Evaluación del funcionamiento de una pequeña planta de biogás

Working capacity of a small biogas plant built in a rural house was evaluated in order to analyze some of its parameters under  exploitation conditions, efficiency, and  gas effluent quality. Samples were  taken  at the digester input  and output for two different loads. A number of characteristics such  as total solids, non-volatile solids, volatile solids, oxygen  chemical demand, pH, methane content in gas and volume of gas produced were  determined. A Higher remotion efficiency for total oxygen  chemical demand and  volatile solids elimination was detected when a 1, 56 kg load of oxygen chemical demand m3 /day was applied, but methane percent was lower.Se  evaluó el funcionamiento de  una  pequeña planta de  biogás construida en  una vivienda   rural,   para    analizar   algunos   de   sus  parámetros  en   condiciones   de explotación, su eficiencia y la calidad del efluente. Se  tomaron muestras a la entrada y  a   la  salida  del  digestor  para   dos  cargas  diferentes  y  se  determinaron  las características siguientes: sólidos totales, sólidos fijos, sólidos volátiles, demanda química de  oxígeno (DQO),  pH, contenido de  metano en  el gas y volumen de  gas producido. Cuando se  empleó  una   carga de  1,56 kg  de  DQO/m3/día, se  obtuvo mayor  eficiencia de  remoción de  la DQO total y de  destrucción de sólidos volátiles,, pero  el por ciento de metanización fue menor

Caracterización de los residuales de una vaquería

Liquid waste products from a dairy farm were characterized. Average total solids concentration amounted 6 676 mg/L; out of them,  total solute solids constituted 64,53% with non-volatile solute solids prevailing in 60,68%  while volatile solute solide accounted for 39,32%. On the other hand, total suspend solids (2 219 g/m3 ) constituted 33,57% with non-volatile suspended solids reaching 47,25%  and   volatile suspended solids, 52,75%. Organic matter  content in liquid waste products was 44,6%.  Residual water showed an average oxygen  chemical demand of 48,25  g/m3   pointing out its highly pollutant power.  Alkalinity was also high, amounting 1384  g/m3. Average total nitrogen was 316 g/m3, and  total phosphorus was 27 g/m3   .Average pH was 8 rangin between 7,6 and 8,3. Except  pH, all values for residual water  spill are  over the limit set by the Cuban Technical Standarts (27 in 1999); therefore, residual waters must be treated or surface water  pollution can occur.  It is evident that specific waste products characteristics must be determined to effectively assess their pollutant power as well as the methods that should be applied for their treatment.Se  caracterizó el residual líquido de una  finca, donde la concentración de sólidos totales promedio  es de   6 676   mg/L;  de   ellos  los  sólidos  disueltos  totales  constituyen  un 64,53  %,  con  predominio de  los sólidos disueltos fijos con  un  60,68  %,  en  tanto  los volátiles   representan  el   39,32  %.   Los   sólidos   suspendidos   totales   (2,219  g/m3) constituyen un 33,57  %, de éstos, el 47,25  % pertenece a los sólidos suspendidos fijos y  el  52,75  %  a  los  sólidos  suspendidos  volátiles.  El  contenido  de  materia  orgánica presente en  el  residual  líquido  es de  un 44,6 %. La demanda química  de  oxígeno del agua residual presenta un  valor promedio de  4 825 g/m3,  la cual indica su  alto poder contaminante.  La  alcalinidad  tiene  un  valor  de  1 384 g/m3,considerado como  alto.  El valor promedio de nitrógeno total fue de 316 g/m3  y el de fósforo total de 27 g/m3  . El pH promedio  encontrado fue  de  8  (osciló  entre  7,6  y 8,3).  Con  excepción del  pH  todos estos valores se encuentran por encima del límite establecido por la norma  cubana (NC27:1999)  para   el  vertimiento  de   aguas  residuales,  por  lo  tanto,   para   ser  vertidas requieren  ser tratadas, de  lo  contrario  pueden  provocar la  contaminación  de  aguas superficiales. Se evidencia la necesidad de determinar las características específicas de un residual para  poder  valorar de  forma efectiva su  poder  contaminante y los métodos que  deberán emplearse para  su tratamiento

Exercise alters liver mitochondria phospholipidomic profile and mitochondrial activity in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Mitochondrial membrane lipid composition is a critical factor in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Exercise is the most prescribed therapeutic strategy against NASH and a potential modulator of lipidmembrane. Thus, we aimed to analyze whether physical exercise exerted preventive (voluntary physical activity - VPA) and therapeutic (endurance training - ET) effect on NASH-induced mitochondrial membrane changes. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 36) were divided into standard-diet sedentary (SS, n = 12),standard-diet VPA (SVPA, n = 6), high-fat diet sedentary (HS, n = 12) and high-fat diet VPA (HVPA, n = 6). After 9 weeks of diet-specific feeding, half of SS and HS group were engaged in an ET program for 8 weeks/5 day/week/1 h/day (SET, HET). Liver mitochondria were isolated for oxygen consumption and transmembrane-electric potential (Δψ) assays. Mitochondrial phospholipid classes and fatty acids were quantified through thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography, respectively, while cardiolipin(CL), phosphatidylcholine (PC) phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) molecular profile was determined by electrospray mass spectrometry. In parallel with histological signs of NASH,high-fat diet decreased PI, CL and PC/PE ratio, whereas PE and phosphatidic acid content increased insedentary animals (HS vs. SS). Moreover, a decrease in linolelaidic, monounsaturated fatty acids content and an increase in saturated fatty acids (SFAS) were observed. Along with phospholipidomic alterations,HS animals showed a decrease in respiratory control ratio (RCR), Δψ and FCCP-induced uncoupling respiration (HS vs. SS). Both phospholipidomic (PC/PE, SFAS) and mitochondrial respiratory alterations were counteracted by exercise interventions. Exercise used as preventive (VPA) or therapeutic (ET) strategies preserved liver mitochondrial phospholipidomic profile and maintained mitochondrial function in a model of NASH

Lipidomics Reveals Reduced Inflammatory Lipid Species and Storage Lipids after Switching from EFV/FTC/TDF to RPV/FTC/TDF: A Randomized Open-Label Trial

HIV and antiretroviral therapy affect lipid metabolism. Lipidomics quantifies several individual species that are overlooked using conventional biochemical analyses, outperforming traditional risk equations. We aimed to compare the plasma lipidomic profile of HIV patients taking efavirenz (EFV) or rilpivirine (RPV). Patients >/= 18 years old on EFV co-formulated with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF) with HIV-RNA /=6 months were randomized to continue EFV/FTC/TDF (n = 14) or switch to RPV/FTC/TDF (n =15). Lipidomic analyses conducted by mass spectrometry (MS) were performed at baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks. OWLiver((R)) Care and OWLiver((R)) tests were performed to estimate the presence of fatty liver disease (NAFLD). No significant differences (83% male, median age 44 years, 6 years receiving EFV/FTC/TDF, CD4(+) count 740 cells/mm(3), TC 207 [57 HDL-C/133 LDL-C] mg/dL, TG 117 mg/dL) were observed between the groups at baseline. Significant reductions in plasma lipids and lipoproteins but increased circulating bilirubin concentrations were observed in patients who switched to RPV/FTC/TDF. Patients on RPV/FTC/TDF showed a decrease in the global amount of storage lipids (-0.137 log2 [fold-change] EFV vs. 0.059 log2 [fold-change] RPV) but an increase in lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and total steroids. Compared with EFV, RPV increased metabolites with anti-inflammatory properties and reduced the repository of specific lipotoxic lipids

Experimental evaluation of the energy efficiency of a CO2 refrigerating plant working in transcritical conditions

[EN] This work presents the experimental evaluation of the energy efficiency and optimal gas-cooler pressures of a single-stage refrigerating plant working with carbon dioxide as refrigerant in transcritical conditions. The performance of the plant was tested at three different evaporating temperatures (-0.9, -10.1 and -18.1 degrees C), for three gas-cooler refrigerant outlet temperatures (31.2, 33.6 and 40.0 degrees C) at each evaporating temperature and in a wide range of gas-cooler pressures (74.4-104.7 bar). The experimental tests enabled us to calculate accurately the optimal gas-cooler pressures and compare them with the most commonly used relations to define this value in single-stage refrigerating cycles operating with carbon dioxide in transcritical conditions. Furthermore, an analysis of the reduction in energy efficiency produced in the plant if the optimum pressure is not well defined is also presented.The authors are indebted to Frost-Trol S.A. (www.frosttrol.com) and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (ENE2006-09972/CON) for the economical support given to the present work and for the Grant BES-2007-16820 linked to the Ministry projectCabello, R.; Sanchez, D.; Llopis, R.; Torrella Alcaraz, E. (2008). Experimental evaluation of the energy efficiency of a CO2 refrigerating plant working in transcritical conditions. Applied Thermal Engineering. 28(13):1596-1604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2007.10.026S15961604281

Synergistic impact of endurance training and intermittent hypobaric hypoxia on cardiac function and mitochondrial energetic and signaling

Background Intermittent hypobaric-hypoxia (IHH) and endurance-training (ET) are cardioprotective strategies against stress-stimuli. Mitochondrial modulation appears to be an important step of the process. This study aimed to analyze whether a combination of these approaches provides additive or synergistic effects improving heart-mitochondrial and cardiac-function. Methods Two-sets of rats were divided into normoxic-sedentary (NS), normoxic-exercised (NE, 1 h/day/5 weeks treadmill-running), hypoxic-sedentary (HS, 6000 m, 5 h/day/5 weeks) and hypoxic-exercised (HE) to study overall cardiac and mitochondrial function. In vitro cardiac mitochondrial oxygen consumption and transmembrane potential were evaluated. OXPHOS subunits and ANT protein content were semi-quantified by Western blotting. HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGF-R1 VEGF-R2, BNP, SERCA2a and PLB expressions were measured by qRT-PCR and cardiac function was characterized by echocardiography and hemodynamic parameters. Results Respiratory control ratio (RCR) increased in NE, HS and HE vs. NS. Susceptibility to anoxia/reoxygenation-induced dysfunction decreased in NE, HS and HE vs. NS. HS decreased mitochondrial complex-I and -II subunits; however HE completely reverted the decreased content in complex-II subunits. ANT increased in HE. HE presented normalized ventricular–arterial coupling (Ea) and BNP myocardial levels and significantly improved myocardial performance as evaluated by increased cardiac output and normalization of the Tei index vs. HS. Conclusion Data demonstrates that IHH and ET confer cardiac mitochondria with a more resistant phenotype although without visible addictive effects at least under basal conditions. It is suggested that the combination of both strategies, although not additive, results into improved cardiac function

Treatment challenges in and outside a network setting: Head and neck cancers

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a rare disease that can affect different sites and is characterized by variable incidence and 5-year survival rates across Europe. Multiple factors need to be considered when choosing the most appropriate treatment for HNC patients, such as age, comorbidities, social issues, and especially whether to prefer surgery or radiation-based protocols. Given the complexity of this scenario, the creation of a highly specialized multidisciplinary team is recommended to guarantee the best oncological outcome and prevent or adequately treat any adverse effect. Data from literature suggest that the multidisciplinary team-based approach is beneficial for HNC patients and lead to improved survival rates. This result is likely due to improved diagnostic and staging accuracy, a more efficacious therapeutic approach and enhanced communication across disciplines. Despite the benefit of MTD, it must be noted that this approach requires considerable time, effort and financial resources and is usually more frequent in highly organized and high-volume centers. Literature data on clinical research suggest that patients treated in high-accrual centers report better treatment outcomes compared to patients treated in low-volume centers, where a lower radiotherapy-compliance and worst overall survival have been reported. There is general agreement that treatment of rare cancers such as HNC should be concentrated in high volume, specialized and multidisciplinary centers. In order to achieve this goal, the creation of international collaboration network is fundamental. The European Reference Networks for example aim to create an international virtual advisory board, whose objectives are the exchange of expertise, training, clinical collaboration and the reduction of disparities and enhancement of rationalize migration across Europe. The purpose of our work is to review all aspects and challenges in and outside this network setting planned for the management of HNC patients

Treatment challenges in and outside a specialist network setting: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms comprise a group of rare tumours with special biology, an often indolent behaviour and particular diagnostic and therapeutic requirements. The specialized biochemical tests and radiological investigations, the complexity of surgical options and the variety of medical treatments that require individual tailoring, mandate a multidisciplinary approach that can be optimally achieved through an organized network. The present study describes currents concepts in the management of these tumours as well as an insight into the challenges of delivering the pathway in and outside a Network

Testicular germ-cell tumours and penile squamous cell carcinoma: Appropriate management makes the difference

Germ-cell tumours (GCT) of the testis and penile squamous cell carcinoma (PeSCC) are a rare and a very rare uro-genital cancers, respectively. Both tumours are well defined entities in terms of management, where specific recommendations - in the form of continuously up-to-dated guide lines-are provided. Impact of these tumour is relevant. Testicular GCT affects young, healthy men at the beginning of their adult life. PeSCC affects older men, but a proportion of these patients are young and the personal consequences of the disease may be devastating. Deviation from recommended management may be a reason of a significant prognostic worsening, as proper treatment favourably impacts on these tumours, dramatically on GCT and significantly on PeSCC. RARECAREnet data may permit to analyse how survivals may vary according to geographical areas, histology and age, leading to assume that non-homogeneous health-care resources may impact the cure and definitive outcomes. In support of this hypothesis, some epidemiologic datasets and clinical findings would indicate that survival may improve when appropriate treatments are delivered, linked to a different accessibility to the best health institutions, as a consequence of geographical, cultural and economic barriers. Finally, strong clues based on epidemiological and clinical data support the hypothesis that treatment delivered at reference centres or under the aegis of a qualified multi-institutional network is associated with a better prognosis of patients with these malignancies. The ERN EURACAN represents the best current European effort to answer this clinical need

Identification of COVID-19 patients at risk of hospital admission and mortality: a European multicentre retrospective analysis of mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin

Background: Mid-Regional pro-Adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is an inflammatory biomarker that improves the prognostic assessment of patients with sepsis, septic shock and organ failure. Previous studies of MR-proADM have primarily focussed on bacterial infections. A limited number of small and monocentric studies have examined MR-proADM as a prognostic factor in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, however there is need for multicenter validation. An evaluation of its utility in predicting need for hospitalisation in viral infections was also performed. Methods: An observational retrospective analysis of 1861 patients, with SARS-CoV-2 confirmed by RT-qPCR, from 10 hospitals across Europe was performed. Biomarkers, taken upon presentation to Emergency Departments (ED), clinical scores, patient demographics and outcomes were collected. Multiclass random forest classifier models were generated as well as calculation of area under the curve analysis. The primary endpoint was hospital admission with and without death. Results: Patients suitable for safe discharge from Emergency Departments could be identified through an MR-proADM value of ≤ 1.02 nmol/L in combination with a CRP (C-Reactive Protein) of ≤ 20.2 mg/L and age ≤ 64, or in combination with a SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score < 2 if MR-proADM was ≤ 0.83 nmol/L regardless of age. Those at an increased risk of mortality could be identified upon presentation to secondary care with an MR-proADM value of > 0.85 nmol/L, in combination with a SOFA score ≥ 2 and LDH > 720 U/L, or in combination with a CRP > 29.26 mg/L and age ≤ 64, when MR-proADM was > 1.02 nmol/L. Conclusions: This international study suggests that for patients presenting to the ED with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, MR-proADM in combination with age and CRP or with the patient’s SOFA score could identify patients at low risk where outpatient treatment may be safe