Wastewater Treatment and Water Reuse in Spain. Current Situation and Perspectives

The issues of wastewater treatment and the reuse of water are of great importance, especially in areas where the shortage of conventional resources is a structural problem, as it is in the case of Spain. Wastewater reuse is a valid mechanism to avoid problems derived from droughts and water scarcity. It allows access to water resources in areas with water restrictions and to prevent futures scenarios, due to it being expected that water consumption will double by 2050 over the world. Thus, the likelihood that this unconventional, strategic resource would become scarce is unquestionable, particularly in cases where water planning and exploitation systems prioritize the preservation, protection, and improvement of water quality, as well as the sustainable and efficient use of natural resources. This paper shows how wastewater treatment and reuse are linked, as the reuse of wastewater is associated with a previous regeneration, and both of them are essential tools for maximizing environmental outcomes, as called for in the European Union Directives.This research was funded partially by the projects GRE17-12 and Life Empore (grant number: Life15 ENV/ES/000598) coordinated by the University of Alicante. Antonio Jodar-Abellan acknowledges financial support received from the Spanish FPU scholarship for the training of university teachers. In the same way, this work has been conducted within the Cátedra del Agua of the University of Alicante (https://catedradelaguaua.org/)

The Floodable Park “La Marjal” (Alicante, South East Spain) as a Paradigmatic Example of Water Reuse and Circular Economy

Nowadays, the south-east of Spain has several problems of water supply due to high agricultural, urban, industries, and so one water demands. In addition, this sensible area has limited precipitations, high temperatures and evapotranspiration rates. At the same time, in many places, the urban growth has been poorly organized. Usually, some areas are subjected to the effects of flash floods caused by heavy and concentrated rainfalls. In this work, we analyse the evolution of the floodable park “La Marjal” (Alicante, SE Spain) since its construction two years ago as a solution to reduce the mentioned problems. This floodable park, the first constructed in Spain and the second in Europe, cost 3.3 M€ and presents a total water volume of 45,000 m3. The park gets to avoid typical flash floods in San Juan urban area and provides storage of water to reuse it in irrigation of urban parks and gardens, countries, street cleaning, and other uses.Financial support was provided partially by the Fundación Séneca-Agencia de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, project 19325/PI/15. This study also has been conducted within the grant received from the Programa Nacional de Formación de Profesorado Universitario (FPU) conceded by the Spanish Ministry of Science to the first author

Desarrollo de un proceso integrado de oxidación avanzada con recuperación y reutilización del catalizador homogéneo de cobre.

El proceso desarrollado integra un proceso de oxidación avanzada de efluentes acuosos industriales en el que se emplea cobre como catalizador homogéneo y un proceso de recuperación y concentración del catalizador. La recuperación del cobre en disolución utilizado como catalizador se basa en la utilización de un contactor de membranas de fibras huecas en el que de forma simultánea se realiza la extracción y concentración de este metal. En este proceso, la extracción del cobre de la fase líquida se realiza utilizando un agente extractante selectivo hacia el cobre con el que forma un compuesto organometálico reversible, el cual en la etapa de concentración se regenera liberándose el cobre a una fase líquida donde se concentra. El catalizador de cobre recuperado y concentrado en la fase acuosa presenta las características adecuadas para su reutilización de un modo eficaz como catalizador homogéneo en un proceso de oxidación avanzada de aguas residuales.Solicitud: 200502671 (26.10.2005)Nº Pub. de Solicitud: ES2293804A1 (16.03.2008)Nº de Patente: ES2293804B1 (13.08.2009

Spatial Analysis of the Relationship between Mortality from Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease and Drinking Water Hardness

Previously published scientific papers have reported a negative correlation between drinking water hardness and cardiovascular mortality. Some ecologic and case–control studies suggest the protective effect of calcium and magnesium concentration in drinking water. In this article we present an analysis of this protective relationship in 538 municipalities of Comunidad Valenciana (Spain) from 1991–1998. We used the Spanish version of the Rapid Inquiry Facility (RIF) developed under the European Environment and Health Information System (EUROHEIS) research project. The strategy of analysis used in our study conforms to the exploratory nature of the RIF that is used as a tool to obtain quick and flexible insight into epidemiologic surveillance problems. This article describes the use of the RIF to explore possible associations between disease indicators and environmental factors. We used exposure analysis to assess the effect of both protective factors—calcium and magnesium—on mortality from cerebrovascular (ICD-9 430–438) and ischemic heart (ICD-9 410–414) diseases. This study provides statistical evidence of the relationship between mortality from cardiovascular diseases and hardness of drinking water. This relationship is stronger in cerebrovascular disease than in ischemic heart disease, is more pronounced for women than for men, and is more apparent with magnesium than with calcium concentration levels. Nevertheless, the protective nature of these two factors is not clearly established. Our results suggest the possibility of protectiveness but cannot be claimed as conclusive. The weak effects of these covariates make it difficult to separate them from the influence of socioeconomic and environmental factors. We have also performed disease mapping of standardized mortality ratios to detect clusters of municipalities with high risk. Further standardization by levels of calcium and magnesium in drinking water shows changes in the maps when we remove the effect of these covariates

The ATENción Plena en Enfermedad de Alzheimer (ATENEA-Mindfulness in Alzheimer's Disease) Program for Caregivers : Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

A person affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD) gradually loses the ability to perform activities of daily living and becomes dependent on caregivers, thereby having a negative impact on the caregivers' quality of life. There is evidence that suggests that interventions aimed at caregivers, such as mindfulness, may be effective at reducing this burden and emotional issues, such as depression and anxiety, and improving their quality of life. However, there is a lack of consistency in the findings and conclusions remain tentative. In addition, as neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) of AD are major determinants of the caregiver's burden, these interventions should examine the relationship between these symptoms and caregiver outcomes. Importantly, to improve the design of therapeutic interventions for caregivers and complement the treatment of AD, aspects related to occupational performance and the participation of people with AD and their caregivers should also be considered. Therefore, this study will aim to examine first, the effects of a mindfulness-based program designed for caregivers on NPSs of AD and caregivers' anxiety and depression; second, the effects of this program on patients' functional capacity, cognitive performance, executive functions, and quality of life, and on caregivers' burden, quality of life, occupational balance, executive functions, psychological wellbeing, and self-compassion. We believe that the findings of this study will have significant implications for future healthcare strategies focused on improving the quality of life and wellbeing of caregivers

Revision of the risk of secondary leukaemia after mitoxantrone in multiple sclerosis populations is required

The objective in this paper is to compare the cumulative incidence and incidence density of therapy-related acute myeloid leukaemia in two cohorts of patients with multiple sclerosis treated with mitoxantrone, and with previously reported data in the literature. Six new cases of acute myeloid leukaemia were observed by prospectively following two Spanish series of 142 and 88 patients with worsening relapsing multiple sclerosis and secondary-progressive disease treated with mitoxantrone. A literature review shows 32 further cases of acute myeloid leukaemia reported, 65.6% of which are therapy-related acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Five cases in the cohorts fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for acute promyelocytic leukaemia, and one patient was diagnosed with pre-B-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Acute myeloid leukaemia latency after mitoxantrone discontinuation was 1 to 45 months. The accumulated incidence and incidence density was 2.82% and 0.62%, respectively, in the Valencian cohort, and 2.27% and 0.44% in the Catalonian cohort. In the only seven previously reported series, the accumulated incidence varied from 0.15% to 0.80%. The real incidence of acute myeloid leukaemia after mitoxantrone therapy in the multiple sclerosis population could be higher as evidenced by the growing number of cases reported. Haematological monitoring should continue for at least 5 years after the last dose of mitoxantrone. These data stress the necessity of re-evaluating this ris

Creación y difusión de recursos interactivos y audiovisuales para la formación en comunicación III

Esta propuesta de Innovación Docente consiste en el desarrollo de la plataforma web https://comunicahistoria.com, que divulga material realizado por los estudiantes y que, de una manera original, creativa, rigurosa y, sobre todo, amena, favorece el aprendizaje y las competencias profesionales, despierta el interés del alumnado por las materias e impulsa la creación de contenidos relacionados con los ámbitos de la comunicación y la historia.Depto. de Periodismo y Comunicación GlobalFac. de Ciencias de la InformaciónFALSEUniversidad Complutense de Madridsubmitte

Luz / LLum

En aquest quart volum, gran diversitat d'autores i autors aporten píndoles de microliteratura, de gèneres variats, amb què l'Institut Universitari d'Estudis Feministes i de Gènere Purificación Escribano vol respondre al desafiament per l'eradicació de la violència contra les dones