Pyrolysis Based Biorefineries for the Production of Fermentable Substrates

Fast pyrolysis is rapid thermal conversion process capable of transforming multiple feedstocks into various energy carriers, specifically pyrolysis oil, bio gas, and bio char. The oil phase is of high value due to its complex mixtures of organic molecules, along with large number of anhydrous carbohydrates, which can be easily transformed into glucose via acid hydrolysis. These carbohydrates can be either biocatalyzed into fuels and chemicals by microorganisms or converted after further treatment steps. However quantities of these carbohydrates in the oil are a function of feedstock composition and process parameters. The research presented in this thesis focuses on producing a detoxified sugar fraction for biofuels production. Cold water, solvent extraction, acid hydrolysis and neutralization were utilized to upgrade pyrolysis oil to procure a fermentable substrate. Development of a high throughput analysis to assess fermentability was realized utilizing microtiter plates. The effect of biomass composition on sugar concentrations present in the oil phase were studied by demineralizing switch grass and corn cobs, with weak and strong acid solutions. Upgrading of the resulting oils was performed and fermentation to ethanol was realized expanding and demonstrating the application of the process to different biomasses. Ethanol production in both cases was compared to well established processes which led to improvements in the upgrading configuration. These improvements were applied in lipid production by an oleaginous yeast. Effects of inhibitory compounds on lipid productivity and biodiesel quality was investigated. Quality of derived biodiesel was in the range of diesel fuel standards. The conclusions from this research provide guidance for the utilization of inexpensive residual biomass in pyrolysis based biorefineries for the production of biofuels and chemicals as an alternative to crude oil derived products

Optimal exponents in weighted estimates without examples

t. We present a general approach for proving the optimality of the exponents on weighted estimates. We show that if an operator T satisfies a bound like kT kLp(w) ≤ c [w] β Ap w ∈ Ap, then the optimal lower bound for β is closely related to the asymptotic behaviour of the unweighted L p norm kT kLp(Rn) as p goes to 1 and +∞, which is related to Yano’s classical extrapolation theorem. By combining these results with the known weighted inequalities, we derive the sharpness of the exponents, without building any specific example, for a wide class of operators including maximal-type, Calder´on–Zygmund and fractional operators. In particular, we obtain a lower bound for the best possible exponent for Bochner-Riesz multipliers. We also present a new result concerning a continuum family of maximal operators on the scale of logarithmic Orlicz functions. Further, our method allows to consider in a unified way maximal operators defined over very general Muckenhoupt bases.Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciónJunta de Andalucí

Reverse Hölder property for strong weights and general measures

We present dimension-free reverse H¨older inequalities for strong A∗p weights, 1 ≤ p < ∞. We also provide a proof for the full range of local integrability of A∗1 weights. The common ingredient is a multidimensional version of Riesz’s “rising sun” lemma. Our results are valid for any nonnegative Radon measure with no atoms. For p = ∞, we also provide a reverse H¨older inequality for certain product measures. As a corollary we derive mixed A∗p − A∗∞ weighted estimates.Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadSevero Ochoa Excellence ProgrammeUniversidad de Buenos AiresConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Argentina

Additional Physical Interventions to Conventional Physical Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Parkinson's disease (PD) represents the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Currently, conventional physical therapy is complemented by additional physical interventions with recreational components, improving different motor conditions in people with PD. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of additional physical interventions to conventional physical therapy in Parkinson's disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were performed. The literature search was conducted in PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Scopus, SciELO and Web of Science. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the studies. A total of 11 randomized controlled trials were included in this review. Five of them contributed information to the meta-analysis. The statistical analysis showed favorable results for dance-based therapy in motor balance: (Timed Up and Go: standardized mean difference (SMD) = −1.16; 95% Confidence Interval (CI):(−2.30 to −0.03); Berg Balance Scale: SMD = 4.05; 95%CI:(1.34 to 6.75)). Aquatic interventions showed favorable results in balance confidence (Activities-Specific Balance Confidence: SMD=10.10; 95%CI:(2.27 to 17.93)). The results obtained in this review highlight the potential benefit of dance-based therapy in functional balance for people with Parkinson's disease, recommending its incorporation in clinical practice. Nonetheless, many aspects require clarification through further research and high-quality studies on this subject

Prevención de úlceras por presión y lesiones musculoesqueléticas: paciente con ictus

Planteamos un caso clínico en el que enfermera y fisioterapeuta ponen en común procedimientos para mejorar la higiene postural de un paciente encamado con un accidente cerebrovascular y hemiplejia izquierda. Describimos analíticamente una intervención conjunta durante un mes. A pesar de que se ha mantenido el riesgo máximo de UPP objetivado inicialmente, durante este periodo no han aparecido úlceras, obteniendo un mantenimiento o aumento del rango de las articulaciones. Es importante un trabajo multidisciplinar que evite la aparición de úlceras por decúbito y de futuras lesiones musculoesqueléticas que dificultarían la posterior reeducación funcional del paciente

Training Using a Commercial Immersive Virtual Reality System on Hand-Eye Coordination and Reaction Time in Young Musicians: A Pilot Study

The implementation of virtual reality (VR) opens up a wide range of possibilities for the development of dexterity, speed and precision of movements. The aim of this study was to investigate whether immersive VR training affected the hand-eye coordination and reaction time in students of the state music school. This study implemented a single-group pre-post study design. This study enrolled 14 individuals, submitted to a 15 min training session of the immersive music game "Beat Saber", once a day for 5 consecutive days. The plate-tapping test (PTT) and the ruler-drop test (Ditrich's test) were used to assess the reaction time. Trial-making test (TMT) A and TMT B were used to assess coordination and visual attention. Analysis of the results showed a statistically significant improvement in hand-eye coordination and reaction time of music school students using the TMT-A (p < 0.002), TMT-B (p < 0.001), Ditrich's test for the non-dominant hand (0.025) and PTT (0.0001) after applying a week-long training period in immersive VR. The results obtained in the present study show that the VR system, along with the immersive music game, has the potential to improve hand-eye coordination and reaction time in young musicians, which may lead to the faster mastering of a musical instrument

Functional changes in the lower extremity after non-immersive virtual reality and physiotherapy following stroke

Objective: To analyse the effect of virtual reality (VR) ther-apy combined with conventional physiotherapy on balance, gait and motor functional disturbances, and to determine whether there is an influence on motor recovery in the subacute ( 6 months) phases after stroke. Methods: A total of 59 stroke inpatients (mean age 60.3 years (standard deviation (SD) 14.8); 14.0 months (SD 25.7) post-stroke) were stratified into 2 groups: subacute (n = 31) and chronic (n = 28). Clin-ical scales (Fugl-Meyer lower extremity (FM LE); Func-tional Independence Measure (FIM); Berg Balance Scale (BBS); Functional Ambulation Category (FAC); modified Ashworth scale (MAS); 10-metre walk test (10MWT); and kinematic parameters during specific motor tasks in sitting and standing position (speed; time; jerk; spatial error; length) were applied before and after treatment. The VR treatment lasted for 15 sessions, 5 days/week, 1 h/day. Results: The subacute group underwent significant change in all variables, except MAS and length. The chronic group underwent significant improvement in clinical scales, except MAS and kinematics. Motor impairment improved in the severe = 19 FM LE points, moderate 20-28 FM LE points, mild =29 FM LE points. Neither time since stroke onset nor affected hemisphere differed significantly between groups. The correlations were investigated between the clinical scales and the kinematic parameters of the whole sample. Moreover, FM LE, BBS, MAS, and speed showed high correlations (R2>0.70) with independent variables. Conclusion: VR therapy combined with conventional physiotherapy can contribute to func-tional improvement in the subacute and chronic phases after stroke

Reinforced Feedback in Virtual Environment for Plantar Flexor Poststroke Spasticity Reduction and Gait Function Improvement

Background. Ankle spasticity is a frequent phenomenon that limits functionality in poststroke patients. Objectives. Our aim was to determine if there was decreased spasticity in the ankle plantar flex (PF) muscles in the plegic lower extremity (LE) and improvement of gait function in stroke patients after traditional rehabilitation (TR) in combination with virtual reality with reinforced feedback, which is termed "reinforced feedback virtual environment" (RFVE). Methods. The evaluation, before and after treatment, of 10 hemiparetic patients was performed using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM). The intervention consisted of 1 hour/day of TR plus 1 hour/day of RFVE (5 days/week for 3 weeks; 15 sessions in total). Results. The MAS and FAC reached statistical significance (P<0.05). The changes in the FIM did not reach statistical significance (P=0.066). The analysis between the ischemic and haemorrhagic patients showed significant differences in favour of the haemorrhagic group in the FIM scale. A significant correlation between the FAC and the months after the stroke was established (P=-0.711). Indeed, patients who most increased their score on the FAC at the end of treatment were those who started the treatment earliest after stroke. Conclusions. The combined treatment of TR and RFVE showed encouraging results regarding the reduction of spasticity and improvement of gait function. An early commencement of the treatment seems to be ideal, and future research should increase the sample size and assessment tools

Análisis del levantamiento indígena de 2019 en Ecuador: Entre la respuesta legal y el Lawfare

&nbsp; The purpose of this paper was to analyze a significant part of the events of October 2019 in Ecuador, known as the indigenous popular uprising.&nbsp; A chronological study of the events and their subsequent outcomes was carried out against the backdrop of the lawfare waged by the Ecuadorian authorities through a variety of legal channels, supported by supranational bodies and interested parties. To achieve this, it was necessary to consider the Andean worldview, as well as the individual and collective rights represented in both national and international legislation, including such transcendental concepts as multi-nationality and interculturality included in the Ecuadorian constitution. The actions of the Ecuadorian state were scrutinized, together with the subsequent legal attack on the protesters and on various political leaders accused of being proselytizers and organized facilitators of the revolts. From this study, it was evident that legal and media warfare are instruments of power available to authorities that, in the wrong hands, undermine the pillars of any democracy. &nbsp; Keywords: Lawfare, popular uprising, strike, indigenous, human rights&nbsp; La finalidad de este trabajo consiste en analizar buena parte de los sucesos ocurridos en Ecuador a lo largo de octubre de 2019 conocidos como levantamiento indígena. Para ello se realiza un análisis de los acontecimientos partiendo de su línea de tiempo, así como de su ulterior desenlace en base a diferentes procesos de lawfare ejercidos por los poderes públicos de Ecuador, irradiados por varios órganos supranacionales y sujetos de parte. Para ello, se busca comprender la cosmovisión andina, así como los derechos individuales y colectivos incluidos tanto en la legislación nacional e internacional buscando comprender términos transcendentales dentro de la Constitución ecuatoriana como la plurinacionalidad y la interculturalidad. Se examinan las acciones del Estado ecuatoriano junto a su posterior ataque jurídico contra los manifestantes, así como a diversos dirigentes políticos inculpados, todos ellos como facilitadores organizados que ejercen acciones de proselitismo en favor de las revueltas. Se evidencia que la guerra jurídica y mediática son un elemento más del poder dentro del tablero político que, ejercido en manos incorrectas, pone en tela de juicio los pilares de cualquier democracia.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Palabras clave: Lawfare, levantamiento popular, paro, indígenas, derechos humanos

Effectiveness of Motor Imagery on Motor Recovery in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Systematic Review

The effects of motor imagery (MI) on functional recovery of patients with neurological pathologies, such as stroke, has been recently proven. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of MI on motor recovery and quality of life (QOL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). A search was carried out in the following scientific databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PEDro, Scopus, Cochrane and Web of Science, up to November 2020. The grey literature and reference lists of potentially relevant articles were also searched. The Checklist for Measuring Quality and The Cochrane collaboration's tool were used to assess the methodological quality and risk of bias of the studies. Five studies were included in the systematic review. Findings showed that pwMS using MI had significant improvements in walking speed and distance, fatigue and QOL. In addition, several benefits were also found in dynamic balance and perceived walking ability. Although the evidence is limited, rehabilitation using MI with the application of musical and verbal guides (compared to non-intervention or other interventions), can produce benefits on gait, fatigue and QOL in pwMS with a low score in the Expanded Disability Status Scale.Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy (University of Cadiz, Spain