Characterization of Alkanolamine Blends for Carbon Dioxide Absorption. Corrosion and Regeneration Studies

There are a lot of research programs focusing on the development of new solvents for carbon dioxide capture. The most important priority should be reducing the energy consumption needed at the regeneration step, but minimizing solvent degradation and its corrosivity is also considered as a priority. In this research, the aqueous blends of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP: 1 kmol·m−3) and 1-amino-2-propanol (MIPA: 0.1–0.5 kmol·m−3) are characterized in terms of density, viscosity, and surface tension. The carbon dioxide absorption rate and capacity, the regeneration capacity, and the corrosivity of these solvents are also evaluatedFinancial support for this research was obtained under the Project UJA 2016/08/07: “Development of more efficient solvents for carbon dioxide capture-2” (I+D+i Support Plan of the University of Jaen), for which we are gratefulS

Use of Natural Microtalcs during the Virgin Olive Oil Production Process to Increase Its Content in Antioxidant Compounds

During the olive oil production process, certain olive varieties, such as ‘Hojiblanca’ and ‘Picual’, create pastes from which it is difficult to separate the oil, resulting in low extraction yields. To improve oil extraction, one alternative is the addition of natural microtalcs (NMT). In the present study, a NMT of great purity (CaCO3 concentration less than 6 wt.%) and small average particle size (φ ≤ 2.1 µm) was added in the malaxation stage on an industrial scale at two olive mills. In one of them and using ‘Hojiblanca’ olives, the performance of the high-purity NMT was compared with that of a traditional NMT, while in the other, the effect of its dosage in the quality of ‘Picual’ oils was assessed. The performance of the high-purity NMT was evaluated in terms of industrial oil yield, extractability index, quality parameters and oxidative stability of the resulting oils. The addition of the high-purity NMT not only increased the extraction yields but also improved the quality of the virgin olive oils, especially in relation to antioxidant compounds (tocopherols and phenolic compounds). Increases of 10.4% in phenolic compounds and of 21.5% in the tocopherols were found, thus enhancing the oxidative stability of the oils

Influencia del grado de deformación en frío en el tamaño de grano y en la resistencia a la corrosión del acero F-1110

En este trabajo se ha estudiado la evolución que sufre el tamaño de grano del acero al carbono F-1110 para distintos grados de deformación en frío, a partir de su estado de recocido, libre de tensiones y de cualquier acritud. La deformación en frío se ha conseguido utilizando una máquina universal de ensayos y los distintos grados de deformación se han ajustado al intervalo comprendido entre la estricción y la rotura. La posterior observación al microscopio óptico de las zonas deformadas, previa preparación metalográfica, nos ha permitido medir la variación en el tamaño de grano. Finalmente, se ha evaluado la influencia del grado de deformación en la resistencia a la corrosión del acero

Neolithic in ‘La Pileta’ Cave (Benaoján, Málaga)

Cueva de la Pileta es uno de los enclaves clásicos en la historiografía de la Prehistoria del sur de Iberia, sobre todo por las representaciones de arte rupestre. No obstante, el yacimiento también dispone de una amplia secuencia estratigráfica del Cuaternario reciente (p. ej., 7 m de potencia en la sala de los Murciélagos) que apenas ha recibido atención bibliográfica. Este trabajo se centra en la historiografía de los trabajos en el yacimiento y en el estudio de los materiales neolíticos. La colección cerámica y sus paralelos técnicos y estilísticos en el contexto del Mediterráneo y sur ibérico permiten integrar La Pileta dentro del primer Neolítico en Andalucía con una edad encuadrada en la segunda mitad del 8º milenio cal BP.Cave of La Pileta is a key site in southern Iberia prehistoric historiography. It’s mainly known for its rock art paintings, but the archaeological site also has a wide stratigraphic sequence of Recent Quaternary period (e.g. 7 meters in ‘Murciélagos’ Room) that has scarcely been studied. This paper focuses on historiographical analysis of worked areas and Neolithic materials. Ceramics and its stylistic and technical parallels in the Mediterranean and southern Iberian context allow us to classify Pileta in the first Neolithic period of Andalusia, second half of 8th millenium cal BP

Flow cytometry for fast screening and automated risk assessment in systemic light-chain amyloidosis

Early diagnosis and risk stratification are key to improve outcomes in light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. Here we used multidimensional-flow-cytometry (MFC) to characterize bone marrow (BM) plasma cells (PCs) from a series of 166 patients including newly-diagnosed AL amyloidosis (N = 94), MGUS (N = 20) and multiple myeloma (MM, N = 52) vs. healthy adults (N = 30). MFC detected clonality in virtually all AL amyloidosis (99%) patients. Furthermore, we developed an automated risk-stratification system based on BMPCs features, with independent prognostic impact on progression-free and overall survival of AL amyloidosis patients (hazard ratio: ≥ 2.9;P ≤ .03). Simultaneous assessment of the clonal PCs immunophenotypic protein expression profile and the BM cellular composition, mapped AL amyloidosis in the crossroad between MGUS and MM; however, lack of homogenously-positive CD56 expression, reduction of B-cell precursors and a predominantly-clonal PC compartment in the absence of an MM-like tumor PC expansion, emerged as hallmarks of AL amyloidosis (ROC-AUC = 0.74;P < .001), and might potentially be used as biomarkers for the identification of MGUS and MM patients, who are candidates for monitoring pre-symptomatic organ damage related to AL amyloidosis. Altogether, this study addressed the need for consensus on how to use flow cytometry in AL amyloidosis, and proposes a standardized MFC-based automated risk classification ready for implementation in clinical practice

Tumor cells in light-chain amyloidosis and myeloma show distinct transcriptional rewiring of normal plasma cell development

Although light-chain amyloidosis (AL) and multiple myeloma (MM) are characterized by tumor plasma cell (PC) expansion in bone marrow (BM), their clinical presentation differs. Previous attempts to identify unique pathogenic mechanisms behind such differences were unsuccessful, and no studies have investigated the differentiation stage of tumor PCs in patients with AL and MM. We sought to define a transcriptional atlas of normal PC development in secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs), peripheral blood (PB), and BM for comparison with the transcriptional programs (TPs) of tumor PCs in AL, MM, and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Based on bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, we observed 13 TPs during transition of normal PCs throughout SLOs, PB, and BM. We further noted the following: CD39 outperforms CD19 to discriminate newborn from long-lived BM-PCs; tumor PCs expressed the most advantageous TPs of normal PC differentiation; AL shares greater similarity to SLO-PCs whereas MM is transcriptionally closer to PB-PCs and newborn BM-PCs; patients with AL and MM enriched in immature TPs had inferior survival; and protein N-linked glycosylation–related TPs are upregulated in AL. Collectively, we provide a novel resource to understand normal PC development and the transcriptional reorganization of AL and other monoclonal gammopathies

Influence of Extreme Storage Conditions on Extra Virgin Olive Oil Parameters: Traceability Study

This study reflects the effect of extreme storage conditions on several extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) varieties (arbequina, hojiblanca, and picual). The conditions were simulated in the laboratory, by means of heating treatments in stove at different temperatures (40 and 60°C) and times (two and three weeks). The aim is the evaluation of the deterioration of the quality parameters and minority components, which are responsible for the nutritional and therapeutic properties (fatty acids, polyphenols, pigments, and tocopherols), and organoleptic qualities. The quality criteria and limits used in this work are according to International Olive Council. The results contribute to the control of the traSceability for the commercialization of the EVOO

Content Curation in E-Learning: A Case of Study with Spanish Engineering Students

Over the last decade, e-learning and the use of digital tools have received a great boost in higher education. This paper presents a content curation methodology to assess the acquisition of specific content and soft skills during the attainment of a Degree in Industrial Electronic Engineering at the University of Ja&eacute;n. In this teaching&ndash;learning experience, 101 engineering students were involved in activities with digital tools related to content curation, and four steps were proposed: search, select, sense making, and share. As evaluation tools, a rubric and a questionnaire of the digital tools were proposed. Moreover, a curation index was defined in order to assess the degree of achievement of the content curation. The academic results after using the rubric were better than previous years. The average content curation index obtained was 53.53. Of the four evaluated steps, search and sense making had the lowest scores and, therefore, these steps should be further developed in the future. In addition, the Kaiser&ndash;Meyer&ndash;Olkin test and Pearson&rsquo;s correlation were used for analyzing the results of the questionnaires. It was concluded that the experience had a great impact on the skills related to collaborative work, digital information management, and lifelong learning, which are transversal skills at the university level. Thus, the results highlight the great educational potential of content curation

Nanocellulose from Agricultural Wastes: Products and Applications—A Review

The isolation of nanocellulose from different agricultural residues is becoming an important research field due to its versatile applications. This work collects different production processes, including conditioning steps, pretreatments, bleaching processes and finally purification for the production of nanocellulose in its main types of morphologies: cellulose nanofiber (CNF) and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC). This review highlights the importance of agricultural wastes in the production of nanocellulose in order to reduce environmental impact, use of fossil resources, guarantee sustainable economic growth and close the circle of resource use. Finally, the possible applications of the nanocellulose obtained as a new source of raw material in various industrial fields are discussed