The synthesis of novel precursors for the CVD of antimony sulphide and antimony sulpho-iodide thin films

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Polymorphisms GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1 influence in magnitude of DNA damage induced by cyclophosphamide

The differences in tail length between this “wild type group” and the other 11 genotypes recognized were statistically significant, suggesting a relation between GST genotype and cyclophosphamide induced DNA damage modulation.Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide and one of the factors associated with this is the therapeutic failure. Recently there has been an increasing interest in designing personalized therapies based on patient’s genotype. Glutathione–S-Transferase genes GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1 genes help in detoxification of various genotoxic agents such as cyclophosphamide, an indirect alkylating agent that damages the chemical structure of DNA. It is widely used with other drugs in the treatment of various cancers. Determine whether the extent of DNA damageevaluated by the comet assay performed in vitro by cyclophosphamide in lymphocytes is modulated by polymorphisms of GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1. Lymphocytes from 120 healthy donors were treated with a single concentration of cyclophosphamide and the extent of DNA damage was evaluated by a modified comet assay. Polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were identified by end-point polymerase chain reaction, while GSTP1 alleles were identified by PCR-RFLP. A great variability in the response to cyclophosphamide was found among individuals. Only 12 individuals from all the volunteer donors showed to have the complete wild genotype (GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1Ile/Ile105, Ala/Ala114) and coincidentally, this was the group with the lowest cyclophosphamide produced DNA damageCOMECY

Assessing the complementarity of future hybrid wind and solar photovoltaic energy resources for North America

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGRenewable energy plays a key role into achieving the international targets for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Considering that these forms of energy are dependent on climate conditions and that their variability occurs at different time scales, it is important to analyze the complementarity to ensure a stable power supply to the grid in the context of climate change. A multi-model ensemble of 10 global climate models from the CMIP6 project was used to analyze the complementarity between wind and solar photovoltaic power in North America from 2025 to 2054 under the SSP2-4.5 scenario. This complementarity was evaluated using two indices that account for the similarity between the two resources (Similarity index, Si) and the temporal complementarity (Concurrency index, Ci). The combination of the two resources reduced spatial heterogeneity in terms of annual mean power in North America. The highest values of Si were detected west of California and in the Caribbean Sea, and the lowest were found in Mexico. Regarding Ci, the highest values were detected in ocean areas north of 30°N. Both indices were divided into four categories to assess the most suitable areas for combining wind and solar photovoltaic power. Coastal areas in the Gulf of Mexico and substantial areas in the Caribbean Sea are considered optimal in terms of complementarity. Inland, good complementarity was observed on the US-Canada border (e.g., the Great Lakes) and in northern areas such as Alaska or the Labrador Peninsula. The lowest values of complementarity were detected in Mexico.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. PRTR-C17.I1Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. IJC2020-043745-IMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. PID2020-113245RB-I00Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. TED2021-129479A-100Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDP/50017/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB/50017/202

Comportamiento refractario de probetas de morteros conformadas con diatomitas como agregado mineral

El objetivo de este trabajo es el estudio de las propiedades puzolánicas de algunos minerales, como las diatomitas, que potencialmente pueden reaccionar con la portlandita contenida en las pastas y morteros de cemento Portland. También se estudia si estas adiciones minerales pueden incrementar la resistencia térmica y la refractariedad de los morteros. En el comportamiento de estos agregados se sigue midiendo como parámetro el comportamientopuzolánico de las diatomitas en las pastas de cemento Portland, y las variaciones de la resistencia mecánica de probetas estandarizadas construidas con y sin agregado de diatomitas. El desarrollo experimental programado consta de tratamientostérmicos a las diatomitas, reducción de tamaño hasta compatibilidad con la granulometría del cemento Portland, ensayos de DRX, análisis de puzolanidad, construcción de probetas de morteros con y sinagregado, y finalmente la medición de sus propiedades mecánicas residuales después de haber sido sometidas a elevadas temperaturas.Del análisis de los resultados experimentales se puede informar que las diatomitas estudiadas si le confieren propiedadespuzolánicas al cemento Portland, y como consecuencia mejoran la resistencia mecánica residual de las probetas de mortero cuando son sometidas a altas temperaturas

Projected changes in the season of hot days in the Middle East and North Africa

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGThe present study analyses changes in the timing and duration of the hot days season over the Middle East and North Africa region from 1970 to 2099 using model simulations of 11 regional models from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment under the RCP8.5 scenario. In general, a non-symmetrical lengthening of the hot days season is projected, with a tendency to extend more into spring than into autumn. By the end of the century and the RCP8.5 scenario, Western Africa and the Persian Gulf display a hot days season starting 60 days earlier than in the historical period (1970–1999) (May vs. July, respectively). Southernmost latitudes are the most affected by a later retreat of the hot days season, of up to 60 days with respect to the historical period (October vs. August). The length of the extreme season is projected to increase between 100 and 120 days for the southernmost latitudes and the Persian Gulf resulting in nearly four more months with hot days conditions.Comisión Europea | Ref. INTERREG‐POCTEP 2014‐2020Comisión Europea | Ref. 0034‐RISC_ML_6_EXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2017/6

As enerxías renovables

Esenciais. Brevarios de divulgación do saberAs enerxías renovables son enerxías primarias que se renovan de forma natural. Proveñen da enerxía que chega ao noso planeta de forma continua pola acción da radiación solar ou da atracción gravitatoria da Lúa, polo que son fontes de enerxía inesgotables e limpas. Son fundamentalmente: a enerxía solar, eólica, hidráulica, mariña (das ondas e da marea), da biomasa e xeotérmica. Estas fontes de enerxía son moi diversas e atópanse accesibles para ser explotadas en calquera parte do planeta. O desenvolvemento tecnolóxico fai que as enerxías renovables sexan cada vez máis competitivas permitindo aos países ser máis independentes dos combustibles fósiles

Multi-Criteria Selection of Additives in Porous Asphalt Mixtures Using Mechanical, Hydraulic, Economic, and Environmental Indicators

Porous asphalt (PA) mixtures are more environmentally friendly but have lower durability than dense-graded mixtures. Additives can be incorporated into PA mixtures to enhance their mechanical strength; however, they may compromise the hydraulic characteristics, increase the total cost of pavement, and negatively affect the environment. In this paper, PA mixtures were produced with 5 different types of additives including 4 fibers and 1 filler. Their performances were compared with the reference mixtures containing virgin bitumen and polymer-modified bitumen. The performance of all mixes was assessed using: mechanical, hydraulic, economic, and environmental indicators. Then, the Delphi method was applied to compute the relative weights for the parameters in multi-criteria decision-making methods. Evaluation based on distance from average solution (EDAS), technique for order of the preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), and weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) were employed to rank the additives. According to the results obtained, aramid pulp displayed comparable and, for some parameters such as abrasion resistance, even better performance than polymer-modified bitumen, whereas cellulose fiber demonstrated the best performance regarding sustainability, due to economic and environmental benefits.This work and the APC are funded by SAFERUP! Project, from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 765057

Combining offshore wind and solar photovoltaic energy to stabilize energy supply under climate change scenarios: A case study on the western Iberian Peninsula

La expansión de la energía renovable marina es una importante alternativa para la reducción de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. Sin embargo, en Europa, la alta penetración de la energía eólica marina introduce intermitencia y variabilidad de energía en la red eléctrica existente. La energía solar fotovoltaica marina es otra alternativa tecnológica en consideración en los planes de descarbonización. Sin embargo, las futuras variaciones en el viento, la temperatura del aire o la radiación solar debido al cambio climático tendrán un gran impacto en los recursos de energía renovable. En este contexto, este estudio se centra en la evaluación de la energía marina en la costa de la Península Ibérica occidental, una región europea que abarca Portugal y la parte noroccidental de España. Utilizando una amplia fuente de datos de 35 simulaciones de un proyecto de investigación llamado CORDEX, este estudio investiga la complementariedad de las fuentes de energía eólica y solar marina con el objetivo de mejorar la estabilidad del suministro de energía de esta región hasta 2040. Aunque se ha demostrado que el recurso de energía eólica marina es mayor que el recurso fotovoltaico solar a escala anual, ambos recursos renovables mostraron una variabilidad significativa en energía a lo largo de la Península Ibérica occidental. Cuando se combinan ambas fuentes renovables, la estabilidad del recurso energético aumenta considerablemente a lo largo del año. El esquema propuesto de combinación de energía eólica y solar se evalúa mediante un método de clasificación de rendimiento llamado Delphi, teniendo en cuenta la estabilidad, el recurso, el riesgo y los factores económicos. El índice de clasificación total aumenta cuando la estabilidad del recurso se mejora mediante la consideración de la producción híbrida de energía eólica-fotovoltaica solar, especialmente a lo largo de las aguas cercanas a la costa.The expansion of marine renewable power is a major alternative for the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions. In Europe, however, the high penetration of offshore wind brings intermittency and power variability into the existing power grid. Offshore solar photovoltaic power is another technological alternative under consideration in the plans for decarbonization. However, future variations in wind, air temperature or solar radiation due to climate change will have a great impact on both renewable energy resources. In this context, this study focusses on the offshore energy assessment off the coast of Western Iberia, a European region encompassing Portugal and the Northwestern part of Spain. Making use of a vast source of data from 35 simulations of a research project called CORDEX, this study investigates the complementarity of offshore wind and solar energy sources with the aim of improving the energy supply stability of this region up to 2040. Although the offshore wind energy resource has proven to be higher than solar photovoltaic resource at annual scale, both renewable resources showed significant spatiotemporal energy variability throughout the western Iberian Peninsula. When both renewable resources are combined, the stability of the energy resource increased considerably throughout the year. The proposed wind and solar combination scheme is assessed by a performance classification method called Delphi, considering stability, resource, risk, and economic factors. The total index classification increases when resource stability is improved by considering hybrid offshore wind-photovoltaic solar energy production, especially along the nearshore waters.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad | Ref. FJCI-2017-32577Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2020-113245RB-I00Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB/50017/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDP/50017/2020Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2021/4