Effect of CO2, H2O and SO2 in the ceria-catalyzed combustion of soot under simulated diesel exhaust conditions

The effect of CO2, H2O and SO2 in the Ce0.73Zr0.27O2 and Ce0.64Zr0.27Nd0.09O2 catalyzed combustion of soot with NOx + O2 has been studied. Combustion experiments performed in a fix-bed reactor with soot-catalyst mixtures prepared in loose contact mode showed that CO2, H2O and SO2 lower the activity of both catalysts, and the inhibiting effect follows the trend SO2 > H2O > CO2. Regardless the gas mixture composition, the catalytic activity for soot combustion of Ce0.64Zr0.27Nd0.09O2 is equal or higher to that of Ce0.73Zr0.27O2 because Nd3+ doping seems to promote the participation of the active oxygen mechanism together with the NO2-assisted mechanism in the catalytic combustion of soot. The maximum soot combustion rate achieved during a Ce0.64Zr0.27Nd0.09O2-catalyzed reaction in NOx/O2/CO2/H2O/N2 is about three times higher than that of the uncatalyzed combustion, and this catalyst also improves the CO2 selectivity. In situ DRIFTS experiments showed that CO2, H2O and SO2 compete with NOx for the adsorption sites on the catalysts’ surface. CO2 partially impedes the catalytic oxidation of NO to NO2, affecting much more to the Nd3+-containing catalyst; however, the contribution of the active oxygen mechanism seems to remain relevant in this case. H2O also hinders the catalytic oxidation of NO to NO2 on both catalysts, and therefore the catalytic combustion of soot, because delays the formation of nitrogen reaction intermediates on the catalysts’ surface and favors the formation of more stable nitrogen surface species than in a H2O-free gas stream. For both catalysts, SO2 chemisorption (with sulfate formation) is even able to remove nitrogen surface groups previously formed by NOx chemisorption, which significantly inhibits the catalytic oxidation of NO to NO2 and the catalytic combustion of soot.Financial support of Generalitat Valenciana (Project Prometeo 2009/047), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project CTQ2012-30703), and the UE (FEDER funding)

Diesel soot combustion catalysts: review of active phases

The most relevant information about the different active phases that have been studied for the catalytic combustion of soot is reviewed and discussed in this article. Many catalysts have been reported to accelerate soot combustion, including formulations with noble metals, alkaline metals and alkaline earth metals, transition metals that can accomplish redox cycles (V, Mn, Co, Cu, Fe, etc.), and internal transition metals. Platinum catalysts are among those of most interest for practical applications, and an important feature of these catalysts is that sulphur-resistant platinum formulations have been prepared. Some metal oxide-based catalysts also appear to be promising candidates for soot combustion in practical applications, including ceria-based formulations and mixed oxides with perovskite and spinel structures. Some of these metal oxide catalysts produce highly reactive active oxygen species that promote efficient soot combustion. Thermal stability is an important requirement for a soot combustion catalyst, which precludes the practical utilisation of several potential catalysts such as most alkaline metal catalysts, molten salts, and metal chlorides. Some noble metal catalysts are also unstable due to the formation of volatile oxides (ruthenium, iridium, and osmium).The authors are grateful for the financial support received from Generalitat Valenciana (Project Prometeo 2009/047), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project no. CTQ2012-30703), and the EU (FEDER)

Pan, cereales integrales y salud

El pan es un elemento básico en la alimentación de los seres humanos y constituye la columna vertebradora de la dieta mediterránea. Su relación con la salud es importante, ya que contribuye a satisfacer las necesidades energéticas y puede disminuir factores de riesgo de ciertas patologías crónicas no transmisibles, especialmente cuando el trigo es de grano entero. Esta acción preventiva favorable se ha relacionado con la enfermedad cardiovascular, la diabetes, la obesidad, el cáncer de colon y la diverticulosis intestinal. En esta revisión se analizan los efectos beneficiosos y perjudiciales para la salud de este alimento. Bread is a basic food item for humans, constituting the backbone of the Mediterranean diet. Its relation to health is important, as it helps to meet energy needs and may reduce risk factors for certain chronic noncommunicable diseases, especially when wheat is whole grain. This favorable preventative action has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, colon cancer and intestinal diverticulosis. This review analyzes the beneficial and detrimental effects on health

Metabolic syndrome before puberty: Myth or reality?

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a cluster of alterations related with insulin resistance (obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and impaired glucose metabolism), which are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in adults. Several definitions have been proposed for older children and adolescents. However, no definitions have been made in accordance with pubertal status, and those in prepubertal state have not received attention enough, despite there are data suggesting the early presence of risk factors. The new insights concerning healthy and unhealthy metabolic status or the addition of novel metabolic risk biomarkers, may contribute to the knowledge about the development of MetS in children. This manuscript reviews the available evidence on MetS during childhood, focusing on the prepubertal period

Functional capacity and self-esteem of people with cerebral palsy

OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether functional capacity predicts self-esteem in people with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study of 108 people with CP, ages 16-65 yr, who were residents of Spain. Self-esteem was captured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and functional capacity using the Barthel Index (BI). Sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. The relationship between the RSES score and the BI score was analyzed using linear regression. RESULTS: RSES scores increased significantly as BI scores increased (regression coefficient = 0.047, 95% confidence interval [0.017, 0.078], p = .003). People with a higher level of education, active employment, and independent living arrangements tended to have better functional capacity and higher self-esteem. CONCLUSION: Greater functional capacity predicted higher self-esteem; this effect is probably partly mediated by education, employment, and living arrangements

Quemadura solar y fotodermatosis

Los autores describen las características de la luz solar y las radiaciones que afectan a la piel, las quemaduras producidas por el sol y las denominadas fotodermatosis idiopáticas, como son la erupción polimorfa lumínica, urticaria solar, hidroa vacciniforme, prurigo actínico y dermatosis actínica crónica. Se expone el concepto de reacción fototóxica y fotoalérgica y se describen las medidas protectoras frente a la luz solar, basadas en evitar la exposición directa al sol y la aplicación de agentes químicos, físicos y biológicos en las zonas expuestas de la piel

Simultaneous catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and soot with Ce–Zr–Nd mixed oxides in simulated diesel exhaust conditions

Ce0.73−xZr0.27NdxO2 mixed oxides (x ≤ 0.3) were prepared, characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, N2 adsorption isotherms and H2-TPR, and tested for simultaneous CO, propylene, benzene and soot oxidation in a gas mixture containing O2, NOx, H2O, CO2, CO, propylene (model aliphatic hydrocarbon) and benzene (model aromatic hydrocarbon) that simulates a diesel exhaust. Ce–Zr mixed oxide doping with a low atomic fraction of neodymium (0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.09) promotes the creation of oxygen vacancies, has a minor effect in the BET specific surface areas of the oxides, increases the surface ceria reducibility and has a positive effect in the catalytic activity. On the contrary, higher neodymium atomic fractions (x = 0.2 and 0.3) promote sintering, with a drastic decrease of the BET specific surface area, surface reducibility and catalytic activity. The Ce0.73−xZr0.27NdxO2 catalysts with x ≤ 0.09 are able to accelerate simultaneously soot, propylene and benzene combustion, and as a general trend, the catalytic behavior of Ce0.73Zr0.27O2 is improved by low atomic fraction neodymium doping (0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.09). These Ce0.73−xZr0.27NdxO2 mixed oxides with 0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.09 are also able to accelerate CO oxidation in a certain extent, but there is a net production of CO during soot combustion because the oxidation capacity of these oxides is not high enough to oxidize all CO released as soot combustion product.The authors thank the financial support of CNPq – National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (Brazil), of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (ProjectCTQ2012-30703) and of the UE (FEDER funding)

Prognostic value of immunoexpression of CCR4, CCR5, CCR7 and CXCR4 in squamous cell carcinoma of tongue and floor of the mouth

Diverse studies have evidenced that chemokines can play a critical role in pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The main chemokines involved in oral carcinogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis are CCR4, CCR5, CCR7 and CXCR4, and our aim was to evaluate the prognostic value of the immunoexpression of these chemokines in SCC of tongue and floor of the mouth. A retrospective descriptive study of the immunohistochemical expression of CCR4, CCR5, CCR7 and CXCR4 in paraffin-embedded samples of 124 patients with SCC of the tongue and floor of the mouth was performed, considering 98 cases from Brazil and 26 cases from Chile. Associations between variables were analyzed using chi-square test. Survival curves were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with long-rank test. For multivariate survival analysis, the Cox hazard model was established. The level of significance established was p?0.05. The statistical analysis showed that samples with well or moderate WHO model differentiation (p=0.001) and a high expression of CCR5 (p=0.05) were significantly associated with a higher disease specific survival, which were also observed in Cox´s multivariate analysis (p=0.01). A higher expression of CCR7 (p=0.01) interfered significantly in disease-free survival in univariate analysis and in Cox´s multivariate analysis (p=0.05). These results support additional evidence, showing that chemokine receptors CCR5 and CCR7 are helpful as biomarkers of poor prognosis in patients with SCC of the tongue and floor of the mouth

The ArDM Experiment

Presented at the Cracow Epiphany Conference on Physics in Underground Laboratories and Its Connection with LHC, Cracow, Poland, January 5–8, 2010.The aim of the ArDM project is the development and operation of a one ton double-phase liquid argon detector for direct Dark Matter searches. The detector measures both the scintillation light and the ionization charge from ionizing radiation using two independent readout systems. This paper briefly describes the detector concept and presents preliminary results from the ArDM R&D program, including a 3 l prototype developed to test the charge readout system

Estudio experimental en conejos de un nuevo vidrio bioactivo en la reconstrucción de defectos óseos

Objetivo: Se evaluó "in vivo" un vidrio bioactivo en la reparación de defectos óseos en animales esqueléticamente maduros e inmaduros. Material y Método: Se intervinieron 32 conejos machos de Nueva Zelanda divididos aleatoriamente en dos Grupos de 16: esqueléticamente maduros e inmaduros respectivamente. En todos ellos, se labró un defecto óseo en la cara lateral del cóndilo femoral. En la mitad de cada Grupo se relleno el defecto óseo con un implante de biovidrio. El resto sirvió como control. En los animales inmaduros, el defecto óseo resultó equivalente a una lesión fisaria tipo VI de Rang. El seguimiento fue de 4 meses. Se realizó un estudio radiográfico mensual, así como un estudio necrópsico, histológico e histomorfométrico de los especimenes. Resultados: Todos los animales finalizaron el estudio. No se observaron desviaciones axiales de las extremidades intervenidas en los animales inmaduros. El vidrio presentó una excelente osteointegración tanto en animales maduros como inmaduros, con evidencia de osteoconducción sobre su superficie, de forma simultánea a a su degradación y reabsorción, sin deformidades o ruturas. Las formación ósea inducida y reabsorción, sin deformidades o roturas. La formació ósea inducida por el vídrio fue la mayor en los niveles inmaduros respecto a los maduros. Los animales control presentaron una reparación del defecto óseo de menor calidad, con variaciones entre individuos. Conclusiones: El comportamiento "in vivo" el vidrio testado permite considerarlo como un material adecuado para la sustitución o reparación ósea, en el relleno de cavidades, la cobertura de superficie de implantes, y la vehiculización de sustancias. En cirugía del cartílago de crecimiento podría utilizarse como material de interposición tras la resección de puentes óseos fisarios.Objective: to evaluate the usefulness of a new bioactive glass in bone defect healing in rabbits. Material & Methods: 32 New Zeland rabbits were randomly distributed in two groups of 16: mature and immature respectively . In all of them, a bone defect was performed in the lateral surface of femoral distal epiphysis. A glass bioactive implant was placed in the bone defect of 8 animals in each group. The others served as control. In the immature rabbits, bone defect results as a Type VI physeal injury of Rang. Follow-up was 4 months. A standardised radiographic study was monthly performed, and after sacrifice, a histological and morphometric study on the femora was done. Results: All the animals survived the follow-up. No axial deviations of distal femoral growth were observed in immature rabbits. The tested glass showed an excellent osteointegration in all the animals, with osteoconduction evidence over its surface, accompanying degradation and resorption phenomena, but without deformities of break. Bone healing over the tested bioactive glass was higher in immature rabbitr than in mature animals. The control animals showed a poor bone defect healing, with variations among individuals. Conclusion: The in vivo behaviour of tested bioactive glasas suggests its use as possible bone substitute for cavities filling, implant surfaces, and as drugs vehicle. In growth plate surgery, it should be use as interposition material afeter physeal bone bridges resection