Propuesta de un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple para el estudio de la temperatura en pilas de combustible microbianas

[ESP] Se plantea la determinación de un modelo estadístico que nos permita determinar la resistencia interna de una pila de combustible microbiana, ya que este dato nos ayuda a conocer mejor el rendimiento de la misma así como distintas posibilidades en la configuración de su propia tecnología. [ENG] The determination of a statistical model that allows us to determine the internal resistance of a microbial fuel cell will be raised. This model is useful in order to obtain a better understanding of the performance of the fuel cell and different possibilities in shaping their own technology.Centro Universitario de la Defensa. Escuela de Turismo de Cartagena. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial UPCT. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT). Escuela de Ingeniería de Caminos y Minas (EICM). Escuela de Arquitectura e Ingeniería de Edificación (ARQ&IDE). Parque Tecnológico de Fuente Álamo. Navantia. Campus Mare Nostrum. Estación Experimental Agroalimentaria Tomás Ferr

Clinical Comparison of the Performance of Two Marketed Ophthalmic Viscoelastic Devices (OVDs): The Bacterially Derived Healon PRO OVD and Animal-Derived Healon OVD

This clinical investigation compared the clinical performance of two marketed ophthalmic viscoelastic devices (OVDs): the bacterially derived Healon PRO OVD (test) and the animal-derived Healon OVD (control) under normal use conditions during cataract removal and lens implantation. This prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel, participant/evaluator masked, postmarket investigation enrolled 139 subjects (170 eyes), 116 (143 eyes) of which were treated (73 test; 70 control group). Both test and control OVDs were used, at a minimum, to inflate the anterior chamber and protect the endothelium prior to cataract extraction according to the standard procedure. The surgeon completed a postsurgery OVD clinical performance questionnaire, and intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before surgery and at the 1 day postoperative visit with Goldmann applanation tonometry. Any IOP measurement of 30 mmHg or higher was considered a "spike"and recorded as a study-specific, serious adverse event. The bacterially derived Healon PRO OVD was found to be statistically noninferior to the overall clinical performance of the animal-derived Healon OVD control; thus, the primary hypothesis was satisfied. There were no statistically significant differences between OVD groups for any of the additional endpoints relating to IOP changes or to safety, thus satisfying additional hypotheses. The Healon PRO OVD showed statistically significant improvements in surgeon ratings for ease of injectability, transparency/visibility, and ease of IOL placement. The safety profile was also similar between OVD groups with regards to serious and/or device-related adverse events, as well as medical and lens findings. The results of this clinical investigation support the safety and effectiveness of the bacterially derived, currently marketed Healon PRO OVD and indicate that the intraocular surgical performance was similar between the two OVDs

The Importance of Lactose in the Human Diet:Outcomes of a Mexican Consensus Meeting

Lactose is a unique component of breast milk, many infant formulas and dairy products, and is widely used in pharmaceutical products. In spite of that, its role in human nutrition or lactose intolerance is generally not well-understood. For that reason, a 2-day-long lactose consensus meeting with health care professionals was organized in Mexico to come to a set of statements for which consensus could be gathered. Topics ranging from lactase expression to potential health benefits of lactose were introduced by experts, and that was followed by a discussion on concept statements. Interestingly, lactose does not seem to induce a neurological reward response when consumed. Although lactose digestion is optimal, it supplies galactose for liver glycogen synthesis. In infants, it cannot be ignored that lactose-derived galactose is needed for the synthesis of glycosylated macromolecules. At least beyond infancy, the low glycemic index of lactose might be metabolically beneficial. When lactase expression decreases, lactose maldigestion may lead to lactose intolerance symptoms. In infancy, the temporary replacing of lactose by other carbohydrates is only justified in case of severe intolerance symptoms. In those who show an (epi)genetic decrease or absence of lactase expression, a certain amount (for adults mostly up to 12 g per portion) of lactose can still be consumed. In these cases, lactose shows beneficial intestinal-microbiota-shaping effects. Avoiding lactose-containing products may imply a lower intake of other important nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin B-12 from dairy products, as well as an increased intake of less beneficial carbohydrates

Microbial fuel cells: a green and alternative source for bioenergy production

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) represents one of the green technologies for the production of bioenergy. MFCs using microalgae produce bioenergy by converting solar energy into electrical energy as a function of metabolic and anabolic pathways of the cells. In the MFCs with bacteria, bioenergy is generated as a result of the organic substrate oxidation. MFCs have received high attention from researchers in the last years due to the simplicity of the process, the absence in toxic by-products, and low requirements for the algae growth. Many studies have been conducted on MFC and investigated the factors affecting the MFC performance. In the current chapter, the performance of MFC in producing bioenergy as well as the factors which influence the efficacy of MFCs is discussed. It appears that the main factors affecting MFC’s performance include bacterial and algae species, pH, temperature, salinity, substrate, mechanism of electron transfer in an anodic chamber, electrodes materials, surface area, and electron acceptor in a cathodic chamber. These factors are becoming more influential and might lead to overproduction of bioenergy when they are optimized using response surface methodology (RSM)

Eliminación de iones metálicos de disoluciones acuosas por extracción con líquidos iónicos

En este trabajo se analiza la extracción de Zn2+, Cd2+ y Fe3+ de disoluciones acuosas hidrocloradas usando líquidos iónicos en ausencia de agentes quelantes. En este estudio se emplearon 1Ls basados en los cationes 1-(n-alquil)-3-metilimidazolio y tetraalquilamonio y los aniones hexajluorofosfato, bis[(tri- fluorometil)sulfonil]imida, tetrafluoroborato y cloruro. Se ha comprobado que liquido iónico cloruro de metiltrioctilamonio, [MTOA+] [Cl], permite la eliminación casi cuantitativa (porcentajes de extracción > 94%) de Zn2+, Cd2+ y Fe3+ de disoluciones acuosas. Además, se consiguió una elevada eficiencia en la separación selectiva de Zn2+ /Fe3+ y Cd2+ /Fe3+ utilizando el líquido iónico tetrafluoroborato de 1-metil-3-octil-imidazolio, [omim+][BF4 -], ya que se alcanzaron altos porcentajes de extracción para Zn2+ y Cd2+ (> 90%) mientras que la extracción de Fe3+ resultó prácticamente nula. Estos resultados indican que el empleo de 1Ls como alternativa a los agentes de extracción tradicionales en la extracción líquido-líquido de iones de metales pesados es muy prometedor.Asociación de Jóvenes Investigadores de Cartagena, (AJICT). Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial UPCT, (ETSII). Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, (ETSIA), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT). Escuela de Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales, y Puertos y de Ingeniería de Minas, (EICM). Fundación Séneca, Agencia Regional de Ciencia y Tecnología. Parque Tecnológico de Fuente Álamo. Grupo Aquilin

Aplicaciones de los líquidos iónicos en la industria química

El uso de líquidos iónicos ha suscitado un gran interés en los últimos años dentro del campo de la Química. Este interés se debe principalmente a que estos compuestos, usados en un principio en aplicaciones electroquímicas, presentan una gran utilidad como disolventes, a la vez que han dado excepcionales resultados en otras aplicaciones donde constituyen un nuevo medio para las reacciones químicas. Todas sus aplicaciones están basadas en sus propiedades únicas entre las que destacan su presión de vapor prácticamente nula y una alta estabilidad química y térmica que permite su reutilizaciónCentro Universitario de la Defensa. Escuela de Turismo de Cartagena. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial UPCT. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT). Escuela de Ingeniería de Caminos y Minas (EICM). Escuela de Arquitectura e Ingeniería de Edificación (ARQ&IDE). Parque Tecnológico de Fuente Álamo. Navantia. Campus Mare Nostru

Fabricación de bioetanol a partir de extractos azucarados procedentes de la lixiviación de la vaina de la algarroba

En este trabajo se analiza la viabilidad técnica de la producción de bioetanol a partir de una materia vegetal autóctona del área mediterránea como es la vaina de la algarroba. La primera fase del estudio consistió en realizar la extracción de los azúcares contenidos en La vaina, obteniendo altos rendimientos (próximos aL 100%) en cortos tiempos. En la segunda fase del estudio se realizó la fermentación de los extractos azucarados obteniendo resultados próximos a un 50% de conversión de los azúcares iniciaLes a etanol en tiempos razonabLes. Del estudio se puede concluir que es posible la extracción y fermentación de los azúcares del algarrobo mediante operaciones industriaLes sencillas y perfectamente conocidasAsociación de Jóvenes Investigadores de Cartagena, (AJICT). Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial UPCT, (ETSII). Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, (ETSIA), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT). Escuela de Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales, y Puertos y de Ingeniería de Minas, (EICM). Fundación Séneca, Agencia Regional de Ciencia y Tecnología. Parque Tecnológico de Fuente Álamo. Grupo Aquilin

Revisión del efecto de la temperatura de operación sobre el rendimiento global de pilas de combustible microbianas de una y dos cámaras.

Pilas de combustible microbianas (MFCs) de una y dos cámaras, alimentadas con agua residual de industria cervecera diluida en agua residual domestica, fueron testadas en régimen discontinuo a distintas temperaturas de operación en el rango de 4 a 35°C. Los resultados, analizados en relación a la capacidad de eliminación de materia orgánica y de producción de electricidad, atribuyen a la temperatura un papel esencial en el rendimiento de estos sistemas. El porcentaje de eliminación de demanda química de oxigeno y la máxima potencia puntual generada aumentaron desde 58% y 15. 1 m W m-3 reactor (8. 1 m W m-2 cátodo) durante polarización at 4°C, hasta 94% y 1 74. 0 m W m-J reactor (92. 8 m W m-2 cátodo) at 35°C.Asociación de Jóvenes Investigadores de Cartagena, (AJICT). Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial UPCT, (ETSII). Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, (ETSIA), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT). Escuela de Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales, y Puertos y de Ingeniería de Minas, (EICM). Fundación Séneca, Agencia Regional de Ciencia y Tecnología. Parque Tecnológico de Fuente Álamo. Grupo Aquilin

Treatment of phenanthrene and benzene using microbial fuel cells operated continuously for possible in situ and ex situ applications

Bioelectrochemical systems could have potential for bioremediation of contaminants either in situ or ex situ. The treatment of a mixture of phenanthrene and benzene using two different tubular microbial fuel cells (MFCs) designed for either in situ and ex situ applications in aqueous systems was investigated over long operational periods (up to 155 days). For in situ deployments, simultaneous removal of the petroleum hydrocarbons (>90% in term of degradation efficiency) and bromate, used as catholyte, (up to 79%) with concomitant biogenic electricity generation (peak power density up to 6.75 mWm−2) were obtained at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 10 days. The tubular MFC could be operated successfully at copiotrophic (100 ppm phenanthrene, 2000 ppm benzene at HRT 30 days) and oligotrophic (phenanthrene and benzene, 50 ppb each, HRT 10 days) substrate conditions suggesting its effectiveness and robustness at extreme substrate concentrations in anoxic environments. In the MFC designed for ex situ deployments, optimum MFC performance was obtained at HRT of 30 h giving COD removal and maximum power output of approximately 77% and 6.75 mWm−2 respectively. The MFC exhibited the ability to resist organic shock loadings and could maintain stable MFC performance. Results of this study suggest the potential use of MFC technology for possible in situ/ex situ hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater treatment or refinery effluents clean-up, even at extreme contaminant level conditions

Achieving the promise of integration in social-ecological research: a review and prospectus

An integrated understanding of both social and ecological aspects of environmental issues is essential to address pressing sustainability challenges. An integrated social-ecological systems perspective is purported to provide a better understanding of the complex relationships between humans and nature. Despite a threefold increase in the amount of social-ecological research published between 2010 and 2015, it is unclear whether these approaches have been truly integrative. We conducted a systematic literature review to investigate the conceptual, methodological, disciplinary, and functional aspects of social-ecological integration. In general, we found that overall integration is still lacking in social-ecological research. Some social variables deemed important for addressing sustainability challenges are underrepresented in social-ecological studies, e.g., culture, politics, and power. Disciplines such as ecology, urban studies, and geography are better integrated than others, e.g., sociology, biology, and public administration. In addition to ecology and urban studies, biodiversity conservation plays a key brokerage role in integrating other disciplines into social-ecological research. Studies founded on systems theory have the highest rates of integration. Highly integrative studies combine different types of tools, involve stakeholders at appropriate stages, and tend to deliver practical recommendations. Better social-ecological integration must underpin sustainability science. To achieve this potential, future social-ecological research will require greater attention to the following: the interdisciplinary composition of project teams, strategic stakeholder involvement, application of multiple tools, incorporation of both social and ecological variables, consideration of bidirectional relationships between variables, and identification of implications and articulation of clear policy recommendations