Application of Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. in the bioconversion of urban leachates into industrially relevant metabolites

This paper explores the ability of Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. to convert landfill leachates into usable metabolites. Different concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, and 10% v/v) of leachate coupled with an inorganic carbon source (Na2CO3, and NaHCO3) were tested to improve biomass production, metabolites synthesis, and removal of NO3 and PO4 . The result shows that both strains can effectively grow in media with up to 5% (v/v) leachate, while significantly reducing the concentrations of NO3, and PO4 (80 and 50%, respectively). The addition of NaHCO3 as a carbon source improved the final concentration of biomass, lipids, carbohydrates, and the removal of NO3 and PO4 in both strains

Scientific drilling projects in ancient lakes: integrating geological and biological histories

Sedimentary sequences in ancient or long-lived lakes can reach several thousands of meters in thickness and often provide an unrivalled perspective of the lake's regional climatic, environmental, and biological history. Over the last few years, deep drilling projects in ancient lakes became increasingly multi- and interdisciplinary, as, among others, seismological, sedimentological, biogeochemical, climatic, environmental, paleontological, and evolutionary information can be obtained from sediment cores. However, these multi- and interdisciplinary projects pose several challenges. The scientists involved typically approach problems from different scientific perspectives and backgrounds, and setting up the program requires clear communication and the alignment of interests. One of the most challenging tasks, besides the actual drilling operation, is to link diverse datasets with varying resolution, data quality, and age uncertainties to answer interdisciplinary questions synthetically and coherently. These problems are especially relevant when secondary data, i.e., datasets obtained independently of the drilling operation, are incorporated in analyses. Nonetheless, the inclusion of secondary information, such as isotopic data from fossils found in outcrops or genetic data from extant species, may help to achieve synthetic answers. Recent technological and methodological advances in paleolimnology are likely to increase the possibilities of integrating secondary information, e.g., through molecular dating of molecular phylogenies. Some of the new approaches have started to revolutionize scientific drilling in ancient lakes, but at the same time, they also add a new layer of complexity to the generation and analysis of sediment core data. The enhanced opportunities presented by new scientific approaches to study the paleolimnological history of these lakes, therefore, come at the expense of higher logistic, communication, and analytical efforts. Here we review types of data that can be obtained in ancient lake drilling projects and the analytical approaches that can be applied to empirically and statistically link diverse datasets for creating an integrative perspective on geological and biological data. In doing so, we highlight strengths and potential weaknesses of new methods and analyses, and provide recommendations for future interdisciplinary deep drilling projects

Understanding China: culture, ec onomics and development policy succe ssful

En 1970 la economía china exhibía niveles de productividad, crecimiento económico, inequidad y pobreza peores que la mayoría de economías de América Latina, incluyendo la colombiana. Cuarenta años más tarde algunas estimaciones sugieren que en menos de una década el crecimiento económico de China superará al norteamericano, los niveles de productividad y competitividad han aumentado de manera extraordinaria y los indicadores sociales han mejorado sustancialmente. En el presente documento se realiza un análisis económico exploratorio de este fenómeno en tres sentidos: las diferencias sociales y culturales, las diferencias en las concepciones teóricas y algunas políticas exitosas, de forma analítica y comparada con la economía colombiana.In 1970 China’s economy exhibited levels of productivity, economic growth, inequality and poverty worse that Latin American economies including Colombia. Forty years later, some estimates suggest that in less than a decade China’s economic growth will surpass United State. Levels of productivity and competitiveness have increased dramatically and social indicators have improved substantially. This document provides an exploratory economic analysis of this phenomenon in three ways: social and cultural differences, differences in the theoretical concepts and some successful policies, analytically and compared with the Colombian economy

Detection of structural damage and estimation of reliability using a multidimensional monitoring approach

Many structural elements are exposed to load conditions that are difficult to model during the design phase, such as environmental uncertainties, random impacts, and overloading, amongst others, thus increasing unprogrammed maintenance and reducing confidence in the reliability of the structure in question. One way to deal with this problem is to monitor the structural condition of the element. This approach requires supervising several signals coming from critical locations and then performing an accurate condition estimation of the element in question based on the data collected. This study implements a method to diagnose and evaluate the reliability of the bolster beam structure of the railway vehicle during a fatigue test. The results show that multidimensional monitoring not only diagnoses the element accurately but also results in correct estimation of reliability. © 2017, © IMechE 2017

Curvature and confinement effects on chiral liquid crystal morphologies

Chiral liquid crystals (ChLCs) exhibit an inherent twist that originates at the molecular scale and can extend over multiple length scales when unconstrained. Under confinement, the twist is thwarted, leading to formation of defects in the molecular order that offer distinct optical responses and opportunities for colloidal driven assembly. Past studies have explored spheroidal confinement down to the nanoscopic regime, where curved boundaries produce surface defects to accommodate topological constraints and restrict the propagation of cuboidal defect networks. Similarly, strict confinement in channels and shells has been shown to give rise to escaped configurations and skyrmions. However, little is known about the role of extrinsic curvature in the development of cholesteric textures and Blue Phases (BP). In this paper, we examine the palette of morphologies that arises when ChLCs are confined in toroidal and cylindrical cavities. The equilibrium morphologies are obtained following an annealing strategy of a Landau-de Gennes free energy functional. Three dimensionless groups are identified to build phase diagrams: the natural twist, the ratio of elastic energies, and the circumscription of a BP cell. Curvature is shown to introduce helical features that are first observed as a Double Twist, and progress to Chiral Ribbons and, ultimately, Helical BP and BP. Chiral ribbons are examined as useful candidates for driven assembly given their tunability and robustness

Application of <i>Chlorella</i> sp. and <i>Scenedesmus</i> sp. in the Bioconversion of Urban Leachates into Industrially Relevant Metabolites

This paper explores the ability of Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. to convert landfill leachates into usable metabolites. Different concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, and 10% v/v) of leachate coupled with an inorganic carbon source (Na2CO3, and NaHCO3) were tested to improve biomass production, metabolites synthesis, and removal of NO3 and PO4. The result shows that both strains can effectively grow in media with up to 5% (v/v) leachate, while significantly reducing the concentrations of NO3, and PO4 (80 and 50%, respectively). The addition of NaHCO3 as a carbon source improved the final concentration of biomass, lipids, carbohydrates, and the removal of NO3 and PO4 in both strains

El consumo de alcohol en personal administrativo y de servicios de una universidad del Ecuador O consumo de álcool em pessoal administrativo e de serviço de uma universidade do Equador Alcohol consumption in administrative and service personnel in an Ecuadorian university

Se trata de un estudio descriptivo. El objetivo de la investigación fue describir el consumo de alcohol entre los trabajadores en el sector administrativo y de servicios en una universidad en Ecuador y determinar las diferencias en el consumo entre los dos grupos de trabajadores. Participaron 102 trabajadores respondiendo al Cuestionario de Identificación de los Trastornos debidos al Consumo de Alcohol (AUDIT). Los resultados mostraron que el personal de servicios consume más alcohol que el administrativo con un promedio de puntuación total de 7,26 frente a 1,84; presencia de consumo sensato 79,41%; consumo perjudicial 19,61%; y, dependencia plena 0,98%. En el nivel 1 de riesgo de consumo están 76,47%; en el nivel 2, 18,63%; en el nivel 3, 3,92%; y, en nivel 4, 0,98%. Se concluyó que frente a la identificación del riesgo de consumo encontrado, es necesaria la implantación de un programa de prevención de uso de drogas en la institución estudiada.<br>Trata-se de pesquisa descritiva. O objetivo da pesquisa foi descrever o consumo de álcool entre trabalhadores do setor administrativo e de serviços de uma universidade do Equador e verificar diferenças de consumo, entre os dois grupos de trabalhadores. Dos participantes, 102 responderam ao Questionário de Identificação de Transtornos devidos ao Consumo de Álcool (AUDIT). Os resultados mostraram que o pessoal de serviço consume mais álcool que o administrativo, com média de pontuação total de 7,26 e 1,84, respectivamente; presença de consumo sensato entre os funcionários foi de 79,41%, consumo prejudicial de 19,61% e dependência plena 0,98%. No nível 1 de risco de consumo estão 76,47% dos trabalhadores, no nível 2 estão cerca de 18,63%, no nível 3 cerca de 3,92% e no nível 4, 0,98% das pessoas. Conclui-se que, frente à identificação de riscos de consumo encontrados, é necessário a implantação de um programa de prevenção ao uso de drogas na instituição estudada.<br>The aim of this descriptive study was to characterize the consumption of alcohol among workers in the administrative and service sectors at an Ecuadorian university and to determine differences in consumption between the two groups of workers. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was applied to 102 participants. The results showed that the service personnel consumed more alcohol than the administrative personnel with a mean total score of 7.26 against 1.84. The total prevalence of non-prejudicial consumption was 79.41%, prejudicial consumption 19.61% and dependency 0.98%. The total scores of 76.47% of the participants were within risk zone one; 18.63% risk zone two; 3.92% risk zone three; 0.98% risk zone four. In conclusion, due to the identification of hazardous consumption, it is necessary to implement a program of alcohol use prevention in the institution studied

Retos y perspectivas del derecho administrativo : segunda parte

Bajo la denominación de , la presente obra colectiva presenta las ponencias expuestas por los participantes en el Seminario que con el mismo nombre organizó la Facultad de Jurisprudencia de la Universidad del Rosario para conmemorar el décimo aniversario de la Maestría de Derecho Administrativo. El seminario tuvo como objetivos ofrecer una retrospectiva de la evolución histórica del derecho administrativo nacional y comparado con los ejes de internacionalización. Protección de los derechos y actuación administrativa y jurisdiccional: presentar una visión reflexiva acerca de los cambios ocurridos en los contenidos del derecho administrativo determinado por las transformaciones del Estado social y democrático de derecho; y mostrar las tendencias contemporáneas de construcción del derecho administrativo como respuesta a la globalización y la internacionalización