Simultaneous removal of o-and p-nitrophenol from contaminated water by wet peroxide oxidation using carbon-coated magnetic ferrite as catalyst

Groundwater is the most common source of drinking water worldwide and is currently facing contamination problems with the discharge of pollutants into aquatic systems through different means, namely through municipal, industrial and agricultural activities. Contaminants, such as herbicides, pharmaceuticals, phenolic compounds and personal care products are not removed by conventional treatments from wastewater treatment plants, leading to their accumulation in the environment. In this regard, o-nitrophenol (o-NP) and p-nitrophenol (p-NP), commonly used as raw materials in chemical and pharmaceutical engineering, represent a severe risk to humans and aquatic life, leading to the necessity to properly treat wastewaters containing these contaminants before discharge into the aquatic environment. Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) showed promising results for removing nitrophenols from wastewater in previous works. In this technology, H2O2 is used as an oxidant, and its interaction with a suitable catalyst leads to the formation of hydroxyl radicals under determined conditions already established in literature (pH and temperature have a strong influence) [1]. Typical catalysts employed have a transition metal in its structure. Carbon-based catalysts also have activity in this technology, mostly ascribed to the electronic properties of the carbonaceous surface. Furthermore, carbon-coated metal oxide materials (hybrid) have also demonstrated potential applications in CWPO. Those structures combine carbon and metal activities with the advantage of protecting the metal core from leaching, increasing the efficiency and stability of the catalysts.Adriano S. Silva thanks his doctoral Grant with reference SFRH/BD/151346/2021 financed by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), with funds from NORTE2020, under MIT Portugal Program. This work was financially supported by UIDB/00690/2020 (CIMO), LA/P/0045/2020 (ALiCE), UIDB/50020/2020, UI-DP/50020/2020 (LSRE-LCM) and the project RTChip4Theranostics, with the reference NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-029394. Fernanda F. Roman acknowledges the national funding by FCT through the individual research grant SFRH/BD/143224/2019info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Solving a capacitated waste collection problem using an open-source tool

Increasing complexity in municipal solid waste streams worldwide is pressing Solid Waste Management Systems (SWMS), which need solutions to manage the waste properly. Waste collection and transport is the first task, traditionally carried out by countries/municipalities responsible for waste management. In this approach, drivers are responsible for decision-making regarding collection routes, leading to inefficient resource expenses. In this sense, strategies to optimize waste collection routes are receiving increasing interest from authorities, companies and the scientific community. Works in this strand usually focus on waste collection route optimization in big cities, but small towns could also benefit from technological development to improve their SWMS. Waste collection is related to combinatorial optimization that can be modeled as the capacitated vehicle routing problem. In this paper, a Capacitated Waste Collection Problem will be considered to evaluate the performance of metaheuristic approaches in waste collection optimization in the city of Bragança, Portugal. The algorithms used are available on Google OR-tools, an open-source tool with modules for solving routing problems. The Guided Local Search obtained the best results in optimizing waste collection planning. Furthermore, a comparison with real waste collection data showed that the results obtained with the application of OR-Tools are promising to save resources in waste collection.This work has been supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R &D Units Project Scope: UIDB/05757/2020, UIDB/00690/2020, UIDB/50020/2020, and UIDB/00319/2020. Adriano Silva was supported by FCT-MIT Portugal PhD grant SFRH/BD/151346/2021, and Filipe Alves was supported by FCT PhD grant SFRH/BD/143745/2019

Women's refolution at work

The renowned Age of Revolution encompasses the period between the American Revolution (1776) and the so-called Spring of Nations in 1848, this being the height of the revolutionary movements in Europe in the 19th century, though it may be considered just the tip of the iceberg as far as civil rights movements for people from all walks of life are concerned. The changes that occurred throughout this timespan intended to move from feudal and absolutist systems, considered old-fashioned and ill-suited, to constitutionalist states and republics that would be able to heed the new values, e.g. liberalism, nationalism and socialism, as well as the demands of the working classes, enduring the harmful effects of industrialisation. Working people had been flowing into large industrial cities for over a century since the onset of the Industrial Revolution, leaving behind their home places and settling in overcrowded, rundown dwellings in appalling living conditions. The shift from working at home to working in factories brought along a number of issues that would be the motivation for setting up trade unions, namely the long working hours (between 12 and 14 hours per day), the low wages, the cruel discipline and the fierce system of fines that was applied, and the numerous accidents and health issues that ensued. Despite the overall negative conditions, women and children were among those who suffered the most, especially because the former’s wages were regarded as secondary earnings and thus less important than men’s. Consequently, from 1850s onwards, trade unions began to fight for better paid workers and women were initially excluded from these structures be it as members or leaders, being supported by social reformers instead. As a case in point, it is worth mentioning Clementina Black who, in 1888, set forth a demand for equal pay between men and women in the UK and the Bryant and May match factory strike which was held in the same year. Bearing in mind this social and historical context, our aim with this paper is two-fold: not only do we seek to focus on unionist movements in the last half of the 19th century in the European context as a means to fight against conservative and slavery-like practices in the workplace but we also wish to emphasise the place and importance of working-class women in this general workers’ assertion, particularly in their attempt to gain equal pay, a true refolution that would be the motivational beacon for 20th century movements, such as that of the suffragettes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hybrid multi-core shell magnetic nanoparticles for wet peroxide oxidation of paracetamol: application in synthetic and real matrices

Clean water availability is becoming a matter of global concern in the last decades. The responsible entities for wastewater treatment do not have the proper facilities to deal with a wide range of pollutants. Special attention should be given to emerging contaminants, whose presence in water bodies may cause adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem and human health. Most studies in the literature do not consider the development of their solution in real matrices, which can hinder the applicability of the explored alternative in the real scenario. Therefore, in this work, we demonstrate the applicability of hybrid magnetic nanoparticles for removing paracetamol (PCM) from simulated and real matrices by catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO). To achieve carbon coating, the nanoparticles were prepared via the traditional route (resorcinol/formaldehyde, CoFe@CRF). A new methodology was also considered for synthesizing thin-layered carbon-coated magnetic nanoparticles (phloroglucinol/ glyoxalic acid, CoFe@CPG). TEM images revealed a multi-core shell structure formation, with an average carbon layer size of 7.8 ± 0.5 and 3.2 ± 0.3 nm for resorcinol/formaldehyde and phloroglucinol/ glyoxalic acid methodology, respectively. Screening the materials’ activity for PCM oxidation by CWPO revealed that the nanoparticle prepared by phloroglucinol/glyoxalic acid methodology has higher performance for the degradation of PCM, achieving 63.5% mineralization after 24 h of reaction, with similar results for more complex matrices. Iron leaching measured at the end of all reactions has proven that the carbon layer protects the core against leaching.This work was financially supported by project RTChip4Theranostics (NORTE-01–0145-FEDER-029394), by CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) through FEDER under Program PT2020. Fernanda F. Roman acknowledges the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the European Social Fund (FSE) for the individual research grant with reference SFRH/BD/143224/2019. Adriano Silva and Ana Paula F. da Silva were supported by the doctoral Grant SFRH/BD/151346/2021 and PRT/BD/ 153090/2021 financed by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) with funds from NORTE2020, under MIT Portugal Program. Jose L. Diaz De Tuesta acknowledges the financial support through the program of Atracción al Talento of Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) for the individual research grant 2022-T1/AMB-23946.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Uso de las nuevas tecnologías en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de las asignaturas de estructuras

Mediante esta ponencia se pretende hacer hincapié en que las tradicionales clases presenciales de las asignaturas de Estructuras de la Edificación, I y II, se pueden complementar con el uso de programas informáticos: de simulaciones multimedia, y los de cálculo y/o dimensionamiento de elementos estructurales; los cuales permiten que la transmisión de contenidos teóricos y prácticos, a los alumnos, se realice de una forma más amena, concisa y clara. Es de destacar que el uso de las nuevas tecnologías, es una de las herramientas con las que podemos contar para reforzar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje que nos demandará la nueva titulación de Ingeniero de Edificación; todo esto dentro del nuevo Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, que estamos por iniciar.Consejo General de la Arquitectura Técnica de Españ

Multiplication of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi isolated from cocoa cultivated soils

La multiplicación de esporas de hongos micorrízicos arbusculares (HMA) es una limitante para las aplicaciones agrícolas como biofertilizantes. En el presente estudio se realizó la multiplicación masiva de HMA procedentes de fincas de cacao (Theobroma cacaoL.) en la región de San Martín, Perú, para optimizar su manejo y producción de esporas en condiciones ambientales controladas.Se diseñó un experimento en condiciones de invernadero, con undiseño completamente al azar, considerando tres fuentes de inoculo de HMA obtenidas en las provincias de Mariscal Cáceres, Lamas y Rioja,en dos periodos de tiempo (110 y 220 días) y dos cultivos hospedantes (maízy arroz). Este material fue mezclado con un volumen de arena y tres de tierra agrícola,que fueron colocadas en cajones; transcurrido elperiodo de tiempo se evaluóla población de esporas, colonización micorrícica, altura de la planta hospedante y peso seco de la parte aérea y de la raíz. La multiplicación de HMA a los 220 días, procedente de Mariscal Cáceres usando arrozcomo planta hospedante, demostró ser la más adecuada para la multiplicación delosHMA. El arroz actuó como un huésped adecuado y pudo multiplicar un mayor número de esporas.Se concluye queesta combinación puedeser utilizadacomo una metodología de propagación masiva de HMA debido a su gran capacidad para reproducirse.The multiplication of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spores is a limitation for agricultural applications as biofertilizers. In the present study, a massive multiplication of AMF from cocoa farms (Theobroma cacao L.) in the San Martín region, Peru, was carried out to optimize their handling and spore production under controlled environmental conditions. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions in a completely randomized design, considering three sources of AMF inoculum obtained in the provinces of Mariscal Cáceres, Lamas and Rioja, in two periods (110 and 220 days) and two host crops (maize and rice). This material was mixed with one volume of sand and three volumes of agricultural soil, which were placed in crates. At the end of the periods, the population of spores, mycorrhizal colonization, height of the host plant, and the dry weight of the aerial part and root were evaluated. Rice acts as a suitable host and multiplies a greater number of AMF spores. The treatment based on the mycorrhizal inoculum from Mariscal Cáceres multiplied with rice plants at 220 days, presented the highest population of spores. Therefore, it could be used as a methodology for massive propagation of AMF due to its great reproduction capacity.Fil: Vallejos Torres, Geomar. Universidad Nacional de San Martín Tarapoto; Perú. Universidad Católica Sedes Sapientiae; PerúFil: Tenorio Cercado, Miguel A.. Universidad Católica Sedes Sapientiae; PerúFil: Gaona Jimenez, Nery. Universidad Católica Sedes Sapientiae; PerúFil: Corazon Guivin, Mike A.. Universidad Nacional de San Martín Tarapoto; PerúFil: Luna, Javier Ormeño. Universidad Nacional de San Martín Tarapoto; PerúFil: Paredes, Christopher I.. Universidad Nacional de San Martín Tarapoto; PerúFil: Saavedra, Jorge. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Alto Amazonas Unaaa; PerúFil: Tuesta, Juan C.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Alto Amazonas Unaaa; PerúFil: Tuesta, Oscar A.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Alto Amazonas Unaaa; PerúFil: Alguacil, M. M.. Universidad de Murcia; EspañaFil: Becerra, Alejandra Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Marín, César Alberto Aníbal. Universidad Santo Tomas, Santiago; Chil

Artículos publicados en el diario El País sobre Antonio Fernández Alba

Artículos publicados sobre Antonio Fernández Alba en el diario El Paí

Identifying the Long-Term Role of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase after Contusive Spinal Cord Injury Using a Transgenic Mouse Model

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is a potent mediator of oxidative stress during neuroinflammation triggered by neurotrauma or neurodegeneration. We previously demonstrated that acute iNOS inhibition attenuated iNOS levels and promoted neuroprotection and functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). The present study investigated the effects of chronic iNOS ablation after SCI using inos-null mice. iNOS−/− knockout and wild-type (WT) control mice underwent a moderate thoracic (T8) contusive SCI. Locomotor function was assessed weekly, using the Basso Mouse Scale (BMS), and at the endpoint (six weeks), by footprint analysis. At the endpoint, the volume of preserved white and gray matter, as well as the number of dorsal column axons and perilesional blood vessels rostral to the injury, were quantified. At weeks two and three after SCI, iNOS−/− mice exhibited a significant locomotor improvement compared to WT controls, although a sustained improvement was not observed during later weeks. At the endpoint, iNOS−/− mice showed significantly less preserved white and gray matter, as well as fewer dorsal column axons and perilesional blood vessels, compared to WT controls. While short-term antagonism of iNOS provides histological and functional benefits, its long-term ablation after SCI may be deleterious, blocking protective or reparative processes important for angiogenesis and tissue preservation

Indicadores de evaluación de citas y referencias en tesis de maestría en educación: una muestra peruana

This research work is aimed at determining the quality of citations and references of the Master’s thesis in Education of peruvian colleges. The documental analysis  technique was used and the “Observation Guide” proposed by Martín and Lafuente (2017) was employed as an instrument, which is composed of five quality indicators for the bibliographic review (exhaustiveness, critical use of the bibliography, quality, relevance and review of previous research works); and of 9 for bibliographic references (update, number of references, self-citation, language, typology, support, complete references, accuracy and fulfillment of a standard or style). In addition, 562 bibliographic references and 1209 citations extracted from 14 theses, digitalized and published in the National Digital Repository of Peru during 2017, were analyzed. The mechanisms for citations as well as the bibliographic references were evaluated. After the descriptive-statistical analysis, it could be identified that the level achieved for both variables was “Enough”.La presente investigación tuvo por objetivo determinar la calidad de citas y referencias de las tesis de Maestría en Educación de universidades peruanas. Se utilizó la técnica del análisis documental y como instrumento se recurrió a la “Guía de observación” propuesta por Martín y Lafuente (2017), compuesta por cinco indicadores de calidad para la revisión bibliográfica (exhaustividad, utilización crítica de la bibliografía, calidad, relevancia y revisión de investigaciones previas); y nueve para las referencias bibliográficas (actualización, cantidad de referencias, autocitación, idioma, tipología, soporte, referencias completas, exactitud y cumplimiento con una norma o estilo). El análisis se realizó a 562 referencias bibliográficas y 1209 citas extraídas de 14 tesis, digitalizadas y publicadas en el Repositorio Nacional Digital de Perú, durante el año 2017. Se evaluaron tanto los mecanismos de citado, como las referencias bibliográficas. Después del análisis estadístico descriptivo se pudo identificar que el nivel alcanzado para ambas variables fue “suficiente”