Biorefinery of agricultural residues by fractionation of their components through hydrothermal and organosolv processes

The combined production of the most abundant agricultural residues in Spain (viz. cereal straw, sunflower stalks, vine shoots, cotton stalks, olive, orange and peach tree prunings, and horticultural and related residues) amounts to over 50 million tons per year. Agricultural residues can be valorized by converting their components jointly (combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, liquefaction) or separately (fractionation). The most useful method for exploiting such components separately involves isolating cellulose fibres for papermaking purposes. In recent times, this valorization method has led to the development of the biorefining concept. Biorefining involves the fractionation or separation of the different lignocellulosic components of agricultural residues with a view totheir integral exploitation rather than the mere use of cellulose fibre to obtain paper products. Biorefining replaces the classical pulping methods based on Kraft, sulphite and soda reagents with a hydrothermal treatment followed by organosolv pulping. The hydrothermal treatment provides a liquid phase containing hemicellulose decomposition products [both oligomers and monomers (glucose, xylose, and arabinose)] and a solid phase rich in cellulose and lignin. By contrast, the organosolv process gives a solid fraction(pulp) and a residual liquid fraction containing ligninand other useful substances for various purposes

Orange tree prunings as raw material for cellulose production by the kraft process

The aim of this work was to study the influence of operational variables in the orange tree pruning kraft pulping, such as temperature (155-185 ºC), processing time (40-90 min) and active alkali concentration (10-16%) at constant values of liquid solid ratio, anthraquinone and sulfidity concentration of 8:1, 1% and 20%, respectively, on the pulp yield, lignin content, Kappa number and viscosity of the pulps and the tensile index, burst index, tear index and brightness of the paper sheets. The experimental data obtained were used to estimate the parameters or constants in the equation for the neural fuzzy model. The predictions for the yield, Kappa number, lignin content, viscosity, tensile index, burst index, tear index and brightness differ by less than 9, 8, 21, 14, 17, 21, 9, and 6% from their respective experimental values

Evaluating the role of gamification and flow in e-consumers: millennials versus generation X

This research has three main objectives. First, it examines influence of gamification on the behavioral intention to use an e-commerce platform. Second, it analyzes the role of the flow state given its importance in terms of behavior in online environments. Finally, the study aims to detect and analyze differences between Millennials and Generation X.Es la versión enviada del artículo. Se puede consultar la versión final en https://doi.org/10.1108/K-07-2018-035

Validación de la escala de engagement y efectos de la gamificación en el e-Commerce español

En este artículo presentamos la Escala de Engagement de Usuario (UES) como un instrumento válido y fiable para medir el engagement en el e-commerce español. Una vez confirmada su robustez, pretendemos comprobar si los elementos de Gamificación que se incluyen en la actualidad en sitios web de e-commerce influyen en el engagement del usuario. Se desarrollará un marco teórico sobre la escala del engagement y la Gamificación proponiendo un modelo de investigación. La UES será validada mediante el análisis exploratorio y confirmatorio, viéndose reducidos los factores que la componen. La influencia de la Gamificación sobre el engagement será comprobada mediante el empleo de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales.In this paper we present the User Engagement Scale (UES) as a valid and reliable instrument to measure engagement in Spanish e-commerce. Once confirmed its robustness, we try to verify if the elements of Gamification that are currently included in e-commerce websites influence the engagement of the user. A theoretical framework will be developed on the scale of engagement and Gamification proposing a research model. The UES will be validated through the exploratory and confirmatory analysis, reducing the factors that compose it. The influence of Gamification on engagement will be verified by the use of structural equation models

Electrostatic screening, acidic pH and macromolecular crowding increase the self-assembly efficiency of the minute virus of mice capsid in vitro

The hollow protein capsids from a number of different viruses are being considered for multiple biomedical or nanotechnological applications. In order to improve the applied potential of a given viral capsid as a nanocarrier or nanocontainer, specific conditions must be found for achieving its faithful and efficient assembly in vitro. The small size, adequate physical properties and specialized biological functions of the capsids of parvoviruses such as the minute virus of mice (MVM) make them excellent choices as nanocarriers and nanocontainers. In this study we analyzed the effects of protein concentration, macromolecular crowding, temperature, pH, ionic strength, or a combination of some of those variables on the fidelity and efficiency of self-assembly of the MVM capsid in vitro. The results revealed that the in vitro reassembly of the MVM capsid is an efficient and faithful process. Under some conditions, up to ~40% of the starting virus capsids were reassembled in vitro as free, non aggregated, correctly assembled particles. These results open up the possibility of encapsidating different compounds in VP2-only capsids of MVM during its reassembly in vitro, and encourage the use of virus-like particles of MVM as nanocontainersThis research was funded by grants from MICINN/FEDER EU (Spain, RTI2018-096635-B-100 and PID2021-126973OB-I00) to M.G.M. and by an institutional grant from Fundación Ramón Arece

Avaliação da eficiência energética do cuesco de Cacay (Caryodendron orinocense)

In the present project, the calorific value of the cacay shell (Caryodendron orinocense) from the municipality of Villavicencio was evaluated, determining the calorific power of the cacay shell to different samples that were put through to two types of drying and taken to two particle sizes. To do this, cacay shell was collected from a company dedicated to the extraction of the oil from its nut; the impurities were removed, ground and sieved. Then, they were dried by two methods, some samples were exposed to drying by oven for 12 hours and at 102°C, and other samples were dried in the sun for two days with temperatures close to 32°C, natural conditions of the city of Villavicencio, once the samples were prepared, their calorific value was determined by means of a calorimetric pump. Likewise, the energy consumption of each of the pretreatments to which the samples were subjected was estimated in order to establish an energy balance, thus determining which pretreatments are justifiable to optimize their energy performance, having as a result higher calorific value values included between 4189 and 4629 kcal/kg, with significant energy differences between all the treatments compared to the target, finding that the big size particle and oven drying was presented as having the greatest significant difference according to the analysis of the variances (ANOVA), however, it was determined that the big size particle and sun drying, has the most efficient pretreatments, in terms of energy consumption, indicating that a higher calorific value can be reached than other residual biomass.En el presente proyecto se evaluó el poder calorífico del cuesco de Cacay (Caryodendron orinocense) proveniente del municipio de Villavicencio, determinando el poder calorífico del cuesco de cacay a diferentes muestras que fueron sometidas a dos tipos de secado y llevadas a dos tamaños de partícula. Para esto se recolectaron cuescos de cacay provenientes de una empresa dedicada a la extracción del aceite de su nuez, se les retiraron las impurezas, se molieron y se tamizaron. A continuación, se sometieron a los tipos de secado, unas muestras se expusieron a secado por horno durante 12 horas y a 102°C, y otras muestras se secaron al sol durante dos días con temperaturas cercanas a los 32°C, condiciones naturales de la ciudad de Villavicencio, una vez preparadas las muestras se determinó su poder calorífico por medio de una bomba calorimétrica. Así mismo, se estimó el consumo energético de cada uno de los pretratamientos a los que fueron sometidas las muestras con el fin de establecer un balance energético, determinando así cuales pretratamientos son justificables para optimizar su desempeño energético, teniendo como resultados valores de poder calorífico superiores comprendidos entre los 4189 y 4629 kcal/kg, con diferencias energéticas significativas entre todos los tratamientos frente al blanco, encontrando que la muestra con mayor tamaño de partícula y secado artificial se presentó como la de mayor diferencia significativa de acuerdo al análisis de las varianzas (ANOVA), sin embargo se determinó que la muestra con mayor tamaño de partícula y secado solar, posee los pretratamientos más eficientes, en cuanto a consumo de energía, indicando que se puede alcanzar un poder calorífico superior al de otras biomasas residuales.No presente projeto, avaliou-se o poder calorífico da casca de cacay (Caryodendron orinocense) do município de Villavicencio, determinando o poder calorífico da casca de cacay para diferentes amostras que foram submetidas a dois tipos de secagem e levadas para dois tamanhos de partículas. Para fazer isso, a concha cacay foi coletada de uma empresa dedicada à extração do óleo de sua castanha; as impurezas foram removidas, moídas e peneiradas. Em seguida, eles foram secados por dois métodos, algumas amostras foram expostas a secagem por estufa por 12 horas e a 102°C, e outras amostras foram secas ao sol por dois dias com temperaturas próximas a 32°C, condições naturais da cidade. de Villavicencio, uma vez preparadas as amostras, seu poder calorífico foi determinado por meio de uma bomba calorimétrica. Da mesma forma, o consumo de energia de cada um dos pré-tratamentos aos quais as amostras foram submetidas foi estimado para estabelecer um balanço energético, determinando quais tratamentos prévios são justificáveis para otimizar seu desempenho energético, tendo como resultado valores de poder calorífico superior incluídos entre 4189 e 4629 kcal/kg, com diferenças significativas de energia entre todos os tratamentos em relação à meta, constatando que a partícula de grande tamanho e a secagem em estufa apresentaram a maior diferença significativa de acordo com a análise das variâncias (ANOVA), entretanto, foi determinado que a partícula de grande tamanho e a secagem ao sol têm os pré-tratamentos mais eficientes, em termos de consumo de energia, indicando que um valor calórico mais alto pode ser alcançado do que outras biomassas residuais

PCI-AER interface for Neuro-inspired Spiking Systems

Address event representation (AER) is a neuromorphic interchip communication protocol that allows for real-time connectivity between huge number neurons located on different chips. By exploiting high speed digital communication circuits (nano-seconds), synaptic neural connections can be time multiplexed (mili-seconds). When building multi-chip muti-layered AER systems it is absolutely necessary to have a computer interface that allows: (a) to read AER interchip traffic; and (b) inject a sequence of events to the AER structure. This paper presents a PCI to AER interface, that dispatches a sequence of events with timing information. It is able to recovery the possible delays introduced by AER bus. It has been implemented in real time hardware using VHDL and tested in a PCI-AER board, developed by authors, that currently capable to send and receive events at a peak rate of 16 Mev/sec, and a typical rate of 10 Mev/secEuropean Commission IST-2001-34124Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC-2003-08164-C03-0

Discovery of Phytophthora infestans Genes Expressed in Planta through Mining of cDNA Libraries

BACKGROUND: Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary causes late blight of potato and tomato, and has a broad host range within the Solanaceae family. Most studies of the Phytophthora--Solanum pathosystem have focused on gene expression in the host and have not analyzed pathogen gene expression in planta. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We describe in detail an in silico approach to mine ESTs from inoculated host plants deposited in a database in order to identify particular pathogen sequences associated with disease. We identified candidate effector genes through mining of 22,795 ESTs corresponding to P. infestans cDNA libraries in compatible and incompatible interactions with hosts from the Solanaceae family. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We annotated genes of P. infestans expressed in planta associated with late blight using different approaches and assigned putative functions to 373 out of the 501 sequences found in the P. infestans genome draft, including putative secreted proteins, domains associated with pathogenicity and poorly characterized proteins ideal for further experimental studies. Our study provides a methodology for analyzing cDNA libraries and provides an understanding of the plant--oomycete pathosystems that is independent of the host, condition, or type of sample by identifying genes of the pathogen expressed in planta

A Smart Electric Wheelchair Using UPnP

People with disabilities in general, and wheelchair users in particular, are one of the groups of people that may benefit more from Ambient Intelligent (AmI) Systems, enhancing their autonomy and quality of life. However, current wheelchairs are usually not equipped with devices capable of accessing services in AmI environments. In this paper, we describe how an electric wheelchair is equipped with an UPnP based module that allows the integration in AmI systems.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC2001-1868-C03-0