Sustainable wastewater treatment plants design through multiobjective optimization

Nowadays, an adequate design of wastewater treatment plants taking into consideration ail sustainability dimensions- economic, environmental and social- is fundamental. This can be achieved by implementing systematic methodologies where conceptual and mathematical tools can be used together. This contribu­tion proposes a framework that uses total cost, consumed energy, and reclaimed wastewater as sustain­ability metrics. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem arises from a general superstructure for wastewater treatment plants. A case study from Mexico City is solved by a hybrid multiobjective opti­mization approach that combines lexicographie and e-constraint methods. Solutions are provided in the form of a Pareto front. A modified technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (M­TOPSIS) analysis is used as a multiple criteria decision-making tool to find the best trade-off solution. The optimal sustainable configuration resulted consists of three levels of treatment and 100% of treated water reuse

Iron-Catalyzed Prins-Peterson Reaction for the Direct Synthesis of ¿4-2,7-disubstituted oxepenes

A direct iron(III)-catalyzed Prins-Peterson reaction involving -substituted - triphenylsilyl bis-homoallylic alcohols and aldehydes is described. Thus cis- 4 -2,7- disubstituted oxepenes were synthesized in a diastereoselective reaction using sustainable catalytic conditions (3-5 mol%). This highly productive process is the result of a cascade of three chemical events with the concomitant formation of a C-O bond, a C-C bond and a 4 endocyclic double bond, through a Prins cyclization followed by a Peterson-type elimination. This tandem reaction is chemoselective vs the classical Prins cyclizatio

Modified SEIR epidemic model including asymptomatic and hospitalized cases with correct demographic evolution

The aim of this study is to propose a modified Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed (SEIR) model that describes the time behaviour of symptomatic, asymptomatic and hospitalized patients in an epidemic, taking into account the effect of the demographic evolution. Unlike most of the recent studies where a constant ratio of new individuals is considered, we consider a more correct assumption that the growth ratio is proportional to the total population, following a Logistic law, as is usual in population growth studies for humans and animals. An exhaustive theoretical study is carried out and the basic reproduction number is computed from the model equations. It is proved that if then the disease-free manifold is globally asymptotically stable, that is, the epidemics remits. Global and local stability of the equilibrium points is also studied. Numerical simulations are used to show the agreement between numerical results and theoretical properties. The model is fitted to experimental data corresponding to the pandemic evolution of COVID-19 in the Republic of Cuba, showing a proper behaviour of infected cases which let us think that can provide a correct estimation of asymptomatic cases. In conclusion, the model seems to be an adequate tool for the study and control of infectious diseases

Direct Access to 2,3,4,6-Tetrasubstituted Tetrahydro-2H-pyrans via Tandem SN2'-Prins Cyclization

A new direct and diastereoselective synthesis of activated 2,3,4,6-tetrasubstituted tetrahydro-2H-pyrans is described. In this reaction iron(III) catalyzed an SN2’-Prins cyclization tandem process leading to the creation of three new stereocenters in one single step. These activated tetrahydro-2H-pyran units are easily derivatizable through CuAAC conjugations in order to generate multi-functionalized complex molecules. DFT calculations support the in situ SN2’ reaction as a preliminary step in the Prins cyclizatio

Enantiodivergent Synthesis of (+)- and (-)-Pyrrolidine 197B. Synthesis of trans-2,5-Disubstituted Pyrrolidines via Intramolecular Hydroamination

A highly efficient diastereoselective iron(III)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination/cyclization reaction involving - substituted amino alkenes is described. Thus, enantiopure trans-2,5- disubstituted pyrrolidines and trans-5-substituted proline derivatives are synthesized by means of the combination of enantiopure starting materials, easily available from L--amino acids, with sustainable metal catalysts such as iron(III) salts. The scope of this methodology is highlighted in an enantiodivergent approach to the synthesis of both (+)- and (-)-pyrrolidine 197B alkaloids from L-glutamic acid. In addition, a computational study was also carried out to gain insight into the complete diastereoselectivity of the transformation

Modelos in vitro e in vivo para el estudio del desarrollo del injerto en pistacho

Resumen del trabajo presentado en la X Reunión de la Sociedad Española de Cultivo In Vitro de Tejidos Vegetales, celebrada en Zaragoza(España), del 23 al 24 de octubre de 2013Este trabajo profundiza en el estudio de los problemas que afectan al injerto de pistacho en campo, donde los injertos muestran baja tasa de éxito y un alto porcentaje de necrosis. Los injertos in vitro han demostrado ser un buen modelo para el estudio del injerto. Se realizaron dos tipos de injerto: de hendidura y bisel, utilizando cornicabra (P. terebinthus) como patrón y pistacho (P. vera) como variedad. Homoinjertos del patrón fueron utilizados como control. Los homoinjertos in vivo de cornicabra (P. terebinthus) han mostrado que el injerto de bisel con yemas subapicales es el más adecuado con un 35% de éxito y un 20% de necrosis tras 6 semanas frente al de escudete (0% de éxito y 100% de necrosis). In vitro, porciones de brotes de P. vera de 10-20 mm de longitud, con o sin ápice, fueron injertados en brotes de cornicabra con o sin raíces. Más del 70% de los brotes injertados sobrevivieron tras 3-5 semanas de cultivo, pero con escaso crecimiento de las yemas injertadas. Los tejidos del injerto mostraron uniones, que pudieron ser observadas histológicamente 15 días después del injerto. In vivo, estudios iniciales de heteroinjertos P. vera/P. terebinthus mostraron resultados prometedores, ya que 5 injertos de 12 realizados (42%) seguían creciendo 2 meses después el injerto. Se realizaron estudios sobre el crecimiento de plantas de semilla del patrón cornicabra en diferentes condiciones para identificar los factores que influyen en el desarrollo posterior de la planta injertada. Las plantas mostraron crecimiento continuado y mayor vigor en condiciones de invernadero con luz continua.Este trabajo ha sido parcialmente financiado por el proyecto INIA-FEDER RTA2010-00053-C03-02 y RTA2010-00053-C03-03 y por el Grupo de Excelencia A43 (Gobierno de Aragón). M.Y.G.P. Ha disfrutado de un beca del subprograma FPI INIA-CCAA

The First Post-Kepler Brightness Dips of KIC 8462852

We present a photometric detection of the first brightness dips of the unique variable star KIC 8462852 since the end of the Kepler space mission in 2013 May. Our regular photometric surveillance started in October 2015, and a sequence of dipping began in 2017 May continuing on through the end of 2017, when the star was no longer visible from Earth. We distinguish four main 1-2.5% dips, named "Elsie," "Celeste," "Skara Brae," and "Angkor", which persist on timescales from several days to weeks. Our main results so far are: (i) there are no apparent changes of the stellar spectrum or polarization during the dips; (ii) the multiband photometry of the dips shows differential reddening favoring non-grey extinction. Therefore, our data are inconsistent with dip models that invoke optically thick material, but rather they are in-line with predictions for an occulter consisting primarily of ordinary dust, where much of the material must be optically thin with a size scale <<1um, and may also be consistent with models invoking variations intrinsic to the stellar photosphere. Notably, our data do not place constraints on the color of the longer-term "secular" dimming, which may be caused by independent processes, or probe different regimes of a single process

Effect of remote ischaemic conditioning on clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI): a single-blind randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischaemic conditioning with transient ischaemia and reperfusion applied to the arm has been shown to reduce myocardial infarct size in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). We investigated whether remote ischaemic conditioning could reduce the incidence of cardiac death and hospitalisation for heart failure at 12 months. METHODS: We did an international investigator-initiated, prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled trial (CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI) at 33 centres across the UK, Denmark, Spain, and Serbia. Patients (age >18 years) with suspected STEMI and who were eligible for PPCI were randomly allocated (1:1, stratified by centre with a permuted block method) to receive standard treatment (including a sham simulated remote ischaemic conditioning intervention at UK sites only) or remote ischaemic conditioning treatment (intermittent ischaemia and reperfusion applied to the arm through four cycles of 5-min inflation and 5-min deflation of an automated cuff device) before PPCI. Investigators responsible for data collection and outcome assessment were masked to treatment allocation. The primary combined endpoint was cardiac death or hospitalisation for heart failure at 12 months in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02342522) and is completed. FINDINGS: Between Nov 6, 2013, and March 31, 2018, 5401 patients were randomly allocated to either the control group (n=2701) or the remote ischaemic conditioning group (n=2700). After exclusion of patients upon hospital arrival or loss to follow-up, 2569 patients in the control group and 2546 in the intervention group were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. At 12 months post-PPCI, the Kaplan-Meier-estimated frequencies of cardiac death or hospitalisation for heart failure (the primary endpoint) were 220 (8·6%) patients in the control group and 239 (9·4%) in the remote ischaemic conditioning group (hazard ratio 1·10 [95% CI 0·91-1·32], p=0·32 for intervention versus control). No important unexpected adverse events or side effects of remote ischaemic conditioning were observed. INTERPRETATION: Remote ischaemic conditioning does not improve clinical outcomes (cardiac death or hospitalisation for heart failure) at 12 months in patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI. FUNDING: British Heart Foundation, University College London Hospitals/University College London Biomedical Research Centre, Danish Innovation Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, TrygFonden

Catálisis sostenible con hierro(III) en la síntesis de heterociclos de diverso tamaño

Trabajo presentado en la XX Semana Científica "Antonio González" celebrada en La Laguna, Tenerife (España) del 4 al 7 de octubre de 2016.Peer Reviewe

Catálisis Sostenible: bromación de olefinas desactivadas

Trabajo presentado en la XX Semana Científica "Antonio González" celebrada en La Laguna, Tenerife (España) del 4 al 7 de octubre de 2016.Peer Reviewe