The operating cost of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating sulphate-rich urban wastewater

The objective of this study was to evaluate the operating cost of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating sulphate-rich urban wastewater (UWW) at ambient temperature (ranging from 17 to 33 degrees C). To this aim, energy consumption, methane production, and sludge handling and recycling to land were evaluated. The results revealed that optimising specific gas demand with respect to permeate volume (SGDp) and sludge retention time (for given ambient temperature conditions) is essential to maximise energy savings (minimum energy demand: 0.07 kW h m(-3)). Moreover, low/moderate sludge productions were obtained (minimum value: 0.16 kg TSS kg(-1) CODRemoved), which further enhanced the overall operating cost of the plant (minimum value: is an element of 0.011 per m(3) of treated water). The sulphate content in the influent UWW significantly affected the final production of methane and thereby the overall operating cost. Indeed, the evaluated AnMBR system presented energy surplus potential when treating low-sulphate UWWThis research work was possible thanks to projects CTM2011-28595-C0-01/02 (funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness jointly with the European Regional Development Fund) and aqualia INNPRONTA IISIS IPT-20111023 (partially funded by the Centre for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) and supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness).Pretel Jolis, R.; Robles Martínez, Á.; Ruano García, MV.; Seco Torrecillas, A.; Ferrer, J. (2014). The operating cost of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating sulphate-rich urban wastewater. Separation and Purification Technology. 126(15):30-38. doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2014.02.013S30381261

Self-perceived weather sensitivity and joint pain in older people with osteoarthritis in six European countries: results from the European Project on Osteoarthritis (EPOSA)

Background: people with osteoarthritis (OA) frequently report that their joint pain is influenced by weather conditions. This study aimed to examine whether there are differences in perceived joint pain between older people with OA who reported to be weather-sensitive versus those who did not in six European countries with different climates and to identify characteristics of older persons with OA that are most predictive of perceived weather sensitivity.Methods: baseline data from the European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA) were used. ACR classification criteria were used to determine OA. Participants with OA were asked about their perception of weather as influencing their pain. Using a two-week follow-up pain calendar, average self-reported joint pain was assessed (range: 0 (no pain)-10 (greatest pain intensity)). Linear regression analyses, logistic regression analyses and an independent t-test were used. Analyses were adjusted for several confounders.Results: the majority of participants with OA (67.2%) perceived the weather as affecting their pain. Weather-sensitive participants reported more pain than non-weather-sensitive participants (M?=?4.1, SD?=?2.4 versus M?=?3.1, SD?=?2.4; p?<?0.001). After adjusting for several confounding factors, the association between self-perceived weather sensitivity and joint pain remained present (B?=?0.37, p?=?0.03). Logistic regression analyses revealed that women and more anxious people were more likely to report weather sensitivity. Older people with OA from Southern Europe were more likely to indicate themselves as weather-sensitive persons than those from Northern Europe.Conclusions: weather (in)stability may have a greater impact on joint structures and pain perception in people from Southern Europe. The results emphasize the importance of considering weather sensitivity in daily life of older people with OA and may help to identify weather-sensitive older people with O

Oscillation enhanced search for new interaction with neutrinos

We discuss the measurement of new physics in long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. Through the neutrino oscillation, the probability to detect the new physics effects such as flavor violation is enhanced by the interference with the weak interaction. We carefully explain the situations that the interference can take place. Assuming a neutrino factory and an upgraded conventional beam, we estimate the feasibility to observe new physics numerically and point out that we can search new interactions using some channels, for example $\nu_{\mu} \to \nu_{\mu}$, in these experiments. We also discuss several models which induce the effective interactions interfering with the weak interaction, and show that some new physics effects are large enough to be observed in the oscillation enhanced way.Comment: 25 pages, 20 figure

Factors associated with functional decline in hand and hip/knee osteoarthritis after one year: data from a population‐based study

Public Health and primary careGeriatrics in primary car

Search for Gravitational Waves from Intermediate Mass Binary Black Holes

We present the results of a weakly modeled burst search for gravitational waves from mergers of non-spinning intermediate mass black holes (IMBH) in the total mass range 100--450 solar masses and with the component mass ratios between 1:1 and 4:1. The search was conducted on data collected by the LIGO and Virgo detectors between November of 2005 and October of 2007. No plausible signals were observed by the search which constrains the astrophysical rates of the IMBH mergers as a function of the component masses. In the most efficiently detected bin centered on 88+88 solar masses, for non-spinning sources, the rate density upper limit is 0.13 per Mpc^3 per Myr at the 90% confidence level.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures: data for plots and archived public version at https://dcc.ligo.org/cgi-bin/DocDB/ShowDocument?docid=62326, see also the public announcement at http://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-S5IMBH

Estimated prevalence of dementia based on analysis of drug databases in the Region of Madrid (Spain)

Introduction: The progressive rise in dementia prevalence increases the need for rapid methods that complement population-based prevalence studies. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of dementia in the population aged 65 and older based on use of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. Methods: Descriptive study of use and prescription of cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine in 2011 according to 2 databases: Farm@drid (pharmacy billing records for the Region of Madrid) and BIFAP (database for pharmacoepidemiology research in primary care, with diagnosis and prescription records). We tested the comparability of drug use results from each database using the chi-square test and prevalence ratios. The prevalence of dementia in Madrid was estimated based on the dose per 100 inhabitants/day, adjusting the result for data obtained from BIFAP on combination treatment in the general population (0.37%) and the percentage of dementia patients undergoing treatment (41.13%). Results: Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine were taken by 2.08% and 0.72% of Madrid residents aged 65 and older. Both databases displayed similar results for use of these drugs. The estimated prevalence of dementia in individuals aged 65 and older is 5.91% (95% CI%, 5.85-5.95) (52 287 people), and it is higher in women (7.16%) than in men (4.00%). Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of dementia is similar to that found in population-based studies. Analysing consumption of specific dementia drugs can be a reliable and inexpensive means of updating prevalence data periodically and helping rationalise healthcare resources. Resumen: Introducción: El aumento progresivo de la demencia hace conveniente disponer de métodos rápidos que complementen los estudios poblacionales de prevalencia. Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia de demencia en la población mayor de 65 años a partir del consumo de anticolinesterásicos y memantina. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo del uso de anticolinesterásicos y/o memantina en 2011 en 2 bases de datos: Farm@drid, con registro de facturación en farmacias de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (CAM) y Base de Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica en Atención Primaria (BIFAP), con registros sobre diagnóstico y prescripción. Se analizó la comparabilidad de resultados sobre utilización de fármacos de ambas bases mediante χ2 de Pearson y razón de prevalencias. La prevalencia de demencia en la CAM se estimó a partir de la dosis por 100 habitantes/día, ajustando el resultado con los datos obtenidos en la BIFAP sobre tratamiento combinado en población general (0,37%) y proporción de pacientes con demencia en tratamiento (41,13%). Resultados: El consumo de anticolinesterásicos y memantina entre la población > 65 años de la CAM fue del 2,08 y el 0,72% respectivamente. Ambas bases muestran resultados con similar uso de estos medicamentos. La prevalencia estimada de demencia en > 65 años en la CAM es del 5,91% (IC del 95%, 5,85-5,95) (52.287 personas), mayor en mujeres (7,16%) que en hombres (4,00%). Conclusiones: La prevalencia estimada de demencia es similar a la encontrada en estudios poblacionales. El análisis del consumo de fármacos específicos para la demencia puede ser una herramienta fiable que actualice periódicamente esta prevalencia sin gran coste, ayudando en la planificación de recursos sociosanitarios. Keywords: Dementia, Prevalence, Cholinesterase inhibitors, Memantine, Drug utilisation, Pharmacoepidemiology, Palabras clave: Demencia, Prevalencia, Anticolinesterásicos, Memantina, Uso de fármacos, Farmacoepidemiologí

Estimación de la prevalencia de demencia a partir del análisis de bases de datos sobre uso de fármacos. La situación en la Comunidad de Madrid (España)

Resumen: Introducción: El aumento progresivo de la demencia hace conveniente disponer de métodos rápidos que complementen los estudios poblacionales de prevalencia. Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia de demencia en la población mayor de 65 años a partir del consumo de anticolinesterásicos y memantina. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo del uso de anticolinesterásicos y/o memantina en 2011 en 2 bases de datos: Farm@drid, con registro de facturación en farmacias de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (CAM) y Base de Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica en Atención Primaria (BIFAP), con registros sobre diagnóstico y prescripción. Se analizó la comparabilidad de resultados sobre utilización de fármacos de ambas bases mediante χ2 de Pearson y razón de prevalencias. La prevalencia de demencia en la CAM se estimó a partir de la dosis por 100 habitantes/día, ajustando el resultado con los datos obtenidos en la BIFAP sobre tratamiento combinado en población general (0,37%) y proporción de pacientes con demencia en tratamiento (41,13%). Resultados: El consumo de anticolinesterásicos y memantina entre la población > 65 años de la CAM fue del 2,08 y el 0,72% respectivamente. Ambas bases muestran resultados con similar uso de estos medicamentos. La prevalencia estimada de demencia en > 65 años en la CAM es del 5,91% (IC del 95%, 5,85-5,95) (52.287 personas), mayor en mujeres (7,16%) que en hombres (4,00%). Conclusiones: La prevalencia estimada de demencia es similar a la encontrada en estudios poblacionales. El análisis del consumo de fármacos específicos para la demencia puede ser una herramienta fiable que actualice periódicamente esta prevalencia sin gran coste, ayudando en la planificación de recursos sociosanitarios. Abstract: Introduction: The progressive rise in dementia prevalence increases the need for rapid methods that complement population-based prevalence studies. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of dementia in the population aged 65 and older based on use of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. Methods: Descriptive study of use and prescription of cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine in 2011 according to 2 databases: Farm@drid (pharmacy billing records for the Region of Madrid) and BIFAP (database for pharmacoepidemiology research in primary care, with diagnosis and prescription records). We tested the comparability of drug use results from each database using the chi-square test and prevalence ratios. The prevalence of dementia in Madrid was estimated based on the dose per 100 inhabitants/day, adjusting the result for data obtained from BIFAP on combination treatment in the general population (0.37%) and the percentage of dementia patients undergoing treatment (41.13%). Results: Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine were taken by 2.08% and 0.72% of Madrid residents aged 65 and older was respectively. Both databases displayed similar results for use of these drugs. The estimated prevalence of dementia in individuals aged 65 and older is 5.91% (95% CI%, 5.85-5.95) (52 287 people), and it is higher in women (7.16%) than in men (4.00%). Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of dementia is similar to that found in population-based studies. Analysing consumption of specific dementia drugs can be a reliable and inexpensive means of updating prevalence data periodically and helping rationalise healthcare resources. Palabras clave: Demencia, Prevalencia, Anticolinesterásicos, Memantina, Uso de fármacos, Farmacoepidemiología, Keywords: Dementia, Prevalence, Cholinesterase inhibitors, Memantine, Drug utilisation, Pharmacoepidemiolog

Osteoarthritis and frailty in elderly individuals across six European countries: results from the European Project on Osteoarthritis (EPOSA)

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of disability in the elderly. Clinical frailty is associated with high mortality, but few studies have explored the relationship between OA and frailty. The objective of this study was to consider the association between OA and frailty/pre-frailty in an elderly population comprised of six European cohorts participating in the EPOSA project.METHODS: Longitudinal study using baseline data and first follow-up waves, from EPOSA; 2,455 individuals aged 65-85 years were recruited from pre-existing population-based cohorts in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Data were collected on clinical OA at any site (hand, knee or hip), based on the clinical classification criteria developed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Frailty was defined according to Fried's criteria. The covariates considered were age, gender, educational level, obesity and country. We used multinomial logistic regression to analyse the associations between OA, frailty/pre-frailty and other covariates.RESULTS: The overall prevalence of clinical OA at any site was 30.4 % (95 % CI:28.6-32.2); frailty was present in 10.2 % (95 % CI:9.0-11.4) and pre-frailty in 51.0 % (95 % CI:49.0-53.0). The odds of frailty was 2.96 (95 % CI:2.11-4.16) and pre-frailty 1.54 (95 % CI:1.24-1.91) as high among OA individuals than those without OA. The association remained when Knee OA, hip OA or hand OA were considered separately, and was stronger in those with increasing number of joints.CONCLUSIONS: Clinical OA is associated with frailty and pre-frailty in older adults in European countries. This association might be considered when designing appropriate intervention strategies for OA management

How hand osteoarthritis, comorbidity and pain interact to determine functional limitation in older people: observations from the EPOSA study

To examine the role of comorbidity and pain in the associations existing between hand osteoarthritis (OA) and self-reported as well as performance-based physical function in a general elderly population.The data of 2942 participants in the European Project on OSteoArthritis, aged 65 to 85 years, belonging to 6 European cohorts (Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) were studied. Outcomes considered self-reported physical functioning subscale scores determined using the Australian/Canadian OA Hand Index (AUSCAN) and a performance-based muscle strength measure, which was quantified using a strain-gauge dynamometer.In the association between hand OA and self-reported as well as performance-based functional limitations, comorbidity was not a confounder and the role of pain as a mediator was instead confirmed. Anxiety, depression, stroke and osteoporosis were associated with more impaired AUSCAN scores. Depression and osteoporosis were associated with less grip strength.Study results have demonstrated that although comorbidity was decidedly and independently associated with hand functional limitation, it has no effect on the hand OA-physical function relationship. Hand OA was found to be associated with self-reported as well as with performance-based physical function impairment; the association was found to be partially mediated by pain, which reduces its impact. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved