Research on an Internal Combustion Engine With an Injected Pre-chamber to Operate With Low Methane Number Fuels for Future Gas Flaring Reduction

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG[Abstract] Flaring gas is the action of burning waste crude natural gas that is not possible to process or sell during the extraction and processing of oil and gas extraction. However, the surge of the oil and gas (O&G) fields caused an augmentation of flared gas; making society aware of its impact on the planet. To solve this problem, internal combustion engines showed clear advantages. However, there is a lack of information about how to utilize this associated petroleum gas (APG) as fuel for these engines due to its reduced methane number (MN). A methodical investigation about the optimal combustion and design needs for low MN fuels is proposed based on tests conducted in a natural gas engine with an injected pre-chamber ignition technology and a future technology that could replace flaring is proposed. Experiments conducted when using low MN gases showed different misfire limits and knocking margins. A 15% efficiency drop was obtained, however, this could be considered as a good performance as the Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP) or output power reduction was 53.3%. In consequence, different engine design modifications are proposed to improve the former situation.The work presented in this contribution has been sponsored by Siemens Energy Engines R&D Organisation in the Basque Country (Vitoria-Gasteiz). Thanks are extended to the Energy and Marine Propulsion Research Unit of the University of Coruña (UDC

From spinal central pattern generators to cortical network: integrated BCI for walking rehabilitation

Success in locomotor rehabilitation programs can be improved with the use of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Although a wealth of research has demonstrated that locomotion is largely controlled by spinal mechanisms, the brain is of utmost importance in monitoring locomotor patterns and therefore contains information regarding central pattern generation functioning. In addition, there is also a tight coordination between the upper and lower limbs, which can also be useful in controlling locomotion. The current paper critically investigates different approaches that are applicable to this field: the use of electroencephalogram (EEG), upper limb electromyogram (EMG), or a hybrid of the two neurophysiological signals to control assistive exoskeletons used in locomotion based on programmable central pattern generators (PCPGs) or dynamic recurrent neural networks (DRNNs). Plantar surface tactile stimulation devices combined with virtual reality may provide the sensation of walking while in a supine position for use of training brain signals generated during locomotion. These methods may exploit mechanisms of brain plasticity and assist in the neurorehabilitation of gait in a variety of clinical conditions, including stroke, spinal trauma, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy

Gliometako zelula nestina-positiboen banaketa

Zelula ama tumoralak (ZAT), ze lula amen ezaugarriak dituzten eta tumore bat birsortzeko gaitasuna duten tumore-ze1ulak dira. Bai anima1ietan eta bai gizakietan ere , multzoka agertzen dira eremu peribaskularrean, askotan egitura berezietan multzokatuta. Azken urteotan , ZATak kimio-erradio terapiekiko erresistenteak direla ikusi da, baita berreritzearen eragileak direla ere. Nerbio Sistema Zentraleko glioma tumoreetan, ehuna infiltratzeko eta angiogenesia pizteko gai dira zelula hauek. Lan honen helburua, gliomaren garapenaren zeharreko tumore-ama zelulen agerpena eta banaketa aztertzea da, batez ere multzoka agertzen direnenen kasuan.Horretarako, etilnitrosourearen (ENU) bitartez arratoiei glioma tumoreak induzitzen zaizkie eta nestinaren markaketaren bidez bertako zelula amak izan daitezkeen zelulak identifikatzen ditugu. Datuen arabera. nestina-positibo diren zelula multzoen tamaina eta kantitatea gliomaren garapenarekin batera handitzen doa. Taldekatze hauek, eremu peribaskularrean eta baita tumore barruan ere agertzen dira eta in vitro agertzen diren neurosferen antzeko morfologia erakutsi dute. Multzoek eta neurosferek in vitro azaltzen dituzten parekotasun hauek, in vivo agertzen dituztenen seinale izan daitezke. Egitura berezi hauek, kontra duten mikroingurune batetik ihes egiteko ZATek sortzen duten gordailua izatea proposatu da

Co-Existence of blaNDM-1, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-64, blaPER-7 and blaADC-57 in a Clinical Isolate of Acinetobacter baumannii from Alexandria, Egypt

The increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance among carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in the Middle East and North Africa are one of the major concerns for healthcare settings. We characterised the first A. baumannii isolate harbouring five β-lactamases identified in Egypt. The isolate Ale25 was obtained from an ICU patient of a hospital from Alexandria. The isolate was phenotypically and genotypically screened for carbapenemase genes. The isolate was resistant to carbapenems, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones and cefiderocol. Whole-Genome Sequencing identified five β-lactamase genes, blaNDM-1, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-64, blaPER-7 and blaADC-57, together with other antibiotic resistance genes, conferring resistance to sulfonamides, macrolides, tetracyclines, rifamycin and chloramphenicol. Virulome analysis showed the presence of genes involved in adhesion and biofilm production, type II and VI secretion systems, exotoxins, etc. Multi-Locus Sequence Typing analysis identified the isolate as Sequence Types 113Pas and 2246Oxf, belonging to International Clone 7. Sequencing experiments revealed the presence of four plasmids of 2.7, 22.3, 70.4 and 240.8 Kb. All the β-lactamase genes were located in the chromosome, except the blaPER-7, gene which was found within the plasmid of 240.8 Kb. This study highlights the threat of the emergence and dissemination of these types of isolates.This research was funded by the MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), grant number PID2020-116495RB-I00; the DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF THE BASQUE GOVERNMENT (Research Groups of the Basque University System 2021), grant number Group IT1578-22, GIC21/18; and the ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT, grant number 2072

Effects of Visual Experience on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression during the Postnatal Development of the Rat Visual Cortex

The development of the cortical vascular network depends on functional maturation. External inputs are an essential requirement in the modeling of the visual cortex, mainly during the critical period, when the functional and structural properties of visual cortical neurons are particularly susceptible to alterations. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the major angiogenic factor, a key signal in the induction of vessel growth. Our study focused on the role of visual stimuli on the development of the vascular pattern correlated with VEGF levels. Vascular density and the expression of VEGF were examined in the primary visual cortex of rats reared under different visual environments (dark rearing, dark-rearing in conditions of enriched environment, enriched environment, and laboratory standard conditions) during postnatal development (before, during, and after the critical period). Our results show a restricted VEGF cellular expression to astroglial cells. Quantitative differences appeared during the critical period: higher vascular density and VEGF protein levels were found in the enriched environment group; both dark-reared groups showed lower vascular density and VEGF levels, which means that enriched environment without the physical exercise component does not exert effects in dark-reared rats