Thermal decomposition of the different particles size fractions of almond shells and olive stones. Thermal behaviour changes due to the milling processes

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of particle size on the non-isothermal pyrolysis of almond shells (AS) and olive stones (OS) and to show possible differences in the composition of the different fractions obtained after milling and sieving. The results obtained from the study of different particle size of AS and OS samples show significant differences in the solid residue obtained and in the shape and overlapping degree of the peaks, especially with the smaller particle size. These differences can be due to different factors: (a) the amount of inorganic matter, which increases as particle size decreases, (b) heat and mass transfer processes, (c) different sample composition as a consequence of the milling process which may provoke changes in the structure and the segregation of the components (in addition to the ashes) increasingly changes the composition of the sample as the particle size decreases.

Robust Solutions of MultiObjective Linear Semi-Infinite Programs under Constraint Data Uncertainty

The multiobjective optimization model studied in this paper deals with simultaneous minimization of finitely many linear functions subject to an arbitrary number of uncertain linear constraints. We first provide a radius of robust feasibility guaranteeing the feasibility of the robust counterpart under affine data parametrization. We then establish dual characterizations of robust solutions of our model that are immunized against data uncertainty by way of characterizing corresponding solutions of robust counterpart of the model. Consequently, we present robust duality theorems relating the value of the robust model with the corresponding value of its dual problem.

Price promotions effects of virtue and vice products

Purpose: This paper aims to propose models that capture the own effect of price promotions of virtue and vice products on sales and cross effects within the subcategory, between subcategories and between periods. The hypotheses assume that, due to reverse consumption self-control, the demand for vice products is more price-sensitive than demand for virtue products, but the demand for vice products is less price-sensitive between periods than demand for virtue products; furthermore, due to the degree of impulse-buying and to licensing, the demand sensitivity of the products of a subcategory and of those of other subcategories varies according to the type of promoted product (vice or virtue). Design/methodology/approach: The methodology is based on different econometrical models that estimate the total net effect of price promotions of virtue and vice products on sales. Findings: The results show a greater own effect for price promotions of vice products than for virtue products. However, the complementary sales effect between subcategories for virtue products facilitates greater expansion of the subcategory in virtue products than in vice products. Originality/value: Although price promotions of virtue products (light) and vice products (regular) have proliferated in recent years, researchers have only estimated their own sales effect. Alternatively, the paper contributes by considering own and cross effects.

Phase equilibria of the water + 1-butanol + toluene ternary system at 101.3 kPa

Isobaric vapour–liquid and vapour–liquid–liquid equilibrium data for the water + 1-butanol + toluene ternary system were measured at 101.3 kPa with a modified VLE 602 Fischer apparatus. In addition, the liquid–liquid equilibrium data at 313.15 K were measured and compared with data from other authors at different temperatures. The system exhibits a ternary heterogeneous azeotrope whose temperature and composition have been determined by interpolation. The thermodynamic consistency of the experimental vapour–liquid and vapour–liquid–liquid data was checked by means of the Wisniak’s Li/Wi consistency test. Moreover, the vapour–liquid and the liquid–liquid equilibrium correlation for the ternary system with NRTL and UNIQUAC models, together with the prediction made with the UNIFAC model, were studied and discussed.

Catheter-related bloodstream infection: burden of disease in a tertiary hospital

Background: Surveillance programmes have become the most effective tool for controlling catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI). However, few studies have investigated programmes covering all hospital settings. Aim: To describe the results of a control and prevention programme for CRBSI based on compliance with recommendations for insertion and maintenance, using annual burden of disease in a tertiary level hospital. Methods: A CRBSI control and prevention programme involving all hospital settings was implemented. The programme consisted of CRBSI surveillance, direct observation of insertion and maintenance of catheters to determine performance, and education for healthcare workers. Findings: In total, 2043 short-term catheters were inserted in 1546 patients for 18,570 catheter-days, and 279 long-term catheters were inserted in 243 patients for 40,440 catheter-days. The annual incidence density was 5.98 (first semester 6.40, second semester 5.64) CRBSI per 1000 catheter-days for short-term catheters, and 0.57 (first semester 0.66, second semester 0.43) CRBSI per 1000 catheter-days for long-term catheters. One hundred and forty insertion procedures were observed, with an average insertion time of 13 (standard deviation 7) min. Compliance with recommendations was as follows: hand hygiene, 86.8%; use of alcoholic chlorhexidine solution for skin disinfection, 35.5%; use of mask, 93.4%; use of gloves, 98.7%; use of gown, 75.0%; use of sterile cloth, 93.8%; use of cap, 92.2%; bandage application, 62.7%; and use of aseptic technique, 89.5%. Forty-five maintenance procedures were observed, and compliance rates were as follows: hand hygiene, 42.1%; use of gloves, 78.1%; and port disinfection with alcoholic chlorhexidine solution, 32.5%. Conclusion: The CRBSI control and prevention programme implemented at the study hospital has decreased the rate of CRBSI, provided important information about the total burden of disease, and revealed possible ways to improve interventions in the future.

On the origin of the high capacitance of nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes in acidic and alkaline electrolytes

The synthesis of nitrogenated carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) with up to 6.1 wt% N, via the use of pyridine as the nitrogen containing carbon precursor, can provide a facile route to significantly enhance the low intrinsic specific capacitance of carbon nanotubes. The nitrogen functionalities determine this, at least, five-fold increase of the specific capacitance.

Brackish groundwater desalination by reverse osmosis in southeastern Spain. Presence of emerging contaminants and potential impacts on soil-aquifer media

Desalinated brackish groundwater is becoming a new source of water supply to comply with growing water demands, especially in (semi-) arid countries. Recent publications show that some chemical compounds may persist in an unaltered form after the desalination processes and that there is an associated risk of mixing waters with different salinity for irrigation. At the university of Alicante campus (Spain), a mix of desalinated brackish groundwater and water from the existing aquifer is currently applied for landscape irrigation. The presence of 209 emerging compounds, surfactants, priority substances according to the 2008/105/EC Directive, 11 heavy metals and microbiological organisms in blended water and aquifer samples was investigated. Thirty-five compounds were detected (pesticides, pharmaceuticals and surfactants) among them two priority substances α-endosulfan and Ni were found above the permitted maximum concentration. Blended water used for landscape irrigation during the summer period is supersaturated with respect to carbonates, which may ultimately lead to mineral precipitation in the soil-aquifer media and changes in hydraulic parameters.

Evolution of the last koninckinids (Athyridida, Koninckinidae), a precursor signal of the early Toarcian mass extinction event in the Western Tethys

Koninckinids are a suitable group to shed light on the biotic crisis suffered by brachiopod fauna in the Early Jurassic. Koninckinid fauna recorded in the late Pliensbachian–early Toarcian from the easternmost Subbetic basin is analyzed and identified as a precursor signal for one of the most conspicuous mass extinction events of the Phylum Brachiopoda, a multi-phased interval with episodes of changing environmental conditions, whose onset can be detected from the Elisa–Mirabile subzones up to the early Toarcian extinction boundary in the lowermost Serpentinum Zone (T-OAE). The koninckinid fauna had a previously well-established migration pattern from the intra-Tethyan to the NW-European basins but a first phase with a progressive warming episode in the Pliensbachian–Toarcian transition triggered a koninckinid fauna exodus from the eastern/central Tethys toward the westernmost Mediterranean margins. A second stage shows an adaptive response to more adverse conditions in the westernmost Tethyan margins and finally, an escape and extinction phase is detected in the Atlantic areas from the mid-Polymorphum Zone onwards up to their global extinction in the lowermost Serpentinum Zone. This migration pattern is independent of the paleogeographic bioprovinciality and is unrelated to a facies-controlled pattern. The anoxic/suboxic environmental conditions should only be considered as a minor factor of partial control since well-oxygenated habitats are noted in the intra-Tethyan basins and this factor is noticeable only in the second westward migratory stage (with dwarf taxa and oligotypical assemblages). The analysis of cold-seep proxies in the Subbetic deposits suggests a radiation that is independent of methane releases in the Subbetic basin.

Structures, Systems and Organizational Communication Processes in Franchises in times of crisis: the Spanish case

Current economic crisis together with the Internet revolution has had direct impacts on the franchise sector of Spain: in particular on its unique communication network. The aim of this research is to analyse how Spanish franchise companies have adapted to these changes through its corporate communications management. We want to determine whether the management of communications is ideal to the growth and consolidation of companies in the market. Corporate communications plans and organizational structures were analyzed to verify whether or not information technology (i.e. the use of the Internet) is maximized: the communications aspect being a critical area of company growth. We found that most franchise companies surveyed had adapted well to the changes in information technology, despite economic challenges. The Internet as a communications tool has been limited to its utility as a “bulletin board” for information. The marketing advantage of Internet communication, or its use as an avenue for customer exchange and exchange of goods and services has yet to be maximized. Future research may look into the details of how companies are able to maximize the communications-marketing advantage that Online/Internet can contribute to the franchise sector.

Rigorous design of distillation columns using surrogate models based on Kriging interpolation

The economic design of a distillation column or distillation sequences is a challenging problem that has been addressed by superstructure approaches. However, these methods have not been widely used because they lead to mixed-integer nonlinear programs that are hard to solve, and require complex initialization procedures. In this article, we propose to address this challenging problem by substituting the distillation columns by Kriging-based surrogate models generated via state of the art distillation models. We study different columns with increasing difficulty, and show that it is possible to get accurate Kriging-based surrogate models. The optimization strategy ensures that convergence to a local optimum is guaranteed for numerical noise-free models. For distillation columns (slightly noisy systems), Karush–Kuhn–Tucker optimality conditions cannot be tested directly on the actual model, but still we can guarantee a local minimum in a trust region of the surrogate model that contains the actual local minimum.

Composición corporal y somatotipo en triatletas universitarios

Introducción: el triatlón es un deporte de resistencia e individual que está formado por tres disciplinas diferentes: natación, ciclismo y carrera a pie. El objetivo del estudio es describir las características antropométricas en triatletas varones universitarios, además de analizar y describir la composición corporal y el somatotipo de dichos triatletas. Metodología: estudio observacional y descriptivo de las características antropométricas, la composición corporal y el somatotipo de 39 triatletas varones universitarios entre 24 ± 4,5 años, participantes en el campeonato de España universitario de triatlón, modalidad sprint (Alicante 2010), procedentes de diferentes universidades españolas. Según la técnicas de medición antropométrica adoptadas por la International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) y el Grupo Español de Cineantropometría (GREC) por un evaluador acreditado ISAK de nivel II. Resultados: nos encontramos con deportistas de talla baja, en los que destacan valores inferiores a lo normal en los pliegues cutáneos subescapular, supraespinal, tricipital y bicipital, un porcentaje de masa muscular (45,27 ± 3,29%), de masa grasa (10,22 ± 2,92%) y de masa ósea (16,65 ± 1,34%) y un somatotipo en el que predomina la mesomorfia. Discusión: los triatletas y corredores presentan más baja talla que los ciclistas y nadadores. Los triatletas y ciclistas muestran un peso similar, siendo menor que el de los nadadores de fondo y mayor que el de los corredores de 10 km. Los pliegues cutáneos cresta ilíaca, abdominal y muslo frontal de los ciclistas son inferiores al de los triatletas. El porcentaje de masa grasa de triatletas corredores y nadadores son similares; sin embargo, el de la masa muscular de los triatletas suele ser inferior al de los ciclistas pero similar a las demás modalidades. El somatotipo del triatleta se asemeja al del ciclista (mesomorfo). El del corredor es mesomorfo-ectomorfo y el del nadador puede oscilar de mesomorfo a ectomorfo.

Indicators of success in the dietary management of overweight and obesity: weight, body fat loss and quality

Concepts: %WL: Percentage of weight loss; %FL: Percentage of fat loss. Objective: evaluate which unit of measurement for weight loss could determine the success or failure of dietary treatment for overweight and obesity. Method: 4,625 consultations carried out on 616 patients in the southeast of Spain from 2006 to 2012. All of the patients were over 25 years of age and suffered from overweight or obesity. The consultations were carried out every fortnight, using the Mediterranean or low-calorie diet. The patients were divided into four groups according to their %WL and %FL. Results: most of the sample consisted of: women; participants between 25-45 years of age; attended consultations for over a month and a half; obese. 80% of the patients obtained a %FL ≥ 5% (15.5 ± 12.8). The groups with a higher %FL obtained significant differences in weight loss (22.6 vs 11.2%, p = 0.000). The multinomial analysis shows significant differences between the groups with the highest %FL and the lowest %WL and %FL: sex (p = 0.006 vs p = 0.005), BMI (p = 0.010 vs p = 0.003) and attendance (p = 0.000 vs p = 0.000). Conclusion: the patients who lost < 5% of fat had higher initial parameters (percentage of weight and fat); most of the sample lost ≥ 5% of fat. This means that the method of personalised dietary treatment results in a high fat loss; fat is an indicator of the quality loss obtained. Recommendations: use the measurement of fat as a complementary unit of measurement to weight loss; establish a limit of 5% to evaluate such loss; and increase this type of research in any method of weight loss.

An Acyl-NHC Osmium Cooperative System: Coordination of Small Molecules and Heterolytic B–H and O–H Bond Activation

The hexahydride complex OsH6(PiPr3)2 (1) activates the C–OMe bond of 1-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride (2), in addition to promoting the direct metalation of the imidazolium group, to afford a five-coordinate OsCl(acyl-NHC)(PiPr3)2 (3) compound. The latter coordinates carbon monoxide, oxygen, and molecular hydrogen to give the corresponding carbonyl (4), dioxygen (5), and dihydrogen (6) derivatives. Complex 3 also promotes the heterolytic bond activation of pinacolborane (HBpin), using the acyl oxygen atom as a pendant Lewis base. The hydride ligand and the Bpin substituent of the Fischer-type carbene of the resulting complex 7 activate the O–H bond of alcohols and water. As a consequence, complex 3 is a metal ligand cooperating catalyst for the generation of molecular hydrogen, by means of both the alcoholysis and hydrolysis of pinacolborane, via the intermediates 7 and 6.

Evaluation of the potential of InSAR time series to study the spatio-temporal evolution of piezometric levels in the Madrid aquifer

The Tertiary detritic aquifer of Madrid (TDAM), with an average thickness of 1500 m and a heterogeneous, anisotropic structure, supplies water to Madrid, the most populated city of Spain (3.2 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area). Besides its complex structure, a previous work focused in the north-northwest of Madrid city showed that the aquifer behaves quasi elastically trough extraction/recovery cycles and ground uplifting during recovery periods compensates most of the ground subsidence measured during previous extraction periods (Ezquerro et al., 2014). Therefore, the relationship between ground deformation and groundwater level through time can be simulated using simple elastic models. In this work, we model the temporal evolution of the piezometric level in 19 wells of the TDAM in the period 1997–2010. Using InSAR and piezometric time series spanning the studied period, we first estimate the elastic storage coefficient (Ske) for every well. Both, the Ske of each well and the average Ske of all wells, are used to predict hydraulic heads at the different well locations during the study period and compared against the measured hydraulic heads, leading to very similar errors when using the Ske of each well and the average Ske of all wells: 14 and 16 % on average respectively. This result suggests that an average Ske can be used to estimate piezometric level variations in all the points where ground deformation has been measured by InSAR, thus allowing production of piezometric level maps for the different extraction/recovery cycles in the TDAM.

Impedance spectroscopy study of the effect of environmental conditions in the microstructure development of OPC and slag cement mortars

In this work, the microstructure of mortars made with an ordinary Portland cement and slag cement has been studied. These mortars were exposed to four different constant temperature and relative humidity environments during a 180-day period. The microstructure has been studied using impedance spectroscopy, and mercury intrusion porosimetry as a contrast technique. The impedance spectroscopy parameters make it possible to analyze the evolution of the solid fraction formation for the studied mortars and their results are confirmed with those obtained using mercury intrusion porosimetry. The development of the pore network of mortars is affected by the environment. However, slag cement mortars are more influenced by temperature while the relative humidity has a greater influence on the OPC mortars. The results show that slag cement mortars hardened under non-optimal environments have a more refined microstructure than OPC mortars for the studied environmental conditions.