Mathematical Modeling of Perfect Decoupled Control System and Its Application: A Reverse Osmosis Desalination Industrial-Scale Unit

This short paper outlines the computer simulation using real data of a decoupled control system for a desalination unit. The control strategy incorporated a perfect decoupled controller for the control of the fresh water flow and conductivity. The model was estimated using real data and empirical tools instead of mass balances. The success is demonstrated in the reduction of wide fluctuations in the variables of the process and decreasing of the sensibility to the changes of pressure and/or pH and allows predicting problems of quality of water and waste of energy in the future

Tratamiento médico de la estenosis arterial intracraneal. ¿Es el mismo en prevención primaria que en secundaria?

In this study we review the risk factors associated with the formation and progression of an atheroma plaque, the mechanism involved in cerebral ischemia secondary to intracranial atheromatosis and possible medical treatment in primary and secondary prevention. DEVELOPMENT: Medical treatment of intracranial stenoses (ICS) is aimed at stopping the progression of the atheroma plaque and at preventing recurrences in the case of symptomatic stenoses. It is based on the control of vascular risk factors, the use of statins and antithrombotic therapy (antiplatelet or anticoagulation drugs). Although antiplatelet agents have not proved to be beneficial in the primary prevention of stroke, they are recommended in patients with ICS in order to lower the risk of heart attack associated with this pathology. The use of antiplatelet drugs in the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke secondary to an ICS is based on clinical trials which have shown that antiaggregation prevents non-cardioembolic strokes. Nevertheless, several retrospective studies have observed that oral anticoagulation is better than antiaggregation with aspirin. Two prospective clinical trials are currently being conducted which will, in the next few years, help to determine what the first choice medical treatment is for this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Medical treatment of ICS patients must include the control of vascular risk factors and the use of statins. New studies are needed to be able to establish the first choice antithrombotic drug in secondary prevention

Experimental data from flesh quality assessment and shelf life monitoring of high pressure processed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillets

Fresh fish are highly perishable food products and their short shelf-life limits their commercial exploitation and leads to waste, which has a negative impact on aquaculture sustainability. New non-thermal food processing methods, such as high pressure (HP) processing, prolong shelf-life while assuring high food quality. The effect of HP processing (600MPa, 25 °C, 5min) on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillet quality and shelf life was investigated. The data presented comprises microbiome and proteome profiles of control and HP-processed sea bass fillets from 1 to 67 days of isothermal storage at 2 °C. Bacterial diversity was analysed by Illumina high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in pooled DNAs from control or HP-processed fillets after 1, 11 or 67 days and the raw reads were deposited in the NCBI-SRA database with accession number PRJNA517618. Yeast and fungi diversity were analysed by high-throughput sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for control and HP-processed fillets at the end of storage (11 or 67 days, respectively) and have the SRA accession number PRJNA517779. Quantitative label-free proteomics profiles were analysed by SWATH-MS (Sequential Windowed data independent Acquisition of the Total High-resolution-Mass Spectra) in myofibrillar or sarcoplasmic enriched protein extracts pooled for control or HP-processed fillets after 1, 11 and 67 days of storage. Proteome data was deposited in the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository with the dataset identifiers PXD012737. These data support the findings reported in the associated manuscript "High pressure processing of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillets and tools for flesh quality and shelf life monitoring", Tsironi et al., 2019, JFE 262:83-91, doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2019.05.010.FCT (Foundation of Science and Technology) COFASP/0002/2015; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology UID/Multi/04326/2019 POCI-01-0145-FEDER007440 UID/NEU/04539/2019info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estudio y propuesta de intervención de una obra policromada El San Rafael de la Parroquia del Cristo de las Mercedes, Marines, Valencia

[ES] La imagen del San Rafael de la Parroquia del Cristo de las Mercedes en Marines, Valencia, es una escultura de postguerra tallada en el año 1959 atribuida a Francisco Sambonet. Su uso es procesional y devocional, ya que anualmente es sacada en procesión en la romería de las fiestas del municipio. Presenta un mal estado de conservación debido a que, tanto su estructura como su policromía, se encuentran plagadas de numerosas alteraciones: abrasiones, desgastes, pérdidas de diferentes estratos, manchas de adhesivo, suciedad superficial, y ataques biológicos. Todo ello fruto de los actos de devoción y de una conservación mejorable. En este trabajo se ha realizado un estudio técnico de la morfología de la pieza, además de un análisis detallado de las diferentes patologías que presenta la obra, tanto en su estructura como en su policromía, atendiendo la necesidad de ser intervenida de cara a la recuperación de su estado y lectura originales, y asegurando así la perdurabilidad de la pieza en futuros actos procesionales.[EN] The image of San Rafael of the Parish of Cristo de las Mercedes in Marines, Valencia, is a postwar sculpture carved in 1959 attributed to Francisco Sambonet. Its use is processional and devotional since it is annually taken in procession in the pilgrimage of the festivities of the municipality. The image presents a bad state of conservation because its structure and its polychromy are plagued by numerous alterations: abrasions, wear and tear, loss of different layers, adhesive stains, superficial dirt, and biological attacks. All of this is the result of acts of devotion and improvable conservation. In this work, we have realized a technical study of the morphology of the piece, as well as, a detailed analysis of the different pathologies that the work presents in its structure and polychromy. Taking into account the need to be intervened to recover its original state and reading, and thus ensure the durability of the piece in future processional acts.García Riverol, A. (2021). Estudio y propuesta de intervención de una obra policromada El San Rafael de la Parroquia del Cristo de las Mercedes, Marines, Valencia. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/173183TFG

Co2 storage: flow in damaged geological formations

[CASTELLÀ] El almacenamiento de CO2 supercrítico en estratos limitados por formaciones rocosas impermeables (Carbon Capture and Storage, Carbon Sequestration o, simplemente CCS) ha sido propuesto como método para reducir la emisiones a la atmósfera de gases de efecto invernadero. Sin embargo, estas técnicas pueden conducir al daño potencial de la roca como resultado de las sobrepresiones de gas. Consecuentemente, prever su comportamiento es de gran importancia para evitar la migración de fluido, una situación que reduciría la eficiencia del almacenamiento, contaminaría los acuíferos cercanos e incluso podría desencadenar eventos sísmicos debido a la reactivación de fallas. El objeto de esta tesina es estudiar varios aspectos relacionados con el CCS, centrándose en cómo el desarrollo de tales proyectos de inyección puede afectar al medio geológico. En la primera parte, el tema se desarrolla desde una perspectiva más teórica, introduciendo el concepto de CCS y revisando la teoría geotécnica más relevante en relación al flujo multifásico y al comportamiento de fracturas. El trabajo se centra luego en la importancia de la modelación numérica y, en particular, en el uso del código de elementos finitos CODE_BRIGHT para simular este tipo de problemas. En un acercamiento más práctico, un interesante caso real, el proyecto de inyección de In Salah, ha sido seleccionado como ejemplo de cómo la existencia de elementos fracturados puede alterar el comportamiento esperado de un medio geológico. De un modo simplificado, y con el objeto de entender las particularidades de este caso, se han realizado algunas simulaciones bidimensionales. Finalmente, se simula un típico entorno reservoir-caprock, como el que puede encontrarse en esquemas de almacenamiento de CO2, a partir de datos proporcionados por varios papers (Rutqvist, 2008, 2010 & 2013). Las simulaciones se llevan a cabo suponiendo tres escenarios diferentes con geometrías similares y bajo condiciones dañadas y no dañadas de la roca. Se concluye que la existencia de fracturas (aunque inicialmente cerradas) en la roca sello podría desencadenar una migración incontrolable de CO2 supercrítico hacia estratos superiores y podría conducir, además, a movimiento verticales (levantamientos) mucho mayores e incontrolados. Se estudia el caso particular de la existencia de una falla vertical (modelada como una área dañada en lugar de un plano de discontinuidad). En este caso, la zona donde la falla intersecta al estrato de inyección es especialmente crítica. Es allí donde se observa el mayor decremento de tensiones efectivas netas y, por consiguiente, es un potencial punto de rotura que podría propagar la inestabilidad de la falla, permitiendo al CO2 migrar si el incremento de permeabilidad es suficientemente grande. Se observa la formación de un camino preferencial claramente definido, y como el CO2 continúa propagándose a través de la falla hasta alcanzar un estado estacionario ya lejos del estrato de inyección.The storage of supercritical CO2 in reservoirs capped by impervious rock formations (Carbon Capture and Storage, Carbon Sequestration or, simply, CCS) has recently been proposed as an approach to reducing atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases. Nevertheless, these techniques could lead to the potential damage of the hosting rock as a result of gas overpressure. Thus, forecasting its behaviour is of utmost importance to avoid fluid migration, a situation that would reduce storage efficiency, pollute nearby aquifers and even trigger seismic events due to fault reactivation. This thesis is aimed at studying several aspects concerning Carbon Sequestration, paying special attention to how the development of such injection projects could affect geological media. The first part of the thesis approaches the topic from a more theoretical perspective, intoducing the concept of CCS and reviewing the most relevant geotechnical theory that rule multiphase flow and fracture behaviour. The work is then focused on the importance of numerical modelling and, in particular, the use of the finite element code CODE_BRIGHT to simulate this type of problems. In a more practical approach, an interesting real case, the In Salah injection project, is selected as an example of how the existence of highly conductive, fractured features can alter the expected behaviour of geological media. In a simplified manner, and in an attemp to understand the particular aspects of this case, some 2-D simulations have been carried out. Finally, a typical reservoir-caprock environment as found in CO2 storage schemes is simulated using data provided by several papers (Rutqvist, 2008, 2010 & 2013). [ANGLÈS] Simulations are carried out assuming three different scenarios for a similar geometry under damaged and undamaged conditions. It is concluded that the existence of fractures (although inititally closed) in the sealing caprock could trigger an uncontrollable migration of supercritical CO2 to upper strata and could also lead to much bigger, and also uncontrolled, vertical displacements (uplifts). The particular case in which a vertical fault (modeled as a damaged area rather than a single discontinuity plane) exists is studied. In this case, the zone where the vertical feature intersects the reservoir is especially critical. It is there where the maximum decrease in effective net stresses is observed and, thus, it is a potential failure point that could also propagate fault inestability by allowing CO2 to keep moving upwards if the increment of permeability is big enough. The formation of a clearly defined preferential path is observed, and CO2 is allowed to keep spreading through the fault until it reaches a steady state far from the injection reservoir

Optical pulsations from a transitional millisecond pulsar

Weakly magnetic, millisecond spinning neutron stars attain their very fast rotation through a 1E8-1E9 yr long phase during which they undergo disk-accretion of matter from a low mass companion star. They can be detected as accretion-powered millisecond X-ray pulsars if towards the end of this phase their magnetic field is still strong enough to channel the accreting matter towards the magnetic poles. When mass transfer is much reduced or ceases altogether, pulsed emission generated by particle acceleration in the magnetosphere and powered by the rotation of the neutron star is observed, preferentially in the radio and gamma-ray bands. A few transitional millisecond pulsars that swing between an accretion-powered X-ray pulsar regime and a rotationally-powered radio pulsar regime in response to variations of the mass in-flow rate have been recently identified. Here we report the detection of optical pulsations from a transitional pulsar, the first ever from a millisecond spinning neutron star. The pulsations were observed when the pulsar was surrounded by an accretion disk and originated inside the magnetosphere or within a few hundreds of kilometres from it. Energy arguments rule out reprocessing of accretion-powered X-ray emission and argue against a process related to accretion onto the pulsar polar caps; synchrotron emission of electrons in a rotation-powered pulsar magnetosphere seems more likely.Comment: 32 pages, 7 figures. The first two authors contributed equally to this wor