Boron removal from desalinated seawater for irrigation with an on-farm reverse osmosis system in Southeastern Spain

Seawater desalination can provide water for irrigation in coastal regions where freshwater resources are scarce. Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most common technique to obtain desalinated seawater (DSW) worldwide. However, using DSW for irrigation may pose an agronomic risk as RO permeates have a boron concentration above the phytotoxicity thresholds of some sensitive crops, such as woody crops (0.5 to 1.0 mg/L). In this study, an on-farm RO system designed to reduce the boron concentration of DSW was evaluated from a technical and economic perspective. The impact of variations in the operating parameters feed water temperature, pressure, and pH, on the boron reduction process was assessed. The results showed that boron rejections close to 99% can be obtained by increasing the feed water pH to 11 with an operating pressure of 10 bar. Looking at the affordability of the system, a total production cost of 1.076 EUR/m3 was estimated for the 1.1 m3/h on-farm system used in the trial. However, this cost is expected to decrease to 0.307 EUR/m3 for a commercial RO plant (42 m3/h), highlighting the importance of the scale factor. Our results provide novel guidance on the feasibility of implementing on-farm boron removal RO systems, when DSW is provided by coastal plants with boron concentrations above the crop tolerance.This study was supported by the Ministry for Science and Innovation (MCIN, Spain), the State Research Agency (AEI, Spain) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF, EU) under the project SEARRISOST (RTC-2017-6192-2). Imbernón-Mulero acknowledges the support for his PhD work from the project SEA4CROP (MCIN/AEI/PID2020-118492RA-C22) and the predoctoral program of the Technical University of Cartagena (RV-484/21, UPCT, Spain). Gallego-Elvira acknowledges the support from The Ministry of Science, Innovation and University of Spain (“Beatriz Galindo” Fellowship BEAGAL18/00081)

Ion exchange resins to reduce boron in desalinated seawater for irrigation in Southeastern Spain

Desalinated seawater (DSW) can provide water resources for irrigation in coastal regions where freshwater is scarce. Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most common technique to obtain DSW worldwide. Nevertheless, using DSW for irrigation could pose an agronomic risk as RO permeates may have a boron concentration above the phytotoxicity thresholds of certain crops, such as woody crops (0.5 to 1.0 mg/L). In this study, an on-farm ion exchange resin system with an average flow of 1 m3/h, designed to reduce the boron concentration of DSW, was evaluated from a technical and economic perspective. The impact of variations in the feed water and operating temperatures on the boron reduction process was assessed. The results show that the system can provide an outflow with a boron concentration below the threshold of 0.5 mg/L over 92 h of operation, with boron rejections of up to 99% during the first 41 h. The estimated cost of boron removal with the on-farm system of the trial was EUR 0.992/m3. However, this cost is expected to decrease to EUR 0.226/m3 for a commercial ion exchange resin (IX) plant (20 m3/h), highlighting the importance of the scale factor. Our results provide novel guidance on the viability of using boron removal IX systems for farms irrigated with DSW, when it is provided by coastal plants with boron concentrations above the crop tolerance.This research and the APC were funded by the Ministry for Science and Innovation and the State Research Agency (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, Spain) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF, EU) under the projects SEARRISOST (RTC-2017-6192-2) and SEA4CROP (PID2020-118492RA-C22). Imbernón-Mulero acknowledges the support for his PhD work from the project SEA4CROP and the predoctoral program of the Technical University of Cartagena (RV-484/21, UPCT, Spain). B. Gallego-Elvira acknowledges the support from the Spanish Ministry of Universities (“Beatriz Galindo” Fellowship BEAGAL18/00081)

Caracterización técnico-económica de la reducción de boro en agua marina desalinizada mediante resinas de intercambio iónico

La Cuenca del Segura (Sureste de España) se caracteriza por una marcada escasez hídrica, lo que ha suscitado el frecuente uso de recursos hídricos no convencionales, como el agua marina desalinizada (AMD), para el riego y abastecimiento. El AMD, a pesar de su baja conductividad eléctrica comprendida entre 0,36 y 0,90 dS/m, se caracteriza por una elevada concentración de boro, cloruro y sodio. El boro, aun siendo un elemento esencial para los cultivos, se puede presentar en el AMD en una concentración tóxica y puede suponer un riesgo para las cosechas. Existen diversos métodos para la reducción y eliminación de boro en AMD, entre los que se encuentran las resinas de intercambio iónico (RII). La principal característica de una resina es su selectividad específica por un elemento, la cual está determinada por su composición química y estructura molecular. Gracias a esta selectividad, y de manera contraria a otros métodos como las membranas de ósmosis inversa, método más extendido en el mundo en la actualidad, la resina no produce un agua prácticamente desmineralizada. En este estudió se evaluó el efecto de un equipo de RII, con selectividad por el boro, en la reducción de dicho elemento en AMD, así como su coste y su eficiencia energética. Los resultados obtenidos indicaron que la resina empleada, Amberlite PWA10, eliminó el boro del AMD de forma eficaz, y mostró una elevada eficiencia desde el punto de vista energético. Sin embargo, el elevado coste de inversión del equipo y los costes operativos de mantenimiento pueden resultar su principal inconveniente

Effects of swimming on spirometric parameters and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children and adolescents with moderate persistent atopic asthma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the medium-term benefits of a swimming program in schoolchildren and adolescents with moderate persistent atopic asthma (MPAA). METHODS: A randomized, prospective study of children and adolescents (age 7-18 years) with MPAA was carried out at the Hospital de Clínicas of Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil. After a 1-month run-in period, 61 patients (34 female) were randomized into two groups, a swimming group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 31), and followed for 3 months. Both patient groups received inhaled fluticasone (dry powder, 250 mcg twice a day) and salbutamol as needed. The swim training program consisted of two weekly classes over a 3-month period for a total of 24 sessions. Both groups underwent spirometric assessment and methacholine challenge test - provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20) - before and after the study period. Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured only in the swimming group. RESULTS: Significant increases in PC20 (pre-training, 0.31±0.25; post-training, 0.63±0.78; p = 0.008), MIP (pre-training, 67.08±17.13 cm H2O; post-training 79.46±18.66; p < 0.001), and MEP (pre-training, 71.69±20.01 cm H2O; post-training, 78.92±21.45 cm H2O; p < 0.001) were found in the swimming group. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with MPAA subjected to a swim training program experienced a significant decrease in bronchial hyperresponsiveness, as determined by increased PC20 values, when compared with asthmatic controls who did not undergo swim training. Participants in the swimming group also showed improvement in elastic recoil of the chest wall.OBJETIVO: Investigar os benefícios a médio prazo de um programa de natação em escolares e adolescentes com asma atópica persistente moderada (AAPM). MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um estudo randomizado e prospectivo com crianças e adolescentes (7-18 anos de idade) com AAPM no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP). Após um período de run in de um mês, 61 pacientes (34 femininos) foram randomizados em dois grupos: grupo natação (GN) (n = 30) e grupo controle (GC) (n = 31) e foram acompanhados durante 3 meses. Os dois grupos receberam fluticasona (pó) inalada (250 mcg, 2 vezes ao dia) diariamente e salbutamol inalado, quando necessário. O programa de natação consistiu em um total de 24 aulas, duas vezes por semana, por 3 meses. O GN e o GC realizaram espirometria, teste de broncoprovocação com metacolina (provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1, PC20 de metacolina), antes e após os 3 meses de estudo. Pressão inspiratória máxima (PImax) e pressão expiratória máxima (PEmax) foram realizadas somente no GN. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que o GN apresentou aumento significativo da PC20 de metacolina (inicial 0,31±0,25 e final 0,63±0,78; p = 0,008), pressão inspiratória máxima (inicial 67,08±17,13 cm H2O e final 79,46±18,66; p < 0,001), pressão expiratória máxima (inicial 71,69±20,01 cm H2O e final 78,92±21,45 cm H2O; p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Crianças e adolescentes com AAPM que se submeteram a um programa de natação apresentaram diminuição estatisticamente significativa da hiper-responsividade brônquica, com aumento dos valores da PC20 de metacolina, quando comparados aos com AAPM que não realizaram natação. O GN também apresentou melhora no componente da força elástica do tórax.38439

Camino hacia nuevas ciudadanías

Camino hacia nuevas ciudadanías es el resultado de un trabajo conjunto del Departamento Administrativo de Bienestar Social -DABS— y el Instituto Pensar de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana en el cual —bajo la convicción de que las alianzas entre el sector público y la academia son cruciales para ampliar nuestra comprensión de la realidad en que vivimos— invitamos a reconocidos estudiosos e investigadores en asuntos sociales v políticos para que compartieran con formadores y formadoras del DABS sus planteamientos en torno a la construcción de nuevas ciudadanías. Este libro recoge el primer ciclo de conferencias en donde María Emma Wills, José Bernardo loro, Angela María Estrada, Nelson Ortiz, Ana Rico de Alonso, Guillermo Hoyos, Luis Jorge Garay, Libardo Sarmiento, Carlos Gaviria, Luis Fernando Orduz y Antanas Mockus nos mostraron un panorama amplio de lo que significa movernos hacia una concepción constitutiva de ciudadanía que nos lleve a un verdadero reconocimiento social de todas y cada una de las personas que habitan nuestro territorio y a una igualdad de participación que supone una redistribución económica, de tal suerte ésta, nuestra Bogotá, sea una muestra fehaciente de una sociedad democrática

In COVID-19 Health Messaging, Loss Framing Increases Anxiety with Little-to-No Concomitant Benefits: Experimental Evidence from 84 Countries

The COVID-19 pandemic (and its aftermath) highlights a critical need to communicate health information effectively to the global public. Given that subtle differences in information framing can have meaningful effects on behavior, behavioral science research highlights a pressing question: Is it more effective to frame COVID-19 health messages in terms of potential losses (e.g., "If you do not practice these steps, you can endanger yourself and others") or potential gains (e.g., "If you practice these steps, you can protect yourself and others")? Collecting data in 48 languages from 15,929 participants in 84 countries, we experimentally tested the effects of message framing on COVID-19-related judgments, intentions, and feelings. Loss- (vs. gain-) framed messages increased self-reported anxiety among participants cross-nationally with little-to-no impact on policy attitudes, behavioral intentions, or information seeking relevant to pandemic risks. These results were consistent across 84 countries, three variations of the message framing wording, and 560 data processing and analytic choices. Thus, results provide an empirical answer to a global communication question and highlight the emotional toll of loss-framed messages. Critically, this work demonstrates the importance of considering unintended affective consequences when evaluating nudge-style interventions

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world