Building and exploiting a Digital Twin for the management of drinking water distribution networks

[EN] Digital Twins (DTs) are starting to be exploited to improve the management of water distribution systems (WDSs) and, in the future, they will be crucial for decision making. In this paper, the authors propose several requirements that a DT of a water distribution system should accomplish. Developing a DT is a challenge, and a continuous process of adjustments and learning is required. Due to the advantages of having a DT of the WDS always available, during the last years a strategy to build and maintain a DT of the water distribution network of Valencia (Spain) and its Metropolitan Area (1.6 million inhabitants) was developed. This is one of the first DTs built of a water utility, being currently in operation. The great benefits of their use in the daily operation of the system ensure that they will begin to be usual in the most advanced smart cities.Conejos Fuertes, P.; Martínez Alzamora, F.; Hervás-Carot, M.; Alonso Campos, JC. (2020). Building and exploiting a Digital Twin for the management of drinking water distribution networks. Urban Water Journal. 17(8):704-713. https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2020.1771382S704713178Chacón Ramírez, E., Albarrán, J. C., & Cruz Salazar, L. A. (2019). The Control of Water Distribution Systems as a Holonic System. Studies in Computational Intelligence, 352-365. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-27477-1_27Grieves, M., et al. 2015. Virtually Intelligent Product Systems: Digital and Physical Twins. In Complex Systems Engineering: Theory and Practice, edited by S. Flumerfelt, et al., 175–200. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.Hatchett, S., J. Uber, D. Boccelli, T. Haxton, R. Janke, A. Kramer, A. Matracia, and S. Panguluri. 2011. “Real-Time Distribution System Modeling: Development, Application, and Insights.” Urban Water Management: Challenges and Oppurtunities - 11thInternational Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry, CCWI 2011 July.Kartakis, S., Abraham, E., & McCann, J. A. (2015). WaterBox. Proceedings of the 1st ACM International Workshop on Cyber-Physical Systems for Smart Water Networks. doi:10.1145/2738935.2738939Lin, J., Sedigh, S., & Miller, A. (2009). Towards Integrated Simulation of Cyber-Physical Systems: A Case Study on Intelligent Water Distribution. 2009 Eighth IEEE International Conference on Dependable, Autonomic and Secure Computing. doi:10.1109/dasc.2009.140Qi, Q., & Tao, F. (2018). Digital Twin and Big Data Towards Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0: 360 Degree Comparison. IEEE Access, 6, 3585-3593. doi:10.1109/access.2018.2793265Alac, M. (2008). Working with Brain Scans. Social Studies of Science, 38(4), 483-508. doi:10.1177/0306312708089715Shi, Y., Xu, J., & Du, W. (2019). Discussion on the New Operation Management Mode of Hydraulic Engineering Based on the Digital Twin Technique. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1168, 022044. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1168/2/022044Tao, F., Zhang, H., Liu, A., & Nee, A. Y. C. (2019). Digital Twin in Industry: State-of-the-Art. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 15(4), 2405-2415. doi:10.1109/tii.2018.2873186Tao, F., Cheng, J., Qi, Q., Zhang, M., Zhang, H., & Sui, F. (2017). Digital twin-driven product design, manufacturing and service with big data. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 94(9-12), 3563-3576. doi:10.1007/s00170-017-0233-1Tao, F., & Qi, Q. (2019). Make more digital twins. Nature, 573(7775), 490-491. doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02849-1Uber, J., S. Hatchett, S. Hooper, D. Boccelli, H. Woo, and R. Janke. 2014. Water Utility Case Study of Real-Time Network Hydaulic and Water Qualilty Modeling Using EPANET-RTX Libraries. EPA 6007R-14/350 Report. Cincinnati, Ohio: Environmental Protection Agency.Wang, Z., Song, H., Watkins, D. W., Ong, K. G., Xue, P., Yang, Q., & Shi, X. (2015). Cyber-physical systems for water sustainability: challenges and opportunities. IEEE Communications Magazine, 53(5), 216-222. doi:10.1109/mcom.2015.710566

Synthesis of Poly[(3-(6-(9-anthracenylmethoxy)hexyl)thiophene)-co-(3-(6-bromohexyl)thiophene)] Postfunctionalized from Poly(3-(6-bromohexyl)thiophene): A Comparative Study of the Base Polymer with Its Chlorinated Analogous

A synthetic method based on the postfunctionalization of a reactive homopolymer precursor, which allows for the preparation of different copolymers derived from poly(3-alkylthiophene), was studied. Although these groups decrease the solubility of the resultant material, they enable controlling the degree of substitution to obtain a material with improved spectroscopic (absorption and emission) properties making them useful for the fabrication of electronic devices, for example, solar cells and light-emitting diodes. Furthermore, a comparative study of two halogenated (Cl and Br) reactive poly(3-ω-haloalkyl)thiophenes was carried out

Magnetic frustration in low-dimensional substructures of hulsite Ni5.15Sn0.85(O2BO3)2

CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPERJ - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIROFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOThis paper presents an extensive study of the structural, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties of the hulsite Ni5.15Sn0.85(O2BO3)(2). The crystal structure of the hulsite has two planar substructures formed by Ni and Sn atoms: one with rectangular configuration and the other with a triangular arrangement. These substructures are linked by the boron ions and by Ni in another site closer to the rectangular arrangement, resulting in a quasi-two-dimensional character. Thus, this system literally adds a new dimension to the study of oxyborates. Our results point to a complex magnetic behavior consistent with these substructures. The planes with rectangular arrangement form a complex magnetic ordering at 180 K (one of the highest magnetic transitions among the oxyborates). The other subsystem, formed by Ni atoms located in a two-dimensional triangular lattice, does not order down to temperatures as low as 3 K. The experimental results suggest a spin-liquid behavior for this subsystem. The magnetic moments of the ions between these planes also freeze at low temperatures. The two magnetic planes coexist as independent subsystems down to the lowest temperatures of our experiments.985110CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPERJ - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIROFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPERJ - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIROFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAUL

Antiferromagnetic Order and Superconductivity in Sr4(Mg0.5-xTi0.5+x)2O6Fe2As2 with Electron Doping: 75As-NMR Study

We report an 75As-NMR study on iron (Fe)-based superconductors with thick perovskitetype blocking layers Sr4(Mg0.5-xTi0.5+x)2O6Fe2As2 with x=0 and 0.2. We have found that antiferromagnetic (AFM) order takes place when x=0, and superconductivity (SC) emerges below Tc=36 K when x=0.2. These results reveal that the Fe-pnictides with thick perovskitetype blocks also undergo an evolution from the AFM order to the SC by doping electron carriers into FeAs planes through the chemical substitution of Ti+4 ions for Mg+2 ions, analogous to the F-substitution in LaFeAsO compound. The reason why the Tc=36 K when x=0.2 being higher than the optimally electron-doped LaFeAsO with Tc=27 K relates to the fact that the local tetrahedron structure of FeAs4 is optimized for the onset of SC.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

EFFECT OF TWO ANTIOXIDANTS (TEMPO AND TEMPOL) ON RAM SEMEN CRYOPRESERVATION USING THE TRIS EXTENDER

Se emplearon 32 muestras de semen procedentes de cuatro ovinos a fin de ser criopreservadas con la adición dos antioxidantes: Tempo (2,2,6,6 tetrametil-1-piperidiniloxil) y Tempol (4-hidroxi 2,2,6,6 tetrametil-1-piperidiniloxil), en concentraciones de 0.5, 1.0 y 2.5 mM, para evaluar el efecto postdescongelamiento que pudieran tener sobre la motilidad progresiva, la viabilidad e integridad acrosomal y la capacitación espermática prematura. En cada concentración de los dos antioxidantes y del grupo control se utilizó un dilutor en base a Tris, realizándose ocho repeticiones, cada una con cuatro muestras de semen. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que la adición de Tempo a una concentración de 0.5 mM mejora significativamente la calidad del semen criopreservado en comparación con el grupo control (p<0.05), incrementado los porcentajes de motilidad progresiva (79 vs. 67%), viabilidad e integridad acrosomal (70 vs. 58%) y reduciendo la capacitación espermática prematura (9 vs.15%). Por otro lado, la adición de Tempol disminuyó la calidad seminal postdescongelamiento en comparación con el control. En conclusión, la adición de Tempo 0.5 mM en un dilutor en base a Tris, al finalizar la fase de enfriamiento, podría constituir una estrategia para mejorar la calidad de semen ovino criopreservado.Thirty-two semen samples from four rams were frozed using two antioxidants, Tempo (2,2,6,6 tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl) and Tempol (4-hidroxi 2,2,6,6 tetramethyl-1- piperidinyloxyl), each one in concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 mM, to evaluate the effects on post-thawing motility, viability, acrosomal integrity, and earlier sperm capacitation. Eight replications for each antioxidant concentration and control group, were done using four semen samples per replication. Semen samples were diluted on a Tris extender. Results showed that Tempo 0.5 mM improved frozen semen quality in comparison with control group (p<0.05), by increasing progresive motility (79 vs. 67%), viability and acrosomal integrity (70 vs. 58%), and decreasing earlier sperm capacitation (9 vs. 15%). On the other hand, Tempol decreased frozen semen quality. In conclusion, the use of Tempo 0.5 mM on a Tris extender, at the end of the cooling process, could be an alternative for improving the quality of frozed ram semen

Rheological Behaviour of an Insoluble Lemon Fibre as Affected by Stirring, Temperature, Time and Storage

The final publication is available at link.springer.comIn this work, the effect the preparation method (two different stirring systems at two temperatures and times), fibre concentration (between 2% and 3%), temperature (between 10 °C and 50 °C) and storage time (between 24 h and 50 days at 5 °C) had on the flow properties of a suspension of dietary lemon fibre prepared with a 45° Brix sucrose solution were evaluated. This information will be helpful in order to discover the best possibilities of using fibre to increase the viscosity of certain kinds of products, depending on the processing, storage and consumption conditions. The obtained results indicate that all the aspects which contribute to increase component solubilisation and the interaction of the insoluble fraction with the aqueous phase when preparing the suspension, such as a decrease in particle size, a rise in temperature or a longer homogenization time, entail a higher apparent viscosity. Moreover, favoring the solubilisation in the preparation process leads to a more stable rheological behaviour of the suspension during storage. As expected, the apparent viscosity of suspensions was dependent on the shear rate, concentration and temperature. A thixotropic behaviour of fibre suspension was only observed at a very low shear rate (5 s -1). © 2010 Springer Science + Business Media, LLC.Córdoba Sequeira, A.; Camacho Vidal, MM.; Martínez Navarrete, N. (2012). Rheological Behaviour of an Insoluble Lemon Fibre as Affected by Stirring, Temperature, Time and Storage. Food and Bioprocess Technology. 5(3):1083-1092. doi:10.1007/s11947-010-0478-2S1083109253Akdogan, H., & McHugh, T.-H. (2000). Flow characterization of peach products during extrusion. Food Engineering and Physical Properties, 65(3), 471–475.Alonso, M.-L., Larrodé, O., & Zapico, J. (1995). Rheological behaviour of infant foods. Journal of Texture Studies, 26, 193–202.Duran, L., & Costell, E. (1982). Rheology of apricot puree: Characterization of flow. Journal of Texture Studies, 13, 43–58.Flint O (1996) Microscopía de los alimentos. Manual de métodos prácticos utilizando la miscroscopía óptica. Ed. Acribia S-A, Zaragoza, 28, 108–111Grigelmo-Miguel, N., Gorinstein, S., & Martín-Belloso, O. (1999a). Characterisation of peach dietary fiber concentrate as food ingredient. Food Chemistry, 65, 175–181.Grigelmo-Miguel, N., Ibarz-Ribas, A., & Martín-Belloso, O. (1999b). Rheology of peach dietary fibre suspensions. Journal of Food Engineering, 39, 91–99.Guerrero S-N & Alzamora S-M. (1998). Effect of pH, temperature and glucose addition on flow behaviour of fruit purées: II. Peach, papaya and mango purées. Journal of Food Engineering, 37, 77–101.Guillon, F., & Champ, M. (2000). Structural and physical properties of dietary fibres, and consequences of processing on human physiology. Food Research International, 33, 233–245.Hahn, S.-J., Ree, T., & Eyring, G.-H. (1959). Flow mechanism of thixotropic substances. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 51, 856–857.Jongaroontaprangsee, S., Tritrong, W., & Chokanaporn, W. (2007). Effects of drying temperature and particle size on hydration properties of dietary fiber powder from lime and cabbage by-products. International Journal of Food Properties, 10, 887–897.Lario, Y., Sendra, E., Garcıa-Perez, J., Fuentes, C., Sayas-Barbera, E., Fernández-López, J., et al. (2004). Preparation of high dietary fiber powder from lemon juice by-products. Innovation of Food Science Emerging Technologies, 5, 113–117.Mahmoud M-I & Fugitt M (1996) Rheological properties of a calorically dense nutritional supplement as a function of nitrogen source and dietary fiber. In: IFT Annual Meeting. Book of Abstracts. 80A-26, 183Mizrahi, S. (1979). A review of the physicochemical approach to the analysis of the structural viscosity of fluid fruit products. Journal of Texture Studies, 10, 67–82.Paredes, M.-D.-C., Rao, M.-A., & Bourne, M.-C. (1998). Rheological characterization of salad dressings: 1. Steady shear, thixotropy and effect of temperature. Journal of Texture Studies, 19, 247–258.Raghavendra, S.-N., Ramachandra Swamy, S.-R., Rastogi, N.-K., Raghavarao, K.-S.-M.-S., Kumar, S., & Tharanathan, R.-N. (2006). Grinding characteristics and hydration properties of coconut residue: A source of dietary fiber. Journal of Food Engineering, 72, 281–286.Sakata, T., & Saito, M. (2007). Insoluble dietary fiber of wheat bran increased viscosity of pig whole cecal contents in vitro. Journal of Nutrition Science and Vitaminology, 53(4), 380–381.Saldaña, S., Martínez-Navarrete, N., & Chiralt, A. (2000). Caracterización Reológica de Alimentos de alta viscosidad. In P. Fito, A. Chiralt, A. Andrés, & N. Martínez-Navarrete (Eds.), Series de Ciencia e Ingeniería de Alimentos. Investigación del postgrado del IAD-DTA. Vol I (p. 383). Valencia: Editorial de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.Sangnark, A., & Noomhorm, A. (2003). Effect of particle sizes on functional properties of dietary fibre prepared from sugarcane bagasse. Food Chemistry, 80(2), 221–229

The Peripheral Arterial disease study (PERART/ARTPER): prevalence and risk factors in the general population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The early diagnosis of atherosclerotic disease is essential for developing preventive strategies in populations at high risk and acting when the disease is still asymptomatic. A low ankle-arm index is a good marker of vascular events and may be diminished without presenting symptomatology (silent peripheral arterial disease). The aim of the study is to know the prevalence and associated risk factors of peripheral arterial disease in the general population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a cross-sectional, multicentre, population-based study in 3786 individuals >49 years, randomly selected in 28 primary care centres in Barcelona (Spain). Peripheral arterial disease was evaluated using the ankle-arm index. Values < 0.9 were considered as peripheral arterial disease.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of peripheral arterial disease was 7.6% (6.7-8.4), (males 10.2% (9.2-11.2), females 5.3% (4.6-6.0); <it>p </it>< 0.001).</p> <p>Multivariate analysis showed the following risk factors: male sex [odds ratio (OR) 1.62; 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.59]; age OR 2.00 per 10 years (1.64-2.44); inability to perform physical activity [OR 1.77 (1.17-2.68) for mild limitation to OR 7.08 (2.61-19.16) for breathless performing any activity]; smoking [OR 2.19 (1.34-3.58) for former smokers and OR 3.83 (2.23-6.58) for current smokers]; hypertension OR 1.85 (1.29-2.65); diabetes OR 2.01 (1.42-2.83); previous cardiovascular disease OR 2.19 (1.52-3.15); hypercholesterolemia OR 1.55 (1.11-2.18); hypertriglyceridemia OR 1.55 (1.10-2.19). Body mass index ≥25 Kg/m²OR 0.57 (0.38-0.87) and walking >7 hours/week OR 0.67 (0.49-0.94) were found as protector factors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease is low, higher in males and increases with age in both sexes. In addition to previously described risk factors we found a protector effect in physical exercise and overweight.</p

The Legionella effector WipB is a translocated Ser/Thr phosphatase that targets the host lysosomal nutrient sensing machinery

Legionella pneumophila infects human alveolar macrophages and is responsible for Legionnaire’s disease, a severe form of pneumonia. L. pneumophila encodes more than 300 putative effectors, which are translocated into the host cell via the Dot/Icm type IV secretion system. These effectors highjack the host’s cellular processes to allow bacterial intracellular growth and replication. Here we adopted a multidisciplinary approach to investigate WipB, a Dot/Icm effector of unknown function. The crystal structure of the N-terminal domain at 1.7 Å resolution comprising residues 25 to 344 revealed that WipB harbours a Ser/Thr phosphatase domain related to the eukaryotic phospho-protein phosphatase (PPP) family. The C-terminal domain (residues 365–524) is sufficient to pilot the effector to acidified LAMP1-positive lysosomal compartments, where WipB interacts with the v-ATPase and the associated LAMTOR1 phosphoprotein, key components of the lysosomal nutrient sensing (LYNUS) apparatus that controls the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTORC1) kinase complex at the lysosomal surface. We propose that WipB is a lysosome-targeted phosphatase that modulates cellular nutrient sensing and the control of energy metabolism during Legionella infection