Graphene Materials to Remove Organic Pollutants and Heavy Metals from Water: Photocatalysis and Adsorption

Since graphene was isolated from graphite, different researches have been developed around it. The versatility of graphene properties and their derivates, such as graphene oxide or doped and functionalized graphene materials have expanded the possible applications of these nanostructures. The areas studied of graphene include the following: nanocomposites, drug delivery, transistors, quantum dots, optoelectronic, storage energy, sensors, catalyst support, supercapacitors, among others. However, other important field of these materials is their applications in environment, mainly in the removal of pollutants in water. In this context, there are two possible alternatives to use graphene materials in water purification: photocatalysis and adsorption. In the first case, the key is related to the bandgap and semiconductors properties of these materials, also the versatility of different graphene structures after the oxidation or functionalization, play an important role to get different arrangements useful in photocatalysis and avoid recombination, one of the problems of typical semiconductors photocatalysts. In the second case, surface area and useful chemical groups in carbon material give different options to produce efficient adsorbents depending on different synthesis conditions. Thus, this book chapter covers a review of the photocatalytic activity of graphene materials with emphasis in the removal of organic pollutants and heavy metals from water, in the next topics: graphene-based semiconductor photocatalyst and graphene oxide as photocatalyst. On the other hand, the chapter also discusses the research related to the removal of organic compounds and heavy metals using graphene materials as adsorbents, the topics in this second part are as follows: graphene and graphene oxide as adsorbent of heavy metals from water, graphene, and graphene oxide as adsorbent of organic pollutants from water, functionalized graphene materials as adsorbent of water pollutants, carbon nanomaterials vs. graphene as adsorbents. Therefore, the book chapter presents a review and the discussion of the keys that play an important role in the advances in the research of graphene materials as photocatalysts. In addition, the isotherms and kinetic that produce these materials as adsorbents are also reviewed and discussed, because adsorption process in these materials is important to remove pollutants from water, but also for adsorption is a first step to achieve photocatalyst. The future of this topic in graphene materials is also analyzed

Some results on the space of bounded second κ-variation functions

In this paper, we prove that if a globally Lipschitz non-autonomous superposition operator maps the space of functions of bounded second $\kappa$-variation into itself then its generator function satisfies a Matkowski condition. We also provide conditions for the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the Hammerstein and Volterra equations in this space

Key plant species and detritivores drive diversity effects on instream leaf litter decomposition more than functional diversity: A microcosm study

Anthropogenic impacts on freshwater ecosystems cause critical losses of biodiversity that can in turn impair key processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. Forest streams are mainly subsidized by terrestrial organic detritus, so their functioning and conservation status can be altered by changes in forest biodiversity and composition, particularly if these changes involve the replacement of functional groups or the loss of key species. We examined this issue using a microcosm experiment where we manipulated plant functional diversity (FD) (monocultures and low-FD and high-FD mixtures, resulting from different combinations of deciduous and evergreen Quercus species) and the presence of a key species (Alnus glutinosa), all in presence and absence of detritivores, and assessed effects on litter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and fungal and detritivore biomass. We found (i) positive diversity effects on detritivore-mediated decomposition, litter nutrient losses and detritivore biomass exclusively when A. glutinosa was present; and (ii) negative effects on the same processes when microbially mediated and on fungal biomass. Most positive trends could be explained by the higher litter palatability and litter trait variability obtained with the inclusion of alder leaves in the mixture. Our results support the hypothesis of a consistent slowing down of the decomposition process as a result of plant biodiversity loss, and hence effects on stream ecosystem functioning, especially when a key (N-fixing) species is lost; and underscore the importance of detritivores as drivers of plant diversity effects in the studied ecosystem processes.This study was funded by the 2014–2020 FEDER Operative Program Andalusia (RIOVEGEST project, Ref. FEDER-UAL18 -RNM -B006 – B, to J.J.C). Additional support was provided by the Spanish Ministry for Science, Innovation and Universities and FEDER (BioLoss project, Ref. RTI2018-095023- B-I00, to L.B.). Rubio-Ríos was supported by an FPU grant of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (reference FPU16/03734)

Balance of payments constraint on industrial growth in Colombia 1975-2015

En esta investigación se analiza el papel de las exportaciones e importaciones industriales en el crecimiento del sector, bajo un enfoque de crecimiento restringido por balanza de pagos, en el periodo 1975-2015. Los resultados empíricos, obtenidos a través de la técnica de corrección de errores, muestran que mientras las elasticidades ingreso de la demanda de exportaciones e importaciones industriales generan un déficit comercial, los precios tienden a contrarrestarlo; sin embargo, la balanza comercial industrial es deficitaria durante todo el periodo de análisis. Los resultados también evidencian que el sector externo industrial explica un porcentaje alto del total de las exportaciones e importaciones nacionales, aspecto paradójico y preocupante para el crecimiento agregado del país, si se considera que la participación del sector industrial en el desarrollo de la economía colombiana es cada vez menor. Se concluye que el crecimiento industrial en el país se explica por las elasticidades ingreso de la demanda de las exportaciones e importaciones y por los precios (tipo de cambio real), que el crecimiento potencial del sector es mayor al observado y que el efecto del sector industrial sobre el crecimiento del país es muy bajo.Abstract: This research analyzes the role of industrial exports and imports in the growth of the sector, under a balance ofpayments- constraint approach, in the period 1975-2015. The empirical results, obtained using the technique of correction of errors, show that while the income elasticities of demand for industrial exports and imports generate a trade deficit, prices tend to counteract it; however, the industrial trade balance is in deficit throughout the analysis period. The results also show that the external industrial sector explains a high percentage of total national exports and imports, a paradoxical and worrying aspect for the country’s aggregate growth, taking into account that the participation of the industrial sector in the growth of the Colombian economy is increasingly smaller. The final conclusion is that industrial growth in Colombia is explained by the income elasticities of demand for exports and imports and by prices (real exchange rate); similarly, the potential growth of the sector is greater than the observed, and the effect of the industrial sector on the country’s growth is very low

Detecting Mutations in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Pyrazinamidase Gene pncA to Improve Infection Control and Decrease Drug Resistance Rates in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Coinfection.

Hospital infection control measures are crucial to tuberculosis (TB) control strategies within settings caring for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, as these patients are at heightened risk of developing TB. Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a potent drug that effectively sterilizes persistent Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli. However, PZA resistance associated with mutations in the nicotinamidase/pyrazinamidase coding gene, pncA, is increasing. A total of 794 patient isolates obtained from four sites in Lima, Peru, underwent spoligotyping and drug resistance testing. In one of these sites, the HIV unit of Hospital Dos de Mayo (HDM), an isolation ward for HIV/TB coinfected patients opened during the study as an infection control intervention: circulating genotypes and drug resistance pre- and postintervention were compared. All other sites cared for HIV-negative outpatients: genotypes and drug resistance rates from these sites were compared with those from HDM. HDM patients showed high concordance between multidrug resistance, PZA resistance according to the Wayne method, the two most common genotypes (spoligotype international type [SIT] 42 of the Latino American-Mediterranean (LAM)-9 clade and SIT 53 of the T1 clade), and the two most common pncA mutations (G145A and A403C). These associations were absent among community isolates. The infection control intervention was associated with 58-92% reductions in TB caused by SIT 42 or SIT 53 genotypes (odds ratio [OR] = 0.420, P = 0.003); multidrug-resistant TB (OR = 0.349, P < 0.001); and PZA-resistant TB (OR = 0.076, P < 0.001). In conclusion, pncA mutation typing, with resistance testing and spoligotyping, was useful in identifying a nosocomial TB outbreak and demonstrating its resolution after implementation of infection control measures

Comparison of European eel sperm cryopreservation protocols with standardization as a target

[EN] The critical situation of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has urged the development of sperm cryopreservation protocols for reproduction in captivity and cryobanking. In the last years, two research groups have developed their own protocols in Spain and Hungary with positive results, but difficult to compare. Here, a series of experiments were conducted to test the quality of thawed sperm after using both protocols, determining which of them produce the best results and aiming for standardization. The quality of thawed sperm was assessed by studying the motility and kinetic values of thawed sperm from both cryopreservation protocols using a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA-Mot) system. In addition, a viability analysis was performed using flow cytometry to test if the cryoprotectants or the freezing-thawing process led to a reduction in spermatozoa survival. Furthermore, since during cryopreservation the sperm was treated with methylated cryoprotectants (DMSO or methanol) that may induce epigenetic changes in the sperm DNA (cytosine methylation) and could affect the offspring, we conducted a luminometric methylation assay (LUMA) to study the DNA methylation levels induced by both protocols. In this work, all the above-mentioned parameters were analyzed in fresh and frozen-thawed sperm samples. Our results showed that thawed sperm samples from both protocols presented lower sperm motility and velocity, and lower percentage of live cells than those shown in fresh sperm samples. Furthermore, sperm samples from the methanol based protocol showed significantly higher motility, velocity and percentage of live spermatozoa than the same sperm samples treated with the DMSO based protocol. In addition, the DMSO based protocol induced a hypomethylation of sperm DNA compared to fresh samples whereas the methanol based protocol did not alter sperm DNA methylation level. Our results indicate that the methanol based protocol is a more suitable protocol that preserves better the motility and genetic qualities of the European eel sperm.Funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement N 642893 (IMPRESS), including the JGHJ and CR predoctoral contracts, the French CRB Anim project "Investissements d'avenir", ANR-11-INBS-0003, as well as the Hungarian EFOP 3.6.3.-VEKOP 16.-2017-00008 project, and by the Higher Education Institutional Excellence Program (1783-3/2018/FEKUTSRAT) awarded by the Ministry of Human Capacities within the framework of water related researches of Szent Istvan University. MM, EK, TK and AH were granted with Short Term Scientific Missions by the COST Office (COST Action FA1205: AQUAGAMETE).Herranz-Jusdado, JG.; Gallego Albiach, V.; Morini, M.; Rozenfeld, C.; Pérez Igualada, LM.; Kása, E.; Kollár, T.... (2019). Comparison of European eel sperm cryopreservation protocols with standardization as a target. Aquaculture. 498:539-544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.09.00653954449

Proyecto de emprendimiento para la venta de artesanía textil mexicana

En este trabajo se presenta un modelo de negocios para comercializar textiles artesanales mexicanos en el mercado europeo a través de una plataforma web de comercio electrónico. Para la creación de este proyecto, se realizó un análisis de la industria textil y de la comercialización de artesanías, un estudio de mercado, del mercado meta y de las tendencias. De igual forma, se muestra el plan estratégico de acción mediante el cual se pretende implementar y darle seguimiento al negocio

Rheological and functional properties of dark chocolate with partial substitution of peanuts and sacha inchi

Chocolate is a widely consumed product, due to the contribution of fats and antioxidant compounds; the addition of other components makes it possible to increase the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, although they can affect its rheological properties. The influence of the partial addition of peanut paste and Sacha Inchi on the rheological and functional properties of dark chocolate was evaluated. Cocoa beans, peanuts, and Sacha Inchi were refined in order to obtain the cocoa paste (PC), peanut paste (PM), and Sacha Inchi paste (PSI). Then, mixtures between 0 to 20% of PM and PSI were formulated, and the rheological properties were evaluated at 30, 40, and 50 C; these were adjusted to mathematical models. Functional groups were identified by FTIR in ATR mode, and it was observed that the partial addition of PM and PSI did not show significant changes in the shear stress and apparent viscosity of the mixture, although they did show dependence on temperature. The Herschel–Bulkley model showed a better adjustment (R2 > 0.999), reporting behavior index values, n < 1.0, and indicating pseudo-plastic behavior for pastes and formulations. The yield limit ty and the consistency index kH increased significantly with the addition of PM and PSI, but they decreased with increasing temperature. The activation energy show values between 13.98 to 18.74 kJ/mol, and it increased significantly with the addition of PM and PSI. Infrared analysis evidenced the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, coming mainly from PSI and PM. The addition of PM and PSI does not influence the rheological properties and allows for an increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids

LRP10, PGK1 and RPLP0: best reference genes in periprostatic adipose tissue under obesity and prostate cancer conditions

Obesity (OB) is a metabolic disorder characterized by adipose tissue dysfunction that has emerged as a health problem of epidemic proportions in recent decades. OB is associated with multiple comorbidities, including some types of cancers. Specifically, prostate cancer (PCa) has been postulated as one of the tumors that could have a causal relationship with OB. Particularly, a specialized adipose tissue (AT) depot known as periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT) has gained increasing attention over the last few years as it could be a key player in the pathophysiological interaction between PCa and OB. However, to date, no studies have defined the most appropriate internal reference genes (IRGs) to be used in gene expression studies in this AT depot. In this work, two independent cohorts of PPAT samples (n = 20/n = 48) were used to assess the validity of a battery of 15 literature-selected IRGs using two widely used techniques (reverse transcription quantitative PCR [RT-qPCR] and microfluidic-based qPCR array). For this purpose, ΔCt method, GeNorm (v3.5), BestKeeper (v1.0), NormFinder (v.20.0), and RefFinder software were employed to assess the overall trends of our analyses. LRP10, PGK1, and RPLP0 were identified as the best IRGs to be used for gene expression studies in human PPATs, specifically when considering PCa and OB conditions

Los extranjeros residentes en Puerto Rico: ¿Dónde se ubican geográficamente y cuáles son sus características sociodemográficas?

Background/Objective. Among many distinctive qualities, Puerto Rico characterizes itself by having a large output of migrants. Immigrants on the other hand counterbalance the migrant flow in terms of volume and characteristics. The objective of this investigation was to analyze the geographic concentration and sociodemographic traits of the islands’ foreign population. Methods. The prime source of information for this study was The Puerto Rico Community Survey, 2011-2015. The study was transversal-descriptive. The Gini concentration index was calculated to analyze spatial distribution. Results. 8% of the total population of Puerto Rico was born outside of the island. The majority of that 8% was born in the United States (62%), while the rest was born in the Dominican Republic (21%) and Cuba (4.3%). The highest proportion rates of non-natives where found in San Juan (17%), while the rest were divided among the municipalities of Bayamon (11%), Carolina (10%) and Caguas (9.7%). This population group presented a higher Gini concentration index (.58) than the native population (.41). The regions with the highest concentration were: the Northeast (.52) and the Interior West (.41). These have an older age structure, a higher proportion of females and a higher level of education; divorcees and legally separated individuals were predominant, while the native population was predominantly single. Non-natives had a higher salary median and a lower percentage of poor individuals. Conclusion. That part of the population that was born outside of Puerto Rico shows characteristics that differentiate them from those that were born on the mainland. The foreign population of Puerto Rico has a bigger advantage than the native born citizens when it comes to education and salaries. The characteristics and geographic location of this foreign population need to be considered in the political economy procedures of Puerto Rico.Transfondo/objetivos. Puerto Rico se caracteriza por ser un país emisor de migrantes. Los inmigrantes contrabalancean los flujos emigratorios en volumen y en características. El objetivo de la investigación fue analizar la concentración geográfica y características sociodemográficas de la población no nacida en la isla. Métodos. La fuente de información fue el “Puerto Rico Community Survey”, 2011-2015. El estudio fue transversal descriptivo. Se calculó el índice de concentración de Gini para analizar la distribución espacial. Resultados. El 8% de la población nació fuera de PR. La mayor parte nació en: Estados Unidos (62%), República Dominicana (21%) y Cuba (4.3%). Las proporciones más altas de no nativos se ubicaron en: San Juan (17%), Bayamón (11.0%), Carolina (10.0%) y Caguas (9.7%). Esta población presentó un índice de concentración de GINI mayor (.58) que los nativos (.41). Las regiones de mayor concentración fueron: Noreste (.52) e Interior Oeste (.41). Estos tienen una estructura de edad más vieja, mayor proporción de féminas y nivel más alto de educación; predominaron los separados y divorciados, y en los nativos los solteros. Los no nativos tienen una mayor mediana de ingreso y menor por ciento de población en pobreza. Conclusión. La población nacida fuera de PR muestra características que la diferencian de los nacidos en la isla. Esta población aventaja a la los nacidos en PR en atributos como educación e ingreso. Las características y ubicación geográfica de esta población deben de ser considerada en las políticas de desarrollo económico del país