Centro Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas

Monitoring indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools is critical because children spend most of their daytime inside. One of the main air pollutant sources in urban areas is road traffic, which greatly influences air quality. Thus, this study addresses, in depth, the linkages of meteorology, ambient air pollution, and indoor activities with IAQ in a traffic-influenced school situated south of Madrid. The measurement period was from 22 November to 21 December 2017. Simultaneous measurements of indoor and outdoor PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 mass concentrations, ultrafine particle number concentration (PNC) and equivalent black carbon (eBC) were analyzed under different meteorological conditions. PNC and eBC outdoor concentrations and their temporal trend were similar among the sampling points, with all sites being influenced in the same way by traffic emissions. Strong correlations were found between indoor and outdoor concentrations, indicating that indoor pollution levels were significantly affected by outdoor sources. Especially, PNC and eBC had the same indoor/outdoor (I/O) trend, but indoor concentrations were lower. The time delay in indoor vs. outdoor concentrations varied between 0.5 and 2 h, depending on wind speed. Significant differences were found between different meteorological conditions (ANOVA p-values < 2.14 × 10⁻⁶). Atmospheric stability periods led to an increase in indoor and outdoor pollutant levels. However, the highest I/O ratios were found during atmospheric instability, especially for eBC (an average of 1.2). This might be related to rapid changes in the outdoor air concentrations induced by meteorology. Significant variations were observed in indoor PM10 concentrations during classroom occupancy (up to 230 µg m⁻³) vs. non-occupancy (up to 19 µg m⁻³) days, finding levels higher than outdoor ones. This was attributed to the scholarly activities in the classroom. Conversely, PNC and eBC concentrations only increased when the windows of the classroom were open. These findings have helped to establish practical recommendations and measures for improving the IAQ in this school and those of similar characteristics.

This article presents the basic physical and numerical principles of a fluid model implemented into the numerical code fluid solver for SPIDER in 2D (FSFS2D) used for simulations of the source for the production of ions of deuterium extracted from RF plasma (SPIDER) negative ion source. It gives self-consistent 2-D description of the source, including the neutral gas flow, plasma chemistry, radio frequency (RF) coupling in the source driver, and plasma transport through the magnetic filter (MF). In order to capture the neutral depletion and its impact on the plasma dynamics the continuity equation for molecules and the corresponding surface chemistry have been included in the model. An important element in the development of the numerical framework is the validation of the code results against the experimental data. For this aim, a series of numerical simulations have been performed and compared with the experimental data from the SPIDER experimental campaigns. This article presents critical assessment of the validation results and outlines the necessary code/model enhancements required to improve the predictive capability of the FSFS2D code.

Previous studies have found inconsistent associations between heavy metals and metalloids (cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic), and reproductive outcomes. The biofluid concentrations of ten non-essential trace elements (Hg, Pb, As, Ba, Sr, Rb, Cs, Sn, Ni, and Co) were evaluated in 51 Spanish women undergoing ICSI, PGT-A, and SET/FET. Nine out of ten non-essential elements were detectable in follicular fluid, whole blood, and urine collected the day of vaginal oocyte retrieval (VOR) and the day of embryo transfer and then analyzed by ICP-MS or Tricell DMA-80 for mercury. Elevated mercury and strontium concentrations in follicular fluid were associated with poor ovarian response and preimplantation outcomes. Worst preimplantation outcomes were also identified in women with elevated whole-blood strontium or mercury, urinary arsenic, barium, and tin the day of VOR. High concentrations of urinary rubidium on VOR day were linked with enhanced fertilization and blastocyst development. Excessive titanium in whole blood was associated with lower odds of implantation, clinical pregnancy, and achieving a live birth in a given IVF cycle. Excessive urinary arsenic on the day of embryo transfer was associated with lower odds of live birth. Although these preliminary results need to be confirmed in larger populations, distinguishing organic and inorganic element forms, our findings show that some non-essential elements have a detrimental impact on human IVF outcomes.

The European project IFAST's WP8 Innovative Superconducting Magnets aims to develop the technology of Canted Cosine Theta (CCT) magnets wound with High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS). Superconducting magnets could lower the size and cost of synchrotrons and gantries for research and hadron therapy. HTS materials can lead to higher magnetic fields with smaller cryogenic systems than LTS. However, they pose challenges in cable production schemes, magnet design, and cost. The project's final goal is to design a straight CCT-layout magnet with a central dipole field of 4 T, and a ramp rate of 0.4 T/s, but a lower ramp rate of 0.15-0.2 T/s is acceptable for the first step. The paper presents a preliminary design, discussing in particular the protection scheme with the magnet protection solutions for the conductor: one with two and the other with four HTS tapes. Both options generate 4 T of dipole field without an Iron shell, with at least 10 K of margin at an operational temperature of 20 K. To meet the time and budget constraints of the project, a simple cable based on a co-winding of commercial REBCO tapes is proposed. Protection is the most challenging aspect of the design and an adiabatic quench analysis has been used to determine the required thickness of copper stabilizer tapes to mitigate the risk of damaging the magnet during a quench. Finally, the paper evaluates AC and radial current losses during the magnet cycles, discussing the heat distribution and possible solutions for heat extraction.

Patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) experience numerous complications, which are exacerbated by inflammatory dysregulation and infection. Understanding the immunological mechanisms is crucial for selecting medications that balance inflammation control and immunocompetence. In this cross‐sectional study, aiming to identify potential immunotherapeutic targets and inflammatory biomarkers, we delved into the interrelationship between clinical severity and systemic inflammatory parameters in a representative RDEB cohort. Encompassing 84 patients aged 1–67 and spanning all three Epidermolysis Bullosa Disease Activity and Scarring Index (EBDASI) severity categories, we analysed the interrelationship of infection history, standard inflammatory markers, systemic cytokines and Ig levels to elucidate their roles in RDEB pathophysiology. Our findings identify C‐reactive protein as an excellent biomarker for disease severity in RDEB. A type 2 inflammatory profile prevails among moderate and severe RDEB patients, correlating with dysregulated circulating IgA and IgG. These results underscore the IL4/IL13 pathways as potential evidence‐based therapeutic targets. Moreover, the complete inflammatory scenario aligns with Staphylococcus aureus virulence mechanisms. Concurrently, abnormalities in IgG, IgE and IgM levels suggest an immunodeficiency state in a substantial number of the cohort's patients. Our results provide new insights into the interplay of infection and immunological factors in the pathogenesis of RDEB.

The recycling and recovery of value-added secondary raw materials such as spent Zn/C batteries is crucial to reduce the environmental impact of wastes and to achieve cost-effective and sustainable processing technologies. The aim of this work is to fabricate reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based sorbents with a desulfurization capability using recycled graphite from spent Zn/C batteries as raw material. Recycled graphite was obtained from a black mass recovered from the dismantling of spent batteries by a hydrometallurgical process. Graphene oxide (GO) obtained by the Tour’s method was comparable to that obtained from pure graphite. rGO-based sorbents were prepared by doping obtained GO with NiO and ZnO precursors by a hydrothermal route with a final annealing step. Recycled graphite along with the obtained GO, intermediate (rGO-NiO-ZnO) and final composites (rGO-NiO-ZnO-400) were characterized by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (WDXRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) that corroborated the removal of metal impurities from the starting material as well as the presence of NiO- and ZnO-doped reduced graphene oxide. The performance of the prepared composites was evaluated by sulfidation tests under different conditions. The results revealed that the proposed rGO-NiO-ZnO composite present a desulfurization capability similar to that of commercial sorbents which constitutes a competitive alternative to syngas cleaning.

Plain Language Summary Multiple common city scale passive and active interventions exist to reduce urban population's exposure to extreme heat during hot spells. Nonetheless, a proper comparison of the effect that each of these interventions may have on the temperatures experienced within large cities is missing. Additionally, the radiative and thermal mechanisms that lead to outdoor temperature changes are often not detailed and could lead to detrimental effects for local populations, such as indirect increase of water vapor or reflection of solar radiation. Our study, focusing over London, compares several common interventions through a modeling experiment and finds that cool roofs largely outperform other interventions during the two hottest days of the summer 2018. We also find that green roofs are ineffective on average and that solar panels and tree vegetation would only marginally change temperature exposures. Large scale deployment of air conditioning would lead to increased temperature in the core of London. Solar panels could potentially provide sufficient energy for running air conditioning all over London, creating comfortable indoor environments, and green roofs could reduce temperatures during the day. We argue that such inter‐comparisons should guide future decision making.

Functional analysis in mouse models is necessary to establish the involvement of a set of genetic variations in tumor development. A modeling platform to facilitate and cost-effectively analyze the role of multiple genes in carcinogenesis would be valuable. Here, we present an innovative strategy for lung mutagenesis using CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins delivered via cationic polymers. This approach allows the simultaneous inactivation of multiple genes. We validate the effectiveness of this system by targeting a group of tumor suppressor genes, specifically Rb1 , Rbl1 , Pten , and Trp53 , which were chosen for their potential to cause lung tumors, namely small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Tumors with histologic and transcriptomic features of human SCLC emerged after intratracheal administration of CRISPR/polymer nanoparticles. These tumors carried loss-of-function mutations in all four tumor suppressor genes at the targeted positions. These findings were reproduced in two different pure genetic backgrounds. We provide a proof of principle for simplified modeling of lung tumorigenesis to facilitate functional testing of potential cancer-related genes.

HIV stigma is a social determinant of health that can influence multiple health outcomes, including adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), engagement in HIV care, and viral suppression levels in people with HIV (PWH). In Peru, where the HIV epidemic is concentrated in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW), stigma may play an important role in healthcare engagement. To understand the relationship between stigma and two outcome variables, ART adherence and engagement in HIV care in 400 MSM and TGW, we assessed factors from the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations at two HIV clinics that tailor services for sexual and gender minorities. While some predisposing, need, and enabling resource factors were associated with optimal (≥ 90%) ART adherence or engagement in HIV care, none of the stigma subscales were correlated, suggesting that when LGBTQ-affirming care is provided to MSM/TGW, stigma may not influence HIV-related outcomes.

Sustainability action at universities is complex and requires engaging multiple competences that reside on different levels outside and inside the organisation. In addition to individual competences, social communities also possess collective resources and characteristics that do not translate into a sum of individual abilities. Based on a qualitative small-n comparative study of four universities in Spain, Portugal, Finland and Romania, this paper explores the concept of collective sustainability competences as enablers and constraints of sustainability action at universities. Drawing from institutional theory and nestedness in organisations, the article poses the following research question: How can the collective sustainability competences of universities be conceptualised? The article develops a conceptual understanding of regulative, normative and cultural-cognitive elements of collective sustainability competences as a nested institutional space. In so doing, the article contributes to the discussion on the capacity of universities to act as key organisations in sustainability transitions.

In the beekeeping industry, “slumgum” is generated as a solid organic waste during the beeswax-rendering process from old scraped honeycombs. This bio-waste could be considered as a novel organic fertilizer due to its high content in organic matter and nutrients. As a novelty in this study, we analysed the effect of application of solid and liquid slumgum transformed or not with Penicillium chrysogenum on purslane ( Portulaca oleracea ) yield and its relationship with soil rhizosphere. For this purpose, nutritional composition, enzymatic activities involved in the P, N and C cycles, fungal and bacterial community composition, diversity and potential functionality in the rhizosphere were measured. The application of solid and liquid slumgum transformed with P. chrysogenum (TS and TL, respectively) and slumgum liquid (L) significantly increased purslane shoot biomass and foliar P content, compared to the non-transformed solid slumgum (S). The different types of slumgum tested resulted in changes in the composition of both bacteria and fungi communities, resulting in distinct communities for each treatment. Moreover, changes in the functional fungal guilds were observed, with increased abundances of saprotrophs and reduced number of plant pathogens under the TS, TL, and L treatments. Solid slumgum transformed with P. chrysogenum (TS) was also the most effective in enhancing enzymatic activities related with C, N and P cycles in the rhizosphere. Conversely, the use of solid slumgum (S) led to an increase in the abundance of bacterial genes primarily associated with the denitrification process. Our preliminary results suggest that solid and liquid slumgum transformed with P. chrysogenum , as well as liquid non-transformed slumgum (TS, TL, and L, respectively), could be considered as novel organic fertilizers, amendments or additives within the circular economy context and the sustainable use of natural resources. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to validate the positive outcomes observed, particularly under field conditions and with a variety of species.

In the beekeeping industry, “slumgum” is generated as a solid organic waste during the beeswax-rendering process from old scraped honeycombs. This bio-waste could be considered as a novel organic fertilizer due to its high content in organic matter and nutrients. As a novelty in this study, we analysed the effect of application of solid and liquid slumgum transformed or not with Penicillium chrysogenum on purslane ( Portulaca oleracea ) yield and its relationship with soil rhizosphere. For this purpose, nutritional composition, enzymatic activities involved in the P, N and C cycles, fungal and bacterial community composition, diversity and potential functionality in the rhizosphere were measured. The application of solid and liquid slumgum transformed with P. chrysogenum (TS and TL, respectively) and slumgum liquid (L) significantly increased purslane shoot biomass and foliar P content, compared to the non-transformed solid slumgum (S). The different types of slumgum tested resulted in changes in the composition of both bacteria and fungi communities, resulting in distinct communities for each treatment. Moreover, changes in the functional fungal guilds were observed, with increased abundances of saprotrophs and reduced number of plant pathogens under the TS, TL, and L treatments. Solid slumgum transformed with P. chrysogenum (TS) was also the most effective in enhancing enzymatic activities related with C, N and P cycles in the rhizosphere. Conversely, the use of solid slumgum (S) led to an increase in the abundance of bacterial genes primarily associated with the denitrification process. Our preliminary results suggest that solid and liquid slumgum transformed with P. chrysogenum , as well as liquid non-transformed slumgum (TS, TL, and L, respectively), could be considered as novel organic fertilizers, amendments or additives within the circular economy context and the sustainable use of natural resources. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to validate the positive outcomes observed, particularly under field conditions and with a variety of species.

The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) is a metallogenic province in SW Spain and Portugal hosting the largest concentration of massive sulphide deposits worldwide. Exploration campaigns in both the Spanish and Portuguese sectors of the IPB have increased recently due to the rise in metal prices. Within this framework, distinguishing geochemical features associated with natural phenomena and isolating geogenic anomalies from anthropogenic ones can pose a challenge. This contribution uses the residual soil geochemical database of the IPB (Spain) to examine numerous variables, encompassing major, minor, and trace elements. Some of these variables commonly exhibit high correlations owing to consistent geochemical behavior. However, the influence of anthropogenic factors tends to elevate data variability, occasionally masking the natural relationships that govern their distributions. We apply different treatments of data to develop factor analysis using log transformed data, and clr-transformed data to compare and improve the geochemical interpretation of this important zone. Factor analysis has been developed with these results to compare with previously published research on factor analysis in raw data. Factor score interpolated maps were also generated using both lognormal and clr-transformed data to visualize better the distribution and the different geochemical associations in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. This study shows the importance of the different data treatments and the improvement of the clr-transformed multivariate analysis to reduce the dilution or overestimation of the results of some elements that cause erroneous interpretations of the data.

Next-generation polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) require an integral design of the porous structure of electrodes at different scales to improve performance and enlarge durability while reducing cost. One of today’s biggest challenges is the stable, high-performance operation at low Pt loading due to the detrimental effect of the local oxygen transport resistance caused by ionomer around catalyst sites. Hindered local oxygen transport arises from sluggish kinetics at the local reaction environment, that comprises adsorption at (wet) ionomer and Pt interfaces, and diffusivity of gas species in ionomer and water. Diverse factors affect oxygen transport, including operating conditions (relative humidity, temperature, and pressure), ionomer content and morphology, ionomer heterogeneity, porosity of carbon support, catalyst dispersity, and flooding. To attain performance and durability targets, it is essential to maximize the oxygen utilization of the catalyst layer by implementing enhanced membrane electrode assembly architectures. This involves employing advanced catalyst layer preparation techniques, including electrospraying, to generate optimized highly porous morphologies. Furthermore, achieving these targets necessitates the development of new materials with tailored properties, such as high permeability and porous ionomers, among other innovative strategies.

El libro Climate Restoration: The Only Future That Will Sustain the Human Race sostiene que la restauración del clima, devolver los niveles de CO2 atmosférico a los niveles preindustriales, es una necesidad urgente para garantizar un futuro habitable para la humanidad. Las emisiones netas cero, el objetivo actual de la mayoría de los países, no son suficientes para revertir el daño que ya se ha hecho al clima. Los niveles actuales de CO2 ya han desencadenado cambios irreversibles, por lo que simplemente equilibrar las emisiones futuras no será suficiente. La restauración del clima es tecnológicamente factible y económicamente viable.

Underutilized dates are considered as a socioeconomically important fruit for local and global communities, such as Degla-Beida, a common date fruit variety. The aim of this research was to elucidate, for the first time, the efficiency of UV-C light treatment (over different irradiation durations 5, 10, 20, and 40 min) in the enhancement of soluble carbohydrates and phenolic compounds, and to evaluate its effect on the antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, the content of dietary fiber was analyzed: insoluble dietary fiber (11.89 g/100 g); soluble dietary fiber (5.15 g/100 g); and total dietary fiber (17.06 g/100 g). The techno-functional properties were also determined: swelling capacity (3.94 mL/g); oil holding capacity (7.38 g/g); water holding capacity (9.30 g/g); and bulk density (1.81 g/mL). All were carried out to study the potential of exploiting this underutilized fruit for other applications as for feed or food. The results suggest that UV-C technology changes minimally the total water-soluble carbohydrate content; however, this preservation technology can affect the availability of different soluble carbohydrates depending on the irradiation time (IT), increasing the high molecular weight polysaccharides with IT up to 20 min, and some oligosaccharides with IT up to 5 min. The polyphenolic content determined by HPLC-QTOF was increased when the samples were submitted to UV-C reaching the maximum at 20 min (111.62 mg/100 g) and then to decrease in those submitted to IT of 40 min (12.05 mg/100 g). Regarding antioxidant capacity in the UV-C treated samples, FRAP decreased and EC50 on DPPH increased when IT was increased, while ORAC was hardly maintained. In addition, considering UV-C radiation associated with preservation and the studied date fruit as a rich source of dietary fiber with adequate techno-functional properties, this study presents valuable information for its potential use as a new food ingredient.

Background In Peru, HIV cases are highly concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite the availability of anti-retroviral therapy, people living with HIV (PWH) have higher levels of oral diseases. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is significantly present among PWH. Our overarching goal was to generate foundational evidence on the association of AUD and oral health in MSM with HIV and enhance research capacity for future intersectional research on AUD, oral health and HIV. Our specific aim was to implement an on-site electronic data collection system through the use of a REDCap Mobile App in a low-middle income country (LMIC) setting. Methods Five validated surveys were utilized to gather data on demographics, medical history, HIV status, alcohol use, HIV stigma, perceived oral health status, and dietary supplement use. These surveys were developed in REDCap and deployed with the REDCap Mobile App, which was installed on ten iPads across two medical HIV clinics in Lima, Peru. REDCap app as well as the protocol for data collection were calibrated with feedback from trial participants and clinical research staff to improve clinical efficiency and participant experience. Results The mean age of participants (n = 398) was 35.94 ± 9.13y, of which 98.5% identified as male, and 85.7% identified as homosexual. 78.1% of participants binge drank, and 12.3% reported being heavy drinkers. After pilot testing, significant modifications to the structure and layout of the surveys were performed to improve efficiency and flow. The app was successfully deployed to replace cumbersome paper records and collected data was directly stored in a REDCap database. Conclusions The REDCap Mobile App was successfully used due to its ability to: (a) capture and store data offline, (b) timely translate between multiple languages on the mobile app interface, and (c) provide user-friendly interface with low associated costs and ample support. Trial registration 1R56DE029639-01.

The peculiar physico-chemical characteristics of nanomaterials (NMs) and the use of different coatings to improve their expected properties result in a huge amount of nanoforms, which vary in chemical composition, size, shape and surface characteristics. This makes it almost impossible to test all the nanoforms available, and efforts have been made to establish grouping or read-across strategies. The aim of this work was to find a behavior pattern of effect among nanoforms of different metallic core nanoparticles (NPs) (TiO2, CeO2 and Ag NP) with the same coatings (sodium citrate, poly (ethylene glycol), dodecylphosphonic acid or oleylamine). Daphnia magna, rainbow trout and two fish cell lines (PLHC-1 and RTH-149) were exposed to a range of concentrations (up to 100 mg/L) of the uncoated or coated NPs. Ag NPs were the most toxic, followed by CeO2 NPs and finally by TiO2 NPs. The results show that a clear pattern of toxicity in the studied species could not be established related to the coatings. However, it was possible to confirm different inter-species sensitivities. RTH-149 was the most sensitive cell line, and Daphnia magna was more sensitive than fish. Moreover, some differences in coating-core interactions were found between the metal oxide and the metal NPs in Daphnia magna.

Heterogeneous photocatalysis has been increasingly scrutinized in order to remove air pollutants. TiO 2 is the most widely employed semiconductor, although it absorbs radiation only within the UVA range, limiting visible light radiation use. Therefore, some strategies, such as doping and sensitization, have been adopted. This project aimed to develop TiO 2 -based photocatalysts using visible-UVA radiation as a future alternative for air decontamination. The synthesized photocatalysts were N-TiO 2 , Cu 2 O/N-TiO 2 and Ag-N-TiO 2 , impregnated on a glass surface via the sol-gel dip-coating method. The materials were characterized through UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance, Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. These techniques corroborate the formation of polytriazines as products of urea thermolysis and suggest a synergistic effect between sensitization and doping with N. All photocatalysts exhibited a new band gap with energy associated with visible light. The photocatalytic activity of the materials was verified against trichloroethylene in the gaseous phase and against the bacteria Escherichia coli . The photocatalytic efficiency of the materials was higher using UVA and visible light than pure TiO 2 , both for TCE and disinfection tests. The disinfection process was accelerated in the presence of photocatalysts containing copper and under visible light, and Ag-N-TiO 2 was more efficient than when under UVA light.

Plain language summary Most of the current electrical grid infrastructure is based on alternating current (AC) because the facilities used for long distance power distribution are made to operate in AC. The reason behind this is that power losses are less at high voltage AC. However, in recent years, renewable energies, local generation and consumption are being promoted 1 , which is leading to an important energy transition for all citizens. This transition also derives from the type of current generated from renewable energy sources (such as solar or wind power, these being the most widespread technologies), as the vast majority of them generate energy in direct current (DC) 2 . In addition, it is common to find storage systems associated with these renewable energy sources, due to their variability linked to weather conditions. These storage systems also operate in DC. Finally, to close the generation, storage and consumption cycle, part of the consumption with devices used on daily basis is carried out in DC, such as LED lighting, computers or mobile phones use DC for their operation. Other examples include charging stations for electric vehicles, which are becoming more and more widespread, and the electric railway system 3, 4 . This implies achieving conversions in current types resulting in losses linked to these changes 5– 8 and thus reducing the amount of energy reaching the consumer versus the amount of energy produced. TIGON project seeks to facilitate this transition and bring it to reality by generating equipment, allowing the transition to DC, and by reducing AC consumption. It therefore benefits us as consumers, thanks to the reduction of energy conversion losses associated with the transformation from AC to DC. CE.D.E.R.-CIEMAT, as a demonstration centre for the project, will have a DC-based hybrid microgrid where this idea can be integrated and operated in a real location.