 with small for gestational age (SGA), 8 with Turner Syndrome), who received r-hGH with easypod™ for at least 3 months before inclusion. The follow-up period was 4 years. Results: Overall adherence was 94.5%; 97.5% after 6 months, 95.3% after 1 year, 93.7% after 2, 94.4% after 3 and 95.5% after 4 years of treatment. No differences in adherence were observed between prepubertal and pubertal groups and GHD and SGA groups. Change in height after 1 and 2 years, change in height SDS after 1 and 2 years, HV after 1 year, HV SDS after at 1 and 4 years, change in BMI after 1 year and change in BMI SDS at 1 and 2 years showed significant correlation with adherence. No significant differences in adherence according to IGF-I levels were found in follow-up visits or between groups. Conclusions: The easypod™ electronic device, apart from being a precise and objective measure of adherence to r-hGH treatment, allows high compliance rates to be achieved over long periods of time. Adherence significantly impacts growth outcomes associated with r-hGH treatmentThis study was funded by Merck, S.L., Madrid, Spain