Towards a sustainable hydrogen economy: Optimisation-based framework for hydrogen infrastructure development

This work studies the development of a sustainable hydrogen infrastructure that supports the transition towards a low-carbon transport system in the United Kingdom (UK). The future hydrogen demand is forecasted over time using a logistic diffusion model, which reaches 50% of the market share by 2070. The problem is solved using an extension of SHIPMod, an optimisation-based framework that consists of a multi-period spatially-explicit mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation. The optimisation model combines the infrastructure elements required throughout the different phases of the transition, namely economies of scale, road and pipeline transportation modes and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, in order to minimise the present value of the total infrastructure cost using a discounted cash-flow analysis. The results show that the combination of all these elements in the mathematical formulation renders optimal solutions with the gradual infrastructure investments over time required for the transition towards a sustainable hydrogen economy

Preparación de un nuevo material híbrido orgánico/inorgánico mediante la intercalación de colina en bronce de molibdeno

Intercalation of a organic compound, 2-hydroxyl etil trimetil ammonium, in the layered host molybdenum bronzes was achieved. Full characterization of solids was performed using chemical analysis, X-ray diffaction, thermal analysis and IR spectroscopy. Using fresh sodium hydrated layered molybdenum bronce yields a monofasic layered solid. The hybrid organic-inorganic compound exhibs a high lamellar order, which is stable at temperatura below 550 K, then collapsing by combustion of organic component. All features show that blue molybdenum bronzes will be a good host for intercalation.<br><br>Se aborda la intercalación de un compuesto orgánico, 2-hidroxil etil trimetil amonio (Colina), entre las láminas de bronce azul de molibdeno. El sólido obtenido se caracteriza mediante análisis químico (AQ), difracción de rayos-X (XRD), análisis térmico (DTA y TG) y espectroscopia infrarroja (FT-IR). La utilización de un bronce sódico de molibdeno recién preparado facilita la incorporación de la molécula orgánica, dando lugar a la formación de una única fase laminar. El material híbrido muestra un alto ordenamiento laminar, estable a temperaturas inferiores a los 550 K, que se descompone por combustión del componente orgánico. Los resultado obtenidos indican que el bronce azul de molibdeno puede ser un buen candidato para la obtención de compuestos de intercalación

Análisis del funcionamiento de una red colectiva ante distintas estrategias de riego en parcela

En zonas colectivas de riego, la tarifa a pagar por los agricultores está muy condicionada con el gasto energético de los equipos de bombeo, relacionada a su vez con la cantidad de agua aplicada a los cultivos. Así pues, es necesario el desarrollo de herramientas de ayuda a la toma de decisiones que busquen mejorar la eficiencia en el uso del agua y la energía, sin comprometer el rendimiento y productividad de los cultivos. El objetivo del trabajo es analizar el consumo energético en una estación de bombeo de una red colectiva de riego a la demanda ante distintos escenarios de riego en parcela y de presiones en la cabecera. La metodología propuesta ha sido aplicada a la zona regable de Tarazona de La Mancha (Albacete, España). Se han establecidos dos manejos de riego en parcela (con y sin déficit) para los principales cultivos de la zona y diferentes estrategias de presiones en la cabecera (variable y fija), para analizar el efecto sobre la eficiencia y consumo energético del bombeo. Para ello, se ha utilizado una herramienta de simulación desarrollada en MATLAB®, en combinación con el motor de cálculo EPANET®, y se ha aplicado como ejemplo a un día de elevada demanda de agua en la red. Los resultados indican que la utilización de presión en cabecera variable y manejo deficitario, genera ahorros energéticos de 12,43% en relación al mismo manejo con presión fija

Altered gene expression in human placenta after suspected preterm labour

Introduction Suspected preterm labour occurs in around 9% of pregnancies. However, almost two-thirds of women admitted for threatened preterm labour ultimately deliver at term and are considered risk-free for fetal development. Methods We examined placental and umbilical cord blood samples from preterm or term deliveries after threatened preterm labour as well as term deliveries without threatened preterm labour. We quantitatively analysed the mRNA expression of inflammatory markers (IL6, IFN?, and TNFa) and modulators of angiogenesis (FGF2, PGF, VEGFA, VEGFB, and VEGFR1). Results A total of 132 deliveries were analysed. Preterm delivery and term delivery after suspected preterm labour groups showed similar increases in TNFa expression compared with the term delivery control group in umbilical cord blood samples. Placental samples from preterm and term deliveries after suspected preterm labour exhibited significantly increased expression of TNFa and IL6 and decreased expression of IFN?. Suspected preterm labour was also associated with altered expression of angiogenic factors, although not all differences reached statistical significance. Discussion We found gene expression patterns indicative of inflammation in human placentas after suspected preterm labour regardless of whether the deliveries occurred preterm or at term. Similarly, a trend towards altered expression of angiogeneic factors was not limited to preterm birth. These findings suggest that the biological mechanisms underlying threatened preterm labour affect pregnancies independently of gestational age at birth

Estrategias bioanalíticas en estudios metalómicos de fármacos de platino

En este artículo se muestra el potencial que presentan las modernas estrategias bioanalíticas en estudios metalómicos de fármacos de platino. La combinación de técnicas de separación multidimensionales cromatográficas y/o electroforéticas con la espectrometría de masas atómica ICP-MS y molecular ESI-MS/MS se presenta como una valiosa alternativa en este tipo de estudios

Modelo hidráulico para la optimización de subunidades irregulares de riego por goteo

La escasez de los recursos hídricos actuales, especialmente en las zonas con clima árido o semiárido, provocan la necesidad de desarrollar herramientas de ayuda en la toma de decisiones para el diseño y manejo del riego, y más cuando se pretende utilizar energía fotovoltaica. El objetivo del trabajo ha sido desarrollar un modelo hidráulico que pueda acoplarse al modelo fotovoltaico, para el caso más general de subunidades de riego de forma y topografía irregular, constituyendo una herramienta de ayuda en la toma de decisiones para el diseño y manejo del riego con energía fotovoltaica, analizando la calidad del riego en las distintas subunidades con forma y topografía irregular. Para la calibración y validación del modelo, se ha aplicado a una parcela de 90 ha, de un cultivo de almendro regado por goteo, situada en una zona con topografía y forma muy irregular. Los resultados permiten identificar las zonas con problemas en la uniformidad de emisión en función de la presión disponible en la entrada de la subunidad de riego.Nowadays, water resources are limited especially in places with arid and semi-arid conditions. For that reason, it is essential the development of decision support system models (DSS) aiming the design and management of irrigation systems, especially when they are fed with photovoltaic energy. The main objective of this study was the development of a hydraulic model linked with a photovoltaic model, considering the most general case of irrigation subunits with irregular shape and topography. Thus, a decision support system tool (DSS) for the design and management irrigation with photovoltaic power is developed. Analyzing the irrigation quality in different subunit with irregular shape and topography is a main issue in precision irrigation. For model calibration and validation has been applied in an almond field with 90 ha with drip irrigation located in a shape and topography land. The results enabled us to identify the areas with uniformity problems depending on the pressure in the subnit head

Synthetic Slag Production Method Based on a Solid Waste Mix Vitrification for the Manufacturing of Slag-Cement

Herein an innovative process to develop a potential vitreous material with cementing properties is proposed. This process paves a production path through melting industrial waste and subsequently cooling the casting in water. The idea erases the need to reduce the environmental impact of the cement industry in terms of natural resources consumption as well as the re-utilization of abandoned wastes from other industries. The recycled industrial wastes were selected according to the amount of waste produced in the industrial field and its suitable chemical composition, such as construction and demolition waste and/or shells from shellfish. As a main result, the mechanical properties showed by our novel material were worse than those reported by blast furnace slag (25–28 MPa for two different proportions) for seven days and better (43–52 MPa for two different proportions) for 28 days. The rest of the properties evaluated were in agreement with the standards’ requirements. Hence, this novel process would help to minimize the environmental impact of these wastes at the same time that their use in the cement industry would reduce the consumption of raw materials.Gobierno de España ITC-2011101

Deletion patterns, genetic variability and protein structure of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3: implications for malaria rapid diagnostic test in Amhara region, Ethiopia

Background: Although rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) play a key role in malaria-control strategies, their efficacy has been threatened by deletion and genetic variability of the genes pfhrp2/3. This study aims to characterize the deletion, genetic patterns and diversity of these genes and their implication for malaria RDT effectiveness, as well as their genetic evolution in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Methods: The study included 354 isolates from symptomatic patients from the Amhara region of Ethiopia who tested positive by microscopy. Exon 1?2 and exon 2 of genes pfhrp2 and -3 were amplified, and exon 2 was sequenced to analyse the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationship and epitope availability. Results: The deletion frequency in exon 1?2 and exon 2 was 22 and 4.6% for pfhrp2, and 68 and 18% for pfhrp3, respectively. Double deletion frequency for pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 was 1.4%. High genetic diversity, lack of clustering by phylogenetic analysis and evidence of positive selection suggested a diversifying selection for both genes. The amino-acid sequences, classified into different haplotypes, varied widely in terms of frequency of repeats, with novel amino-acid changes. Aminoacidic repetition type 2 and type 7 were the most frequent in all the sequences. The most frequent epitopes among protein sequences were those recognized by MAbs 3A4 and C1-13. Conclusion: Deletions and high amino acidic variation in pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 suggest their possible impact on RDT use in the Amhara region, and the high genetic diversity of these genes could be associated with a diversifying selection in Ethiopia. Surveillance of these genes is, therefore, essential to ensure the effectiveness of public health interventions in this region.Instituto de Salud Carlos II

Factors associated with HIV-1 resistance to integrase strand transfer inhibitors in Spain: Implications for dolutegravir-containing regimens

Integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-containing regimens in HIV-1-infected patients have experienced a global increase. Recently, WHO has emphasized the need to fast-track the transition to dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral (ARV) treatments. However, continued surveillance of INSTI resistance is recommended. In this study, clinical, epidemiological, and virological features associated with INSTI resistance diagnosed in Spain were analyzed. Samples collected between 2008 and 2021 from HIV-1-infected patients were analyzed in integrase, protease, and reverse transcriptase using Sanger population sequencing. ARV drug resistance was evaluated with the Stanford University HIVdb program. Among 2,696 patients, 174 (6.5%) had INSTI resistance, all of them to first-generation INSTIs, and 71 (2.6%) had also resistance to second-generation INSTIs. Of these, only 5 individuals were exposed to DTG as the only INSTI, in whom resistance development was associated with poor treatment adherence and/or resistance to other ARV classes. Of newly HIV-1-diagnosed individuals, 0.92% harbored INSTI-resistant viruses, with low prevalences maintained along time, and only one had low-level resistance to DTG. Persons who inject drugs, age over 39 years, resistance to other ARV classes, and longer time from diagnosis were associated with INSTI resistance (p < 0.001). Non-subtype B INSTI-resistant viruses lacked the Q148H + G140S resistance pathway and showed lower INSTI resistance levels than subtype B viruses. In conclusion, INSTI resistance is uncommon and associated with long-term infections, older age and additional resistance to other ARV drug classes, and is rare in newly diagnosed HIV-1 infections. Our results also support the preferential use of DTG-containing regimens in first-line treatments, although surveillance of INSTI resistance is encouraged.This work was funded through Acción Estratégica en Salud Intramural (AESI), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, projects “Estudios sobre vigilancia epidemiológica molecular del VIH-1 en España,” PI16CIII/00033 and “Epidemiología molecular del VIH-1 en España y su utilidad para investigaciones biológicas y en vacunas”, PI19CIII/0042; and scientific agreements with Consellería de Sanidade, Government of Galicia (MVI 1004/16) and Osakidetza-Servicio Vasco de Salud, Government of Basque Country (MVI 1001/16).S

Strontium-isotope stratigraphy as a constraint on the age of condensed levels: examples from the Jurassic of the Subbetic Zone (southern Spain).

Condensed levels are often characterized by reworked fossils that may lead to incorrect age assessments. Strontium-isotope stratigraphy is an important chronostratigraphic tool that can be used to verify the biostratigraphic information from condensed beds. This paper describes a study of the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of 56 belemnite samples collected from 28 stratigraphic sections of the boundary between the Upper Member of the Gavila´n Formation and the Zegrı´ Formation (Pliensbachian, Subbetic Zone). The petrographic and geochemical data (d18O, d13C, concentrations of Fe, Mn and Mg, and the Sr/Mn ratio) suggest that the belemnites have preserved their original marine geochemical composition. After plotting the samples in diagrams of 87Sr/86Sr values against time according to their biostratigraphic age, four different groups (A, B, C and D) were obtained with respect to the reference curve. In groups A and B, the age deduced from the Sr-isotope ratio is in total or partial agreement, respectively, with the biostratigraphic age; therefore the 87Sr/86Sr ratio is a good method for the dating, correlation and assessment of biostratigraphic results. In groups C and D, the SIS age and the biostratigraphic age do not coincide. A graphic procedure is presented as a suitable methodology to constrain the age of the samples showing an SIS age that differs from the relative age deduced (by biostratigraphy or stratigraphic correlation) for the bed they were collected in. These situations are interpreted as being the result of reworking of the belemnites (group C) or ammonites (group D) that are included in condensed levels. These condensed levels formed during the maximum flooding event that led to the drowning of the Gavila´n carbonate platform. The methodology supplied in this paper represents a valuable tool in identifying reworking processes, improving correlation and constraining biochronostratigraphic results. The values of 87Sr/86Sr represent a new contribution to the data set of 87Sr/86Sr ratios for the Pliensbachian