mWater prototype #2 analysis and design

mWater is a regulated open MAS that uses intelligent agents to manage a flexible water-right market. One of the main goals of mWater is to be used as a simulator to assist in decision-taking processes for policy makers. Our simulator focuses on demands and, in particular, on the type of regulatory (in terms of norms selection and agents behaviour), and market mechanisms thatBotti Navarro, VJ.; Criado Pacheco, N.; Garrido Tejero, A.; Gimeno, J.; Giret Boggino, AS.; Noriega, P. (2013). mWater prototype #2 analysis and design. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/3212

Use of standardized procedures to evaluate metal leaching from waste foundry sands

As part of the casting process, foundries create sand molds and cores to produce ferrous and non-ferrous metal castings. After the process, a portion of the sand is discarded and becomes waste foundry sand (WFS). The aim of this study was to quantify metals (i.e. Ag, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in leaching extracts from a variety of waste molding and core sands from ferrous and non-ferrous foundries using the Extraction Procedure, Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure, and ASTM water extraction procedure. The WFS metal extract concentrations were compared to those found in virgin silica sands and Argentinean and U.S. hazardous waste laws to determine if the WFSs met toxicity limits. The majority of the WFS extracts analyzed, regardless of metal cast and binder type, contained metal concentrations similar to those found in virgin sand extracts and were below levels considered hazardous. Consequently, it appears most WFSs can be beneficially used as a substitute for virgin aggregate in geotechnical and agricultural applications without causing risk to human health and the environment

Analysis of total metals in waste molding and core sands from ferrous and non-ferrous foundries

Waste molding and core sands from the foundry industry have been successfully used around the world as byproducts in geotechnical and agricultural applications. Although waste foundry sands (WFSs) are generally not considered hazardous in nature, relevant data are not available in Argentina. This study aimed to quantify metals in waste molding and core sands from foundries using a variety of metal-binder combinations. Metal concentrations in WFSs were compared to those in virgin silica sands (VSSs), surface soil and soil guidance levels according to hazardous waste law 24.051 from the Argentinean Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development. A total analysis for Ag, Al, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Te, Tl, V, and Zn was conducted on 96 WFSs and 14 VSSs collected from 17 small and medium-sized foundries. The majority of WFSs analyzed, regardless of metal cast and binder type, contained elemental concentrations similar to those found in virgin sands and native soils. In several cases where alkyd urethane binder was used, Co and Pb concentrations were elevated in the waste sands. Elevated Cr, Mo, Ni, and Tl concentrations associated with the virgin sands should not be an issue since these elements are bound within the silica sand matrix. Because of the naturally low elemental concentrations found in most WFSs examined in this study, they should not be considered hazardous waste, thus making them available for encapsulated and unencapsulated beneficial use applications

Diarrea asociada a Clostridioides difficile en pacientes de servicios quirúrgicos en México

Introducción: Clostridioides difficile (CD) es la primera causa de diarrea asociada al cuidadode salud en los países desarrollados. En los últimos a˜nos, la incidencia de la infección asociadaa CD (ICD) ha aumentado en el ámbito mundial. En México, la información al respecto es escasay se conoce poco sobre los factores de riesgo para esta enfermedad en pacientes hospitalizadosen servicios quirúrgicosMaterial y métodos: Estudio de casos y controles. Se compararon hallazgos epidemiológicos yfactores de riesgo entre pacientes quirúrgicos con ICD confirmada por PCR contra pacientes qui-rúrgicos con diarrea PCR negativa y contra pacientes quirúrgicos sin diarrea. Se realizó análisisestadístico mediante el paquete estadístico SPSS versión 22.0.Resultados: La mayoría de los pacientes quirúrgicos con ICD correspondían a las áreas de neu-rocirugía, cardiocirugía, ortopedia y cirugía general. El 53% de los casos de ICD se asociaron a lacepa hipervirulenta de CD NAP1/027. La presencia de moco en heces (RM 1.5, p = 0.001), fiebre(RM 1.4, p = 0.011), leucocitos en heces (RM 3.2, p = < 0.001), hospitalización en las últimas12 semanas (RM 2.0, p = < 0.001), uso de antibióticos (RM 1.3, p = 0.023) y uso de ceftriaxona(RM 1.4, p = 0.01) constituyeron factores de riesgo independientes para el desarrollo de ICD. Conclusiones: La diarrea por CD en servicios quirúrgicos es frecuente en nuestra institución(Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde)

Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea in surgical service patients in Mexico

Introduction: Clostridium difficile is the first cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea in developed countries. In recent years the incidence of C. difficile infection (CDI) has increased worldwide. There is not much information on the topic in Mexico, and little is known about the risk factors for the infection in patients that are hospitalized in surgical services. Materials and methods: A case-control study was conducted that compared the epidemiologic findings and risk factors between surgical patients with PCR-confirmed CDI, surgical patients with diarrhea and a negative PCR test, and surgical patients with no diarrhea. The statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS version 22.0 program. Results: The majority of the surgical patients with CDI belonged to the areas of neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, orthopedics, and general surgery. A total of 53% of the CDI cases were associated with the hypervirulent CD NAP1/027 strain. The presence of mucus in stools (OR: 1.5, p = 0.001), fever (OR: 1.4, p = 0.011), leukocytes in stools (OR: 3.2, p < 0.001), hospitalization within the past twelve weeks (OR: 2.0, p < 0.001), antibiotic use (OR: 1.3, p = 0.023), and ceftriaxone use (OR: 1.4, p = 0.01) were independent risk factors for the development of CDI

Meta-analysis reveals that pollinator functional diversity and abundance enhance crop pollination and yield

How insects promote crop pollination remains poorly understood in terms of the contribution of functional trait differences between species. We used meta-analyses to test for correlations between community abundance, species richness and functional trait metrics with oilseed rape yield, a globally important crop. While overall abundance is consistently important in predicting yield, functional divergence between species traits also showed a positive correlation. This result supports the complementarity hypothesis that pollination function is maintained by non-overlapping trait distributions. In artificially constructed communities (mesocosms), species richness is positively correlated with yield, although this effect is not seen under field conditions. As traits of the dominant species do not predict yield above that attributed to the effect of abundance alone, we find no evidence in support of the mass ratio hypothesis. Management practices increasing not just pollinator abundance, but also functional divergence, could benefit oilseed rape agriculture.This study was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) under research programme NE/N018125/1 ASSIST–Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Systems www.assist.ceh.ac.uk. ASSIST is an initiative jointly supported by NERC and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Additional funding for field studies was from the Wessex Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Sustainability (NE/J014680/1) project within the NERC BESS programme. Other data sets were generated from research funded by: (a) the Insect Pollinators Initiative programme funded by BBSRC, Defra, NERC, the Scottish Government and the Wellcome Trust, under the Living with Environmental Change Partnership; (b) Defra project BD5005: Provision of Ecosystem services in the ES scheme; and (c) Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007–2013 administered by the Irish EPA

Toward a standardized methodology for sampling dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) in the Neotropics: a critical review

Introduction: The standardization of sampling protocols is imperative for robustly studying any taxonomic group. Replicable methods allow the comparison of data between different spatial and temporal studies. In the case of dung beetles, one of the best-studied indicator groups in analyses of environmental disturbance, a wide range of collection methodologies are used, from basic pitfall traps to more complex or complementary methods such as mini-Winkler extractor. Also, different types of attractive baits, sampling effort, durations, and designs are used in dung beetle studies. Variations in methodological approaches are particularly noted in the Neotropics, which may be related to the vast number of biological strategies and behavior of dung beetles that inhabit this region. A lack of methodological unification for the Neotropical region makes a cross-sectional analysis of the information impossible. Methods: We performed a compilation and analytical review of the existing literature for dung beetle sampling in the Neotropics, discussing the most used methodologies, their advantages and disadvantages, and specific cases in which particular models are more efficient. Results: Pitfall traps baited with human excrement are the most common sampling method, but there is a wide range of models and variations in the structure of this trap. The complementary effect generated by flight interception traps, light traps, and direct collections, particularly within microhabitats, is exciting for the potential of finding new species. Some methodologies, such as mini-Winkler extractor, fogging, or very specific baits, are infrequently used. Discussion: There was a lack of inclusion of spatial and temporal variation among studies. Therefore, it is necessary to consider broader sampling windows, which include different spatial scales, seasons, and years. Finally, we propose a standard protocol for sampling dung beetles in the Neotropics, depending on each objective, and including a basic methodology for obtaining complete local inventories

Prácticas alimentarias de los adolescentes de Cantabria

Objetivo. Analizar determinadas prácticas alimentarias en adolescentes escolarizados en centros de educación pública de Cantabria, participantes en el Proyecto "Promoción de Hábitos Saludables en Adolescentes desde el Ámbito Educativo". Sujetos. Se realizó un estudio transversal, analizando una muestra de 1.101 adolescentes: 568 (51,6%) varones y 533 (48,4%) mujeres, de edades comprendidas entre los 10 y los 17 años, escolarizados en dieciséis centros de enseñanza primaria y secundaria, mediante un cuestionario autocumplimentado. Resultados. Los adolescentes suelen realizar entre cuatro (41,5%) y cinco (31,6%) ingestas diarias. Durante los días de colegio, el 34% emplea entre diez y quince minutos en desayunar, y entre 30 y 35 minutos en comer (33,5%) y cenar (23%). Un elevado porcentaje (49,4%) de adolescentes desayunaba en soledad durante los días lectivos. Las principales ingestas alimenticias se realizan en el hogar. Las bebidas no alcohólicas (53,6%) y los dulces (42%) son los principales destinos de su dinero de bolsillo. En la casi totalidad de los hogares, es la madre la que se encarga de la compra de los alimentos, de la preparación de las comidas y de decidir tanto el almuerzo como la merienda. La pizza (72,6%) y las patatas fritas (70,8%) son los alimentos considerados más ricos entre los analizados, mientras que el perrito caliente (49,4%) y la hamburguesa (48,5%) son considerados como los menos sanos. El 58,6% de los encuestados cena viendo la televisión. Conclusión. En el estudio del comportamiento alimentario es necesario analizar la influencia de otros factores que, en muchas ocasiones, están detrás de las recomendaciones dietéticas y que casi siempre son ignorados. Prácticas alimentarias como las analizadas en el presente estudio, permiten, cuando estas se desarrollan de forma adecuada, una mejora sustancial en la salud alimentaria y nutricional de las personas

Milagro limits and HAWC sensitivity for the rate-density of evaporating Primordial Black Holes

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