Electrocoagulation of a synthetic textile effluent powered by photovoltaic energy without batteries: Direct connection behaviour

The feasibility of the use of an electrocoagulation system (EC) directly powered by a photovoltaic (PV) array has been demonstrated. The model pollutant used was a reactive textile dye Remazol Red RB 133. It has been proved that PV array configuration is a factor of great influence on the use of the generated power. The optimum PV array configuration must be reshaped depending on the instantaneous solar irradiation. A useful and effective methodology to adjust the EC–PV system operation conditions depending on solar irradiation has been proposed. The current flow ratio, J_v, is established as the control parameter.     

Determination of (111) ordered domains on platinum electrodes by irreversible adsorption of bismuth

Irreversible adsorbed bismuth can be used to determine the fraction of (111) domains on a given platinum sample. On Pt(111) electrodes, the surface redox process of adsorbed bismuth takes place at 0.63 V in a well-defined peak. The behavior of this redox process on the Pt(111) vicinal surfaces indicates that the bismuth atoms involved in the redox process are only those deposited on the (111) terrace sites and that the charge under the peak at 0.63 V is directly proportional to the number of sites on (111) ordered domains (terraces). The good linear relationship obtained between the charge for the bismuth redox process and the number of (111) terrace sites on the vicinal surfaces allows construction of a calibration curve. This calibration curve has been used to directly estimate the amount of (111) ordered domain terrace sites on polycrystalline platinum samples with different surface ordered domains. The results agree with what we would expect from our knowledge of these surfaces.     

Developing a pragmatic evaluation of ICTs for older adults with cognitive impairment at scale: the IN LIFE experience

Implementing information and communications technology (ICT) at scale requires evaluation processes to capture the impact on users as well as the infrastructure into which it is being introduced. For older adults living with cognitive impairment, this requires evaluation that can accommodate different levels of cognitive impairment, alongside input from family and formal caregivers, plus stakeholder organisations. The European Horizon 2020 project INdependent LIving support Functions for the Elderly (IN LIFE) set out to integrate 17 technologies into a single digital platform for older people living with cognitive impairment plus their families, care providers and stakeholders. The IN LIFE evaluation took place across six national pilot sites to examine a number of variables including impact on the users, user acceptance of the individual services and the overall platform, plus the economic case for the IN LIFE platform. The results confirmed the interest and need among older adults, family caregivers, formal caregivers and stakeholders, for information and communications technology (ICT). Relative to the baseline, quality of life improved and cognition stabilised; however, there was an overall reluctance to pay for the platform. The findings provide insights into existing barriers and challenges for adoption of ICT for older people living with cognitive impairment.

     

Electrooxidation of terpenes—I. Synthesis of dihydrocarvone and 1-hydroxyneodihydrocarveol by anodic oxidation of limonene

The oxidation of (+) and (?) limonene, 1, in THF-H₂O (25:1), NaClO₄ on a graphite electrode gives, with a relative stereoselectivity, (+) and (?) dihydrocarvone, 5 and (+) and (?) 1-hydroxyneodihydrocarveol, 7, respectively as the major products. A logical route for this oxidation via a protonated epoxide as intermediate is proposed.     

Formic acid oxidation on Pd-modified Pt(100) and Pt(111) electrodes: A DEMS study

Formic acid oxidation on palladium submonolayers on well-defined Pt(100) and Pt(111) electrodes has been studied using voltammetry and Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry (DEMS). A combination of the two techniques allows a better understanding of the reaction taking place on the electrode surface. Thus, an exact correlation between the CO₂ mass signal and the current density in the voltammogram corresponding to the formic acid oxidation has been obtained. On palladium modified Pt(100) electrodes and in the potential region below 0.3 V, the currents in the positive scan are higher than those recorded in the negative scan. This diminution on the signal in the negative scan has been associated with CO₂ reduction to CO on the palladium adlayer. In addition, the CO₂ reduction reaction seems to take place on the border of the palladium islands. Finally, the adsorption of (bi)sulfate anions has an inhibiting behavior on the formic acid oxidation reaction.     

WWOX Loss of Function in Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders

The WWOX gene was initially discovered as a putative tumor suppressor. More recently, its association with multiple central nervous system (CNS) pathologies has been recognized. WWOX biallelic germline pathogenic variants have been implicated in spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 (SCAR12; MIM:614322) and in early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE28; MIM:616211). WWOX germline copy number variants have also been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). All identified germline genomic variants lead to partial or complete loss of WWOX function. Importantly, large-scale genome-wide association studies have also identified WWOX as a risk gene for common neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Thus, the spectrum of CNS disorders associated with WWOX is broad and heterogeneous, and there is little understanding of potential mechanisms at play. Exploration of gene expression databases indicates that WWOX expression is comparatively higher in the human cerebellar cortex than in other CNS structures. However, RNA in-situ hybridization data from the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas show that specific regions of the basolateral amygdala (BLA), the medial entorhinal cortex (EC), and deep layers of the isocortex can be singled out as brain regions with specific higher levels of Wwox expression. These observations are in close agreement with single-cell RNA-seq data which indicate that neurons from the medial entorhinal cortex, Layer 5 from the frontal cortex as well as GABAergic basket cells and granule cells from cerebellar cortex are the specific neuronal subtypes that display the highest Wwox expression levels. Importantly, the brain regions and cell types in which WWOX is most abundantly expressed, such as the EC and BLA, are intimately linked to pathologies and syndromic conditions in turn associated with this gene, such as epilepsy, intellectual disability, ASD, and AD. Higher Wwox expression in interneurons and granule cells from cerebellum points to a direct link to the described cerebellar ataxia in cases of WWOX loss of function. We now know that total or partial impairment of WWOX function results in a wide and heterogeneous variety of neurodegenerative conditions for which the specific molecular mechanisms remain to be deciphered. Nevertheless, these observations indicate an important functional role for WWOX in normal development and function of the CNS. Evidence also indicates that disruption of WWOX expression at the gene or protein level in CNS has significant deleterious consequences.     

Gold supported catalytic layer: An intermediate step between fundamental and applied fuel cell studies

We report the preparation and electrochemical characterization of gold supported catalytic layer electrodes which have been prepared using a similar methodology to that employed in the preparation of conventional catalyst coated membranes. Consequently, the so-prepared catalytic layers have comparable properties (morphology and thickness) than those employed in direct liquid fuel cells. Using this working electrode configuration, and the so-called hydrogen adsorption-desorption region, fundamental electrochemical parameters such as electrochemically accessible Pt surface area, roughness factor and Pt-catalyst utilization of the catalytic layer have been evaluated. The electrochemically accessible Pt surface area, roughness factor and Pt-catalyst utilization have been found independent of the metal loading in the range of 0.1-0.5 mg Pt cm⁻². However for 1 mg Pt cm⁻², an important decrease on electrochemically accessible Pt surface area and Pt-catalyst utilization has been observed. On the other hand, when formic acid electrooxidation is used, a sudden decrease on the electrocatalytic activity has been observed as metal loading increases. These results clearly indicate that the formic acid electrooxidation process is strongly dependant of the accessibility of the reactant into the inner part of the electrodes, highlighting its mass-transport controlled reaction properties. These findings point out that, from an applied point of view, it is recommendable using catalytic layers as thinner as possible as well as high formic acid concentrations. These experimental conditions will maximize the Pt-catalyst utilization by minimizing the accessibility problems of the reactant into the inner part of the electrodes.     

Desalination of underground brackish waters using an electrodialysis system powered directly by photovoltaic energy

The aims of this paper are: to demonstrate the feasibility of the desalination of brackish water from aquifers (total dissolved solids=2300-5100 g m⁻³) by means of an electrodialysis system powered directly by photovoltaic solar panels, and improve the mathematical model developed in a previous work in order to apply it to real brackish waters. The application of this model allows to predict the behaviour of the electrodialysis-photovoltaic system under different operational and meteorological conditions, and the time required to reach a given final concentration. Finally, the cost of electrodialysis-photovoltaic systems for small applications in isolated locations with lack of electric grid has been estimated.