An investigation on the role of ytterbium in ytterbium promoted y-alumina-supported nickel catalysts for dry reforming of methane

Addition of low quantities of ytterbium to sol-gel prepared Ni/yAl2O3 catalysts has been shown to lead to significant increases in catalytic activity and long term stability in the catalytic conversion of CO2 and CH4 into syngas (H2 and CO). The role of ytterbium in these catalysts was investigated in this study through detailed investigations on the structure and composition of ytterbium promoted Ni/y-Al2O3 catalysts using the following techniques: synchrotron X-ray diffraction, X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis, Temperature Programmed Reduction techniques and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results obtained indicated that ytterbium, at small quantities (up to 2 wt%), interacted strongly with the support which in turn altered the interaction between nickel and the support (most notably it was found to completely inhibit the formation of NiAl2O4). This decreased interaction between Ni and the support also led to a higher quantity of Ni being present in the catalyst in the form of Ni

Soil and water bioengineering: practice and research needs for reconciling natural hazard control and ecological restoration

Soil and water bioengineering is a technology that encourages scientists and practitioners to combine their knowledge and skills in the management of ecosystems with a common goal to maximize benefits to both man and the natural environment. It involves techniques that use plants as living building materials, for: (i) natural hazard control (e.g., soil erosion, torrential floods and landslides) and (ii) ecological restoration or nature-based re-introduction of species on degraded lands, river embankments, and disturbed environments. For a bioengineering project to be successful, engineers are required to highlight all the potential benefits and ecosystem services by documenting the technical, ecological, economic and social values. The novel approaches used by bioengineers raise questions for researchers and necessitate innovation from practitioners to design bioengineering concepts and techniques. Our objective in this paper, therefore, is to highlight the practice and research needs in soil and water bioengineering for reconciling natural hazard control and ecological restoration. Firstly, we review the definition and development of bioengineering technology, while stressing issues concerning the design, implementation, and monitoring of bioengineering actions. Secondly, we highlight the need to reconcile natural hazard control and ecological restoration by posing novel practice and research questions

Process design for the manufacturing of soft X-ray gratings in single-crystal diamond by high-energy heavy-ion irradiation

This paper describes in detail a novel manufacturing process for optical gratings suitable for use in the UV and soft X-ray regimes in a single-crystal diamond substrate based on highly focused swift heavy-ion irradiation. This type of grating is extensively used in light source facilities such as synchrotrons or free electron lasers, with ever-increasing demands in terms of thermal loads, depending on beamline operational parameters and architecture. The process proposed in this paper may be a future alternative to current manufacturing techniques, providing the advantage of being applicable to single-crystal diamond substrates, with their unique properties in terms of heat conductivity and radiation hardness. The paper summarizes the physical principle used for the grating patterns produced by swift heavy-ion irradiation and provides full details for the manufacturing process for a specific grating configuration, inspired in one of the beamlines at the ALBA synchrotron light source, while stressing the most challenging points for a potential implementation. Preliminary proof-of-concept experimental results are presented, showing the practical implementation of the methodology proposed herein

Incidence of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers in Salento (Southern Italy): A 15-Year Retrospective Analysis from the Cancer Registry of Lecce

Background and Objectives: Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) include basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC), as well as a wide range of rare skin tumors. NMSCs is the most frequently diagnosed type of tumor among Caucasians. We aimed at estimating the incidence and mortality of NMSCs in the Salento area (Lecce province, Southern Italy), whose population is assumed to experience heavy and frequent sun exposure due to climatic/environmental factors, both for working and leisure activities. Materials and Methods: We computed the incidence of NMSCs in the Province of Lecce by examining the comprehensive real-world data collected by the local cancer registry, which covers all the 830,000 inhabitants, over a period of fifteen years (from 2003 to 2017), with a focus on the latest 5 years (2013–2017) for the analysis of the different histologic morphologies of these tumors. The incidence of NMSCs has been described in terms of absolute frequencies, crude rates and age-adjusted direct standardized rates (DSR). Joinpoint analysis was used to examine temporal trends in the incidence of NMSCs and estimate annual percent changes (APCs). Results: During the period of 2003–2017, the incidence of NMSCs reached a direct standardized rate (DSR) of 162.62 per 100,000 in men (mortality 1.57 per 100,000) and 89.36 per 100,000 in women (mortality 0.52 per 100,000), respectively. The incidence significantly increased among both men and women across the entire period. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), with its different morphologies, represented about 67.6% of the NMSCs in men (n = 2139 out of a total of 3161 tumors observed between 2013 and 2017) and about 75.8% of the NMSCs in women (n = 1718 out of a total of 2264 tumors from 2013 to 2017), thus accounting for the vast majority of NMSCs. The results are consistent with the literature data carried out both at national and international level. Conclusions: Proper monitoring of this phenomenon through timely reporting and recording of all new NMSC cases is necessary to develop new preventive strategies

Regional patterns of transition at Çadir Höyük in the Byzantine period

Byzantine archaeological sites tend to be seen as representative of the empire as a whole, with little concern given to regional context. Within the imperial narrative that shapes Byzantine history, sites—whether urban or rural—are often used to explain and illustrate imperial trends. However, when we remove that overarching narrative, the sites in Anatolia provide the potential to view them as singular examples of local and regional identity. In this article, we have separated out four types of data: fortifications, coins, faunal material, and archaeobotanical evidence to illustrate how a close examination of the data provides new ways of understanding regional identity. In doing so, we posit that the Byzantine empire needs to be seen as a collection of local identities working alongside one another, but always expressing individual needs and resources

Comparison of some chemical parameters of a naturally debittered olive (Olea europaea L.) type with regular olive varieties

Some olives grown in Karaburun peninsula in the west part of Turkey and mostly coming from Erkence variety lose their bitterness while still on the tree and are called Hurma among locals. This olive type does not require further processing to remove the bitter compounds. In this study, sugar, organic acid and fatty acid profiles of Hurma, Erkence (not naturally debittered) and Gemlik (commonly consumed as table olive) olives were determined throughout 8 weeks of maturation period for two consecutive harvest seasons, and the results were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA). PCA of sugar and organic acid data revealed a differentiation in terms of harvest year but not on variety. Hurma olive is separated from others due to its fatty acid profile, and it has higher linoleic acid content compared to others. This might be an indication of increased desaturase enzyme activity for Hurma olives during natural debittering phase.TUBITAK (TOVAG-110O780

Representacion de la imagen del menor en la publicidad difundida a traves de Internet

Introduction The representation of the minor in advertisements is a topic that is scarcely studied and reflected in the bibliography, in social paediatrics as well as audio-visual communication. The aim of the present study is to describe how the minor is represented in the publicity that is conveyed through the internet, and whether or not that representation is adequate. Material and methods An analysis was made of all the advertisements in which minors appeared during a period of two months, on three days a week, on the most visited web pages in Spain. The evaluation on how the minor was represented was carried out with an evaluation tool, constructed by the authors, based on European and Spanish legislation, which showed a high concordance between evaluators. A descriptive analysis was performed on the categorical variables, and the inter-dependent relationship was established between them using the chi-squared test. Results A total of 173 advertisements were identified in which at least one minor appeared, which was generally represented solo (63.5%), in a natural environment (36.9%) and of school age (44.5%). The web pages of the “general press” are those that most frequently show advertisement in which minors are represented, through the use of banners (82%). In the majority of cases the inadequate use of the figure of the minor takes place using tactical representation, and not just strategic. Conclusions The image of the minor in the publicity that is conveyed via the most visited web pages in Spain is inadequate in 3 of every 3 advertisements. This misuse of the minor is usually seen in as unjustifiably strategic, and favouring non-positive values or that they favour situations of inequalityIntroducción La representación del menor en los anuncios de publicidad es un tema poco investigado y reflejado en la bibliografía, tanto de la pediatría social como de la comunicación audiovisual. El objetivo del presente estudio es describir cómo se representa al menor en la publicidad que se vehiculiza a través de Internet, y si esa representación es adecuada o no. Material y métodos Se analizaron todos los anuncios en los que aparecían menores a lo largo de 2 meses, visualizando, 3 días por semana, las páginas web más visitadas en España. La valoración de cómo se representaba al menor se realizó con una herramienta de evaluación, elaborada por los autores, basada en la legislación europea y española, que mostró una alta concordancia interevaluador. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables categóricas y se estableció la relación de interdependencia entre las mismas a través de la prueba Chi-cuadrado. Resultados Se identificaron 173 anuncios donde apareció al menos un menor, que es generalmente representado solo (63,5%), en un entorno natural (36,9%) y con edad escolar (44,5%). Las páginas web de «prensa general» son las que más frecuentemente muestran anuncios donde se representan menores, a través del uso de banners (82%). En la mayor parte de los casos el uso inadecuado de la figura del menor tiene lugar mediante la representación táctica del mismo, y no meramente estratégica. Conclusiones El uso de la imagen del menor en la publicidad que se vehiculiza a través de las páginas web más visitadas en España es inadecuada en 2 de cada 3 anuncios. Dicho mal uso del menor suele objetivarse en la representación del mismo de forma estratégicamente no justificable, y favoreciendo valores no positivos o que favorecen situaciones de desigualdad

Wild food plants of popular use in Sicily

In the present work the authors report the result of their food ethnobotanical researches, which have been carried out in Sicily during the last thirty years. Data concerning 188 wild species used in the traditional Sicilian cuisine are reported. The authors underline those species that are partially or completely unknown for their culinary use and they illustrate other species that local inhabitants suggested in the prevention or treatment of symptomatologies caused by a refined diet, poor in vegetables. These data want to contribute to avoid the loss of traditional knowledge on uses and recipes concerning wild food botanicals, and to encourage further studies for those species that have not yet been sufficiently researched in their food chemical and nutritional profile. These studies may also suggest new applications for a few botanicals in medico-nutritional fields. The work includes also a short review of the seaweeds and mushrooms traditionally gathered and consumed in Sicily

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening