Hydrogen Pressure as a Key Parameter to Control the Quality of the Naphtha Produced in the Hydrocracking of an HDPE/VGO Blend

The hydrocracking of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blended with vacuum gas oil (VGO) has been studied to assess the effect of H2 pressure on the yield and composition of the products and with the aim of obtaining commercial fuels, mainly naphtha. The experiments have been performed using a PtPd/HY catalyst in a semibatch reactor under the following conditions: H2 pressure, 20–110 bar; 440 °C; catalyst to feed ratio, 0.1 gcat (gfeed)−1; HDPE to total feed ratio, 0.2 gHDPE (gfeed)−1; and reaction time, 2 h. The composition of the main fractions produced (gas, naphtha, and light cycle oil) reveals the interest in carrying out the process at 110 bar. Thus, conversions of 96 and 79% for the removal of heavy hydrocarbons and the removal of HDPE molecules have been obtained, respectively, together with a yield of naphtha of 53.4 wt%. This naphtha is mainly paraffinic, and it has a RON of 91.5 (within the commercial standards). Furthermore, three fractions have been observed in the analysis (temperature-programmed oxidation) of the coke. This analysis reveals that at 110 bar, the coke retained in the HY zeolite cages is less developed and burns at a moderate temperature.This work has been carried out with financial support of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) of the Spanish Government (grant RTI2018-096981-B-I00), the European Union’s ERDF funds and Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (grant No 823745) and the Basque Government (grant IT1645-22)

Adaptation and psychometric study of the scale for the measurement of fear and anxiety of COVID-19 disease in pregnant women (AMICO_Pregnant)

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1225822/full#supplementary-materialObjective: The aim of this research was to adapt and explore the psychometric properties of a specific scale to assess the levels of fear and anxiety of COVID-19 disease in pregnant women. Methods: An adaptation phase, by a panel of experts, and a psychometric descriptive cross-sectional study were carried out on the final version of the 16- item, self-administered AMICO_Pregnant scale. Univariate and bivariate analyses were carried out, followed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The consistency of the scale was assessed using the Omega coefficient and Cronbach’s Alpha. Results: With a sample of 1,013 pregnant women living in Spain and over 18 years of age, the mean age was 33 years. The scale showed a bifactor structure (anxiety and fear) that was confirmed with good fit parameters. Reliability was assessed in terms of internal consistency by calculating Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient (0.95) and McDonald’s Omega coefficient (0.94) as indicators of robustness of the scale’s reliability. Conclusion: The AMICO_Pregnant scale of 16 items with scores ranging from 1 to 10 is a valid and reliable tool to assess levels of anxiety and fear of COVID_19 in Spanish pregnant women. Pregnant women have shown moderate levels of anxiety and fear regarding the COVID_19 disease in the final phase of the pandemic

Study on the role of the reaction time in the upcycling of HDPE by co-hydrocracking it with VGO

Pursuing the aim of improving the current waste plastics management strategy, we have investigated the co-hydrocracking of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with vacuum gasoil (VGO) over a PtPd/HY catalyst for converting this blend into high-quality fuels. In particular, the work was focused on assessing the effects of the reaction time on the product yields and on the composition of the gas, naphtha and light cycle oil (LCO) fractions, which was determined by chromatographic means. The experimental runs were carried out in a 100 mL semi continuous stirred tank reactor varying the reaction time between 15 and 120 min and maintaining constant the rest of the variables at 420 °C (temperature reached using an electrical heating jacket and following a 5 °C min−1 heating ramp), 80 bar and a catalyst to oil mass ratio of 0.075 gcat goil−1. The results shown that at 120 min a naphtha fraction rich in 1-ring aromatics and with a RON value of 92.5 was obtained, while the LCO fraction was mainly iso-paraffinic with a cetane index of 43.8. Hence, these fractions could be used in the corresponding blending stages of commercial gasoline and diesel. Furthermore, the coke deposited on the catalyst was analyzed by means of TPO, obtaining that it was mainly formed at short contact times (< 15 min) and that its nature evolved with contact time being less condensed at long contact times.This work has been carried out with the following financial support: (i) grant PID2021–125255OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”; (ii) the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (grant No 823745); and, (iii) the Basque Government (grant IT1645-22)

Fear and Anxiety in Pregnant Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the 2020–2022 pandemic on the levels of fear and anxiety in pregnant women and to identify risk and protective factors.Methods: A systematic review was conducted. Electronic databases were consulted for studies published between January 2020 and August 2022. The methodological quality was assessed using a critical appraisal tool for non-randomised studies.Results: Seventeen studies were included in the review. A high prevalence of levels of fear and anxiety were observed. Risk factors such as unplanned pregnancy, poor support from partners, or intolerance of uncertainty were identified for high levels of fear. Regarding anxiety, risk factors such as maternal age, social support, financial status, or concern about being able to maintain antenatal follow-ups were identified.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the mental health of pregnant women through increased levels of fear and anxiety. It has not been possible to establish a relationship between significant factors such as gestational age or health emergency control measures with high levels of fear or anxiety

Enhancing the performance of a PtPd/HY catalyst for HDPE/VGO hydrocracking through zeolite desilication

The valorization of post-consumer waste plastic in a refinery is an attractive initiative to avoid environmental problems caused by the poor plastic waste management. The modification of a bifunctional PtPd/HY catalyst through desilication (using NaOH) of the ultrastable HY zeolite has been carried out to upgrade waste plastic (high-density polyethylene (HDPE)) dissolved in a secondary refinery stream (vacuum gas oil (VGO)) through hydrocracking. Three different catalysts have been studied: the parent (Cat-A), undergoing a desilication cycle (Cat-B), and subjected to two cycles of desilication (Cat-C). The characterization techniques employed have been: N2 adsorption-desorption, TEM, ICP-AES, tert-butylamine-TPD, pyridine FTIR, WDXRF, XRD and TPO. The hy-drocracking tests have been carried out in a semi-batch reactor at: 440 C; 80 bar; catalyst to feed ratio, 0.1 g(cat) (g(feed))(-1); HDPE to feed ratio, 0.2 gHDPE (g(feed))(-1); and reaction time, 2 h. The products have been fractioned ac-cording to their boiling point range in: gas, naphtha, light cycle oil, heavy cycle oil and coke. The composition of each fraction has been determined in terms of concentration of paraffins, olefins, naphthenes and (mono-, di-and poly-) aromatics. The results show that alkaline treated catalysts enhance the fuel production, with high HDPE and HCO conversions. The Cat-C (the one submitted to two desilication cycles) has displayed the greatest per-formance, reducing by half the gas yield and increasing the naphtha yield by 51 wt% respect to those obtained with the parent catalyst (Cat-A). Moreover, it has decreased the coke deposition and the coke formed has been less developed.This work has been carried out with financial support of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) of the Spanish Government (grant RTI2018-096981-B-I00), the European Union's ERDF funds and Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (grant No 823745) and the Basque Government (grant IT645-22). Dr. Roberto Palos thanks the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU for his postdoctoral grant (UPV/EHU 2019). Dr. Juan Rafael García thanks the Carolina Foundation (Fundación Carolina, Spain) and the Ministry of Education, Presidency of the Nation (Ministerio de Educación, Presidencia de la Nación, Argentina) for his postdoctoral fellowship (Programa de Becas Internacionales de la Dirección Nacional de Cooperación Internacional (DNCI), Becas de estancias cortas FC-Ministerio de Educación, 2018-2019). The authors thank for the technical and human support provided by SGIker of UPV/EHU and European funding (ERDF and ESF). The authors also acknowledge Petronor Refinery for providing the feed used in this work

A six-lump kinetic model for HDPE/VGO blend hydrocracking

A six lump-based kinetic model has been developed for the hydrocracking of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blended with vacuum gas oil (VGO) over a PtPd/HY zeolite catalyst. The blend (20 wt% HDPE and 80 wt% VGO) has been hydrocracked in a semi-continuous stirred tank reactor under the following conditions: 400–440 °C; 80 H2 bar; catalyst to feed (C/F) weight ratio, 0.05–0.1 gcat gfeed−1; reaction time, 15–120 min; and stirring rate, 1300 rpm. The kinetic model, which is an approach to tackle the complex reaction mechanism behind the hydrocracking of a HDPE/VGO blend, predicts the evolution over time of product distribution (gas, naphtha, light cycle oil (LCO), heavy cycle oil (HCO), HDPE and coke). The kinetic model and its computed parameters have been used for the simulation of the HDPE/VGO hydrocracking establishing that a C/F ratio of 0.075 gcat gfeed−1 and temperature–time combinations of 430 °C–10 min and 440 °C–70 min are the optimal operating conditions. Under these conditions, a proper balance between the HCO conversion (>80 %), HDPE conversion (>60 %) and liquid fuel production index (>1.0) would be obtained. This kinetic model could serve as a basis for scaling-up in the valorization of waste plastics by co-feeding them to industrial hydrocracking units, within a Waste-Refinery strategy.This work has been carried out with the financial support of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) of the Spanish Government (grant RTI2018-096981-B-I00), the European Union’s ERDF funds and Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (grant No 823745) and the Basque Government (grant IT1645-22). David Trueba thanks the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU for his PhD grant (PIF 2018)

Physiological Doses of Hydroxytyrosol Modulate Gene Expression in Skeletal Muscle of Exercised Rats

This study was supported by the grant #3650 managed by Fundacion General EmpresaUniversidad de Granada and by the investigation group CTS-454 "Impacto fisiologico del estres oxidativo, deporte, actividad fisica y salud".We tested whether physiological doses of hydroxytyrosol (HT) may alter the mRNA transcription of key metabolic genes in exercised skeletal muscle. Two groups of exercise-trained Wistar rats, HTlow and HTmid, were supplemented with 0.31 and 4.61 mg/kg/d of HT, respectively, for 10 weeks. Another two groups of rats were not supplemented with HT; one remained sedentary and the other one was exercised. After the experimental period, the soleus muscle was removed for qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. The consumption of 4.61 mg/kg/d of HT during exercise increased the mRNA expression of important metabolic proteins. Specifically, 4.61 mg/kg/d of HT may upregulate long-chain fatty acid oxidation, lactate, and glucose oxidation as well as mitochondrial Krebs cycle in trained skeletal muscle. However, a 4.61 mg/kg/d of HT may alter protein translation, as in spite of the increment showed by CD36 and GLUT4 at the mRNA level this was not translated to higher protein content.3650 CTS-45

Assessment of levels of anxiety and fear of Covid-19 in a population of pregnant women in Spain

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the levels of fear and anxiety in the particularly vulnerable population group of women during pregnancy.Methods: Cross-sectional study between March 2022 and July 2022 involving 978 pregnant women aged 16 to 50 years. It was carried out based on the scale for the assessment of fear and anxiety in pregnant women (AMICO_Pregnant) and the collection of sociodemographic data. Normality analysis was performed prior to univariate and bivariate statistical analysis.Results: The sample was composed of a total of 978 pregnant women. The mean of the AMICO_Pregnant scale was intermediate (5.04 points; SD=2.36). The bivariate analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between the AMICO_Pregnant scale and the following variables: vaccination schedule status, contact with the disease, weeks of gestation, altered delivery or birth plan.Conclusion: Women with pregnancies closer to term, with no contact with the disease, without a complete vaccination schedule, or who had undergone changes in their delivery or birth plans, showed higher levels of fear and anxiety.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Experimental Investigation of Metal-Based Calixarenes as Dispersed Catalyst Precursors for Heavy Oil Hydrocracking

Slurry-phase hydrocracking utilizing metal-containing oil-soluble compounds as precursors of dispersed catalysts is an effective approach for heavy oil upgrading. We propose applying metal-based p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene (TBC[6]s) organic species as dispersed catalyst precursors to enhance catalytic hydrogenation reactions involved in the upgrading of vacuum gas oil (VGO). Co- and Ni-based TBC[6]s were synthesized and characterized by SEM-EDX, ICP, XRD, and FT-IR. The thermogravimetric and calorimetric behaviors of the synthesized complexes, which are key properties of dispersed hydrocracking catalysts, were also explored. The experimental evaluation of the synthesized catalyst precursors show that the synthesized metal-based TBC[6] catalyst precursors improved the catalytic hydrogenation reactions. A co-catalytic system was also investigated by adding a commercial, first-stage hydrocracking supported catalyst in addition to the dispersed catalysts. The naphtha yields increased from 10.7 wt.% for the supported catalyst to 11.7 wt.% and 12 wt.% after adding it along with Ni-TBC[6] and Co-TBC[6], respectively. Mixing the metal-based precursors resulted in elevated yields of liquid products due to the in situ generation of highly active Co–Ni bimetallic dispersed catalysts.This research was funded by Deanship of Research Oversight and Coordination (DROC) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), grant number DF181018

QRISK3 performance in the assessment of cardiovascular risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been described as an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Since the QRESEARCH risk estimator version 3 (QRISK3) calculator was recently proposed to assess CV in the general population, our objective was to compare the predictive ability of QRISK3 with that of a well-established European CV risk calculator, the Systematic Coronary Risk Assessment (SCORE), to identify the presence of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients with IBD. In all, 186 patients with IBD and 178 controls were recruited. The presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was evaluated by carotid ultrasound to identify carotid plaque and the thickness of the carotid intima-media (cIMT). QRISK3 and SCORE were calculated. The relationship of QRISK3 and SCORE with each other and with the presence of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (both carotid plaque and cIMT) was studied in patients and controls. SCORE (0.2 (interquartile range 0.1-0.9) vs. 0.4 (0.1-1.4), p = 0.55) and QRISK3 1.7 ((0.6-4.6) vs. 3.0 (1.0-7.8), p = 0.16) absolute values did not differ between patients and controls. QRISK3 and SCORE correlated equally with cIMT within both populations. However, SCORE correlation with cIMT was found to be significantly lower in patients with IBD when compared to controls (Spearman's Rho 0.715 vs. 0.587, p = 0.034). Discrimination analysis of both calculators with carotid plaque was similar within both populations. Nevertheless, in patients with IBD, QRISK3 showed a trend toward a higher discrimination (QRISK3 area under the curve 0.812 (95%CI 0.748-0.875) vs. SCORE 0.790 (95%CI 0.723-0.856), p = 0.051). In conclusion, QRISK3 discrimination for subclinical atherosclerosis is optimal and equivalent to that of SCORE in IBD patients. However, our findings highlight the role of QRISK3 as an appropriate tool for the assessment of CV risk in patients with IBD.Funding: This work was supported by a grant to I.F-A. from the Spanish Ministry of Health, Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación, Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2013–2016, and by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-FEDER-(Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, FIS PI14/00394, PI17/00083)