Membrane synthesis by microemulsion polymerisation stabilised by commercial non-ionic surfactants

Earlier works had demonstrated that microemulsion polymerisation is a well suited technique to produce nanostructured membranes if surfmers (polymerisable surfactants) are used to stabilise the primary template (sponge phase microemulsion). Up to now, however; same hadn't been done using common surfactants. Present work aims to show this is possible if proper surfactants are selected. Specific formulation selection was done by means of phase diagram. Phase diagram was obtained by conductivity, surface tension and QELS measurements through several dilution lines. Polymerisation region was selected from phase diagram were no globular system was observed. Membranes were characterised by SEM, DSC and permeation experiment

Hydrogen enriched syngas production via gasification of biofuels pellets/powders blended from olive mill solid wastes and pine sawdust under different water steam/nitrogen atmospheres

International audienceIn this paper we focused on the gasification of biomass charcoal using a macro TG under the CO2 gasifier agent mixed with nitrogen at different mass molar fractions; 40%, 70% and 100% respectively. Moreover, the gasification tests were conducted at different isothermal temperatures; 750°C, 800°C, and 900°C respectively. For this purpose, two densified residues were selected; the exhausted olive mill solid wastes (EOMSW) and the pine sawdust (PS). Then, four different samples were prepared from these residues when investigating the impregnated and the non-impregnated samples using the olive mill waste water (OMWW) as by-product for the impregnation process. A comparison between obtained results during this current study and those obtained during our latest study when using steam as gasifier agent was carried out. We observe that the mass loss profiles meet the usual lingo-cellulosic gasification behaviours. Moreover, the increase of the isothermal temperatures or of the CO2 percentage affects positively the conversion, the gasification rate and the char reactivity. It is worth noting that the CO2 agent acts differently by comparison to the steam. Indeed, the gasification process using steam is found to be faster and more reactive

Upstream movement capacity of invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) under different environmental and biometric factors

Producción CientíficaThe spread of invasive crayfish species is a major threat to endemic species worldwide. This threat affects native crayfish as well as flora and fauna species in general. In order to limit their dispersal, different methods have been used, the most promising of which are those related to physical barriers. For their design, it is essential to know the limits in the capacity of crayfish to move under different hydraulic scenarios, although to date, there are few studies on this topic. The present work analyzes the volitional upstream movement capacity of the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in a laboratory open flume, with different configurations of environmental and hydraulic variables (bed roughness, flow velocity, water temperature, times of day) and accounting for the possible effect of biometric factors (carapace length, sex). Twenty-four different trials with five individuals per trial were carried out, tracking all crayfish movements individually by visual tags and with a video monitoring system. Data were analyzed using survival analysis techniques and parametric models were developed, considering as response variables the maximum distance traveled and the movement speed. The results showed that the combination of bed roughness and flow velocity were the best predictors to explain crayfish movement performance, with a flow velocity greater than 0.8 m/s together on a non-rough bed being the limiting factor; the water temperature and the sex also have a significant effect. This information can serve as a basis for the design of future barriers to the dispersal of invasive crayfish species in the Iberian Peninsula

Pochonia chlamydosporia is the most prevalent fungal species responsible for Meloidogyne suppression in sustainable vegetable production systems

The fluctuations in Meloidogyne densities and fungal egg parasitism were determined from February 2015 to July 2016 in four vegetable production sites conducted under organic production and two sides conducted under integrated standards. At each site, the soil nematode densities at transplanting and at the end of the crops, the galling index, the number of eggs in roots, and the percentage of fungal egg parasitism were determined, and the fungal species were identified. In addition, two pot experiments were conducted with soil taken from each site in February 2015 and 2016 to assess the fungal egg parasitism comparing non-sterile and sterile soil from each site. In field conditions, the nematode population densities in the soil decreased along the crop rotations. The maximum number of eggs per plant was recorded in the spring–summer crops. Egg parasitism ranged from 11.2 to 55% in the organic sites and from 0.8 to 16.5% in the integrated production sites. Pochonia chlamydosporia was the only fungal species isolated in five of the six sites.Postprint (published version

Hyperkalemia in Heart Failure Patients in Spain and Its Impact on Guidelines and Recommendations: ESC-EORP-HFA Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

[Abstract] Introduction and objectives: Hyperkalemia is a growing concern in the treatment of patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction because it limits the use of effective drugs. We report estimates of the magnitude of this problem in routine clinical practice in Spain, as well as changes in potassium levels during follow-up and associated factors. Methods: This study included patients with acute (n=881) or chronic (n=3587) heart failure recruited in 28 Spanish hospitals of the European heart failure registry of the European Society of Cardiology and followed up for 1 year. Various outcomes were analyzed, including changes in serum potassium levels and their impact on treatment. Results: Hyperkalemia (K+> 5.4 mEq/L) was identified in 4.3% (95%CI, 3.7%-5.0%) and 8.2% (6.5%-10.2%) of patients with chronic and acute heart failure, respectively, and was responsible for 28.9% of all cases of contraindication to mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist use and for 10.8% of all cases of failure to reach the target dose. Serum potassium levels were not recorded in 291 (10.8%) of the 2693 chronic heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. During follow-up, potassium levels increased in 179 of 1431 patients (12.5%, 95%CI, 10.8%-14.3%). This increase was directly related to age, diabetes, and history of stroke and was inversely related to history of hyperkalemia. Conclusions: This study highlights the magnitude of the problem of hyperkalemia in patients with heart failure in everyday clinical practice and the need to improve monitoring of this factor in these patients due to its interference with the possibility of receiving optimal treatment.[Resumen] Introducción y objetivos. La hiperpotasemia es una preocupación creciente en el tratamiento de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca y fracción de eyección reducida, pues limita el uso de fármacos eficaces. Este trabajo ofrece estimaciones de la magnitud de este problema en la práctica clínica habitual en España, los cambios en las concentraciones de potasio en el seguimiento y los factores asociados. Métodos. Pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (n = 881) y crónica (n = 3.587) seleccionados en 28 hospitales españoles del registro europeo de insuficiencia cardiaca de la European Society of Cardiology y seguidos 1 año para diferentes desenlaces, incluidos cambios en las cifras de potasio y su impacto en el tratamiento. Resultados. La hiperpotasemia (K+ > 5,4 mEq/l) está presente en el 4,3% (IC95%, 3,7-5,0%) y el 8,2% (6,5-10,2%) de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca crónica y aguda; causa el 28,9% de todos los casos en que se contraindica el uso de antagonistas del receptor de mineralocorticoides y el 10,8% de los que no alcanzan la dosis objetivo. Del total de 2.693 pacientes ambulatorios con fracción de eyección reducida, 291 (10,8%) no tenían registrada medición de potasio. Durante el seguimiento, 179 de 1.431 (12,5%, IC95%, 10,8-14,3%) aumentaron su concentración de potasio, aumento relacionado directamente con la edad, la diabetes mellitus y los antecedentes de ictus e inversamente con los antecedentes de hiperpotasemia. Conclusiones. Este trabajo destaca el problema de la hiperpotasemia en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca de la práctica clínica habitual y la necesidad de continuar y mejorar la vigilancia de este factor en estos pacientes por su interferencia en el tratamiento óptimo

All Roads Lead to Rome: Results of Non-Invasive Respiratory Therapies Applied in a Tertiary-Care Hospital Without an Intermediate Care Unit During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introducción. Las terapias respiratorias no invasivas (TRNI) fueron ampliamente utilizadas en la primera ola de la pandemia de COVID-19, en escenarios distintos según los medios disponibles. El objetivo fue presentar la supervivencia a 90 días y los factores asociados a esta de los pacientes tratados con TRNI en un centro de tercer nivel sin Unidad de Cuidados Respiratorios Intermedios. Como objetivo secundario comparar los resultados obtenidos de las distintas terapias. Métodos. Estudio observacional de pacientes tratados con TRNI fuera de un ambiente de Cuidados Intensivos o Unidad de Cuidados Respiratorios Intermedios, diagnosticados de COVID-19 y con síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo por criterios radiológicos y de ratio SpO2/FiO2. Se desarrolló un modelo multivariante de regresión logística para determinar las variables independientemente asociadas, y se compararon los resultados de la terapia de alto flujo con cánula nasal y la presión positiva continua en la vía aérea. Resultados. Se trataron 107 pacientes y sobrevivieron 85 (79,4%) a los 90 días. Antes de iniciar la TRNI el ratio medio de SpO2/FiO2 fue de 119,8±59,4. Un mayor score de SOFA se asoció significativamente a la mortalidad (OR 2,09; IC95% 1,34 – 3,27), mientras que la autopronación fue un factor protector (OR 0,23; IC95% 0,06 – 0,91). La terapia de alto flujo con cánula nasal fue utilizada en 63 sujetos (58,9%), y la presión positiva continua en la vía aérea en 41 (38,3%). No se encontraron diferencias entre ellas. Conclusión. Aproximadamente cuatro de cada cinco pacientes tratados con TRNI sobrevivieron a los 90 días, y no se encontraron diferencias significativas entre la terapia de alto flujo con cánula nasal y la presión positiva continua en la vía aérea.S

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio