Evaluation of Solar Disinfection of E. coli Under Sub-Saharan Field Conditions Using a 25 Litre Borosilicate Glass Batch Reactor Fitted with a Compound Parabolic Collector.

The bacterial inactivation efficacy of a solar water disinfection (SODIS) reactor consisting of a 25L borosilicate glass tube fitted with a compound parabolic collector (BGTR-CPC) was assessed under equatorial weather conditions in Uganda. The SODIS BGTR-CPC was tested over a 17-month period in Sub-Saharan conditions in Kampala, Uganda. The BGTR-CPC was filled with natural water from a nearby protected well. A wild strain of Escherichia coli isolated from local natural water was added to the reactor to give a starting population of between 105 and 107 CFU/100ml. This spiked water was exposed to natural sunlight. Satisfactory bacterial inactivation (log10 reduction values \u3e6 units or inactivation to below the limit of detection (/100ml.)) was observed for 11 of 13 experiments. Rainfall and overcast/cloudy conditions were factors on both of the occasions when incomplete inactivation was observed. In conclusion, the use of CPC SODIS technology is suitable for treating drinking water both at household level and institutional level in Sub-Saharan and other similar tropical climates if careful consideration of the cloud cover and rainfall is taken into account

Bench-scale photoelectrocatalytic reactor utilizing rGO-TiO2 photoanodes for the degradation of contaminants of emerging concern in water

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in water. Photocatalysis (PC) and photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) are potential advanced oxidation processes for the effective degradation of these contaminants. In this work a bench-scale photoelectrocatalytic reactor utilizing a UVA-LED array was designed and tested for the degradation of diclofenac as a model CEC. Reduced graphene oxide-titanium dioxide (rGO-TiO2) composite, prepared by the photocatalytic reduction of rGO on TiO2, was immobilised on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass and evaluated as a photoanode. The influence of UVA intensity and rGO:TiO2 ratio on the degradation rate was studied. Surface modification of the TiO2 with 1% rGO gave the highest photocurrent and best degradation rate of diclofenac, as compared to unmodified TiO2. However, following repeat cycles of photoelectrocatalytic treatment there was an observed drop in the photocurrent with rGO-TiO2 anodes and the rate of diclofenac degradation decreased. Raman and XPS analysis indicated the re-oxidation of the rGO. Attempts to regenerate the rGO in-situ by electrochemical reduction did not prove successful, suggesting that the site of photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of rGO was different to the reduction site targeted in the photocatalytic reduction for the formation of the rGO-TiO2 composites

Capability of 19-litre polycarbonate plastic water cooler containers for efficient solar water disinfection (SODIS): field case studies in India, Bahrain and Spain.

The small treated volume (typically ~2 litres) associated with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles that are most frequently used in solar water disinfection (SODIS), is a major obstacle to uptake of this water treatment technology in the developing world. In order to address this problem we have conducted a series of experiments in Spain, Bahrain and India, to assess the efficacy of large volume (19 litres) transparent plastic (polycarbonate) water cooler/dispenser containers (WDCs) as SODIS reactors to inactivate Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, under strong natural sunlight. Reduction values of 6 log10 units (LRV = 6.0) have been observed using WDCs in each location. Additional comparisons between 2-L PET bottles and 19-L indicate that WDCs provide bacterial inactivation similar in both systems. SODIS disinfection experiments in turbid water (100 NTU) in both reactors showed very good inactivation efficiency. LRVs of 7.2 and 7.8 were obtained for E. coli in WDC and 2-L PET bottles, respectively, and in the case of E. faecalis LRV = 5.7 and 7.9 were observed. These studies demonstrate that under conditions of strong sunlight and mild temperature, 19 litre water dispenser containers can be used to provide adequate volumes of SODIS treated water for households or larger community applications such as schools or clinics in the developing world

Efecto de distintas fertilizaciones de fósforo en la resistencia de brinzales de encina y alcornoque a Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands.

The oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands is the mean responsible for oak decline in southern Spain. This paper investigates the relationship between phosphoric fertilization of Quercus ilex and Q. suber seedlings and resistance to the disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi. The study was conducted on holm oak and cork oak seedlings previously submitted to a phosphoric fertilization programme involving four different treatments, namely: Phosphate-A (3 mg P2O5 seedling), Phosphate-B (6 mg P2O5 seedling), Phosphite (0.15 mg de P2O5 seedling) and No Fertilization. Tests were conducted in greenhouse over a period of 7 months and a number of treatments to plants inoculated with Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. were applied, assessing the changes in their morphological (viz. height, root and collar diameter, and secondary root biomass) and physiological characteristics (viz. leaf nutrient contents). Based on the results, phosphate failed to improve plant resistance to P. cinnamomi; by contrast, phosphite successfully avoided infection by this pathogen. In fact, the phosphitetreated plants exhibited a morphological and physiological status similar to or even better than that of the non-inoculated controls. The protective effect of phosphite against P. cinnamomi can be achieved by applying it during seedling cultivation in nurseries.El factor de contribución más virulento en el proceso de decaimiento forestal en el sur de la península ibérica es el Oomiceto Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Recientes investigaciones avalan el uso de fertilizaciones fosfóricas y fosfitos como fungicida contra Phytophthora cinnamomi. El objetivo general de este trabajo es estudiar el efecto de la fertilización fosfórica en brinzales de Quercus ilex y Q. suber sobre la resistencia a la podredumbre radical producida por P. cinnamomi. Se realizó un ensayo con brinzales de encina y alcornoque que previamente habían sido cultivados con un programa de fertilización fosfórica, dando lugar a cuatro tratamientos: Fosfato-A (3 mg P2O5 por planta), Fosfato-B (6 mg de P2O5 por planta), Fosfito (0,15 mg de P2O5 por planta) y no fertilizado. El ensayo se realizó en invernadero y tuvo una duración de 7 meses. Consistió en inocular las plantas de los distintos tratamientos con Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. y estudiar la evolución de sus atributos morfológicos (altura, diámetro del cuello de la raíz y biomasa de raíz secundaria) y fisiológicos (contenido foliar de nutrientes). Los resultados mostraron que la fertilización con fosfatos no había mejorado la resistencia a la podredumbre radical causada por P. cinnamomi, mientras que el fosfito logró controlar totalmente la infección del patógeno, dando resultados negativos el reaislamiento de la especie fúngica inoculada en este tratamiento. Las plantas tratadas con fosfito presentaron un estado morfológico y fisiológico igual, y en algunos aspectos mejor, que el Control no inoculado. Se puede concluir que sería posible lograr una acción protectora frente a P. cinnamomi mediante el tratamiento con fosfitos durante el cultivo en vivero

Psychological profiles and prescription opioid misuse, craving, and withdrawal in people with chronic pain

Background. The negative consequences of prescription opioid misuse and opioid use disorder make it relevant to identify factors associated with this problem in individuals with chronic pain. This cross-sectional study aimed at identifying subgroups of people with chronic pain based on their psychological profiles, prescription opioid misuse, craving, and withdrawal. Methods. The sample comprised 185 individuals with chronic pain. We performed hierarchical cluster analysis on impulsivity, anxiety sensitivity, pain acceptance, pain intensity, opioid misuse, craving, and withdrawal. Results. The four-cluster solution was the optimal one. Misuse, craving, and anxiety sensitivity were higher among people in the Severe-problems cluster than among people in the other three clusters. Withdrawal was the highest in the High-withdrawal cluster. Impulsivity was higher among people in the Severe-problems and High-withdrawal clusters than those in the Moderate-problems and Mild-problems clusters. Pain acceptance was higher among people in the Mild-problems cluster than among people in the other three clusters. Anxiety sensitivity and misuse were higher among people in the Moderate-problems cluster than among people in the Mild-problems cluster. Conclusions. These results support that impulsivity, anxiety sensitivity, and pain acceptance are useful constructs to identify subgroups of people with chronic pain according to their level of prescription opioid misuse, craving, and withdrawal. The results of this study may help in selecting the early intervention most suitable for each of the identified profiles...Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga/CBUA. This research was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-106086RB-I00), and the Regional Government of Andalusia (HUM-566; UMA20-FEDERJA-118). Rocío de la Vega's work is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation with a Ramon y Cajal contract (RYC2018-024722-I)

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

Captura de Petromyzon marinus lo en las Marismas del GuadalquivirEstudio sobre la Lagartiia de Valverde Algyroides marchi (Reptilia, Lacertidae)Dimorfismo sexual en Psammodromuus algirus (Reptilia, Lacertidae)Mecanismos de parasitización por Clamator glandarius y defensa por Pica pica.Nidificación de Cyanopica cyana en Doñana.Reproducción de la Urraca (P.pica) en DoñanaNesting relationship between Columba palambus and Milvus migransBiometría y dimorfismo sexual en el Calamón (Polphyrio porphyrio).Sobre sexo, mecanismos y proceso de reproducciónen el Buitre Leonado (Gyps fulvus)Aves anilladas por la Estación Biológica de Doñana. Informe Nº 1. (Años 1964 a 1971)Dimorfismo sexual y diferenciación de edades en Sturnus unicolor Temm.Contribución al estudio de la biología y ecología del Lirón Careto, Eliomys quercinus Linnaeus 1766, en Iberia Central, Parte 1: Crecimiento, Reproducción y Nidificación.Sobre el Lobo (Canis lupus) ibérico:1. Dimorfismo sexual en cráneosMorfología y dimorfismo sexual de la pelvis de Pitymys duodecimcostatusAlgunos aspectos del diformismo sexual en el cráneo de las Ginetas españolas, (Genetta genetta) (L.) 1758Peer reviewe

Base de datos multicéntrica de hemorragia subaracnoidea espontánea del Grupo de Trabajo de Patología Vascular de la Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía: presentación,criterios de inclusión y desarrollo de una base de datos en internet = Spontaneous Subarachnoid Haemorrhage multicenter database from the Group for the Study of Vascular Pathology of the Spanish Society for Neurosurgery: Presentation, inclusion criteria and development of an internet-based registry

Introducción. La hemorragia subaracnoidea (HSA) continúa siendo una de las enfermedades de interés neuroquirúrgico de más alta morbilidad y mortalidad. Su estudio es clave a la hora de mejorar la atención de estos enfermos en nuestro medio. Con este fin el Grupo de Trabajo de Patología Vascular de la SENEC decidió la creación de una base de datos multicéntrica para su estudio. Material y métodos. Se incluyen en esta base de datos todos los casos de hemorragia subaracnoidea espontánea ingresados en los centros participantes de forma prospectiva desde Noviembre del año 2004 hasta Noviembre del 2007. Se decidieron de forma consensuada los campos a recoger incluyendo edad, antecedentes personales, características clínicas, características radiológicas y del aneurisma, tipo de tratamiento y complicaciones de la enfermedad, evolución según la escala de evolución de Glasgow (GOS) al alta y a los seis meses así como el resultado angiográfico del tratamiento. Todos los campos se recogieron en un formulario rellenable a través de una página web segura. Resultados. En los tres años en los que ha estado activa la base se han recogido un total de 1149 casos de HSA espontánea recogidos por 14 centros participantes. Se ha estimado que es necesario aproximadamente un tiempo de 3.4 minutos para rellenar cada caso. En cuanto a sus características generales la serie es similar a otras series hospitalarias no seleccionadas. La edad media de los enfermos incluidos es de unos 55 años y la relación mujer:hombre 4:3. En cuanto a la gravedad del sagrado inicial un 32% de los enfermos se encontraba en mal grado clínico (WFNS = 4 ó 5). El 5% de los pacientes fallecieron antes de realizarse una angiografía que confirmara el origen aneurismático del sangrado. Se confirmó el origen aneurismático en el 76% de los pacientes mientras que en el 19% no se encontró ninguna lesión vascular responsable del sangrado, siendo clasificados como HSA idiopática. En los pacientes en los que se detectó un aneurisma su tratamiento fue endovascular en el 47% de los casos, quirúrgico en el 39, mixto en el 3% y no recibieron tratamiento de su aneurisma el 11% de los pacientes por fallecimiento precoz. En cuanto a su evolución, la mortalidad global de la serie se sitúa en el 22%. Sólo el 40% de los enfermos con HSA aneurismática presentaron una buena evolución (GOS=5). Conclusiones. La HSA espontánea continúa siendo una enfermedad con alta morbilidad y mortalidad. Esta base de datos puede ser un instrumento para conocer mejor sus características en nuestro medio y mejorar sus resultados, ya que se trata de una serie multicéntrica hospitalaria no seleccionada. Sería pues recomendable que esta base constituyera el germen de un registro nacional de HSA espontánea. Introduction. Subarachnoid haemorrhage is one of the most severe neurosurgical diseases. Its study is crucial for improving the care of these patients in our environment. With this goal the Group for the Study of Neurovascular Pathology of the Spanish Society for Neurosurgery (SENEC) decided to create a multicenter registry for the study of this disease. Materials and methods. In this database we have prospectively included all cases with spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage admitted to the participant hospitals from November 2004 to November 2007. The fields to be included in the database were selected by consensus, including age, past medical history, clinical characteristics at admission, radiological characteristics including presence or absence of an aneurysm and its size and location, type and complications of the aneurysm treatment, outcome assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at discharge and six months after the bleeding as well as the angiographic result of the aneurysm treatment. All fields were collected by means of an electronic form posted in secure web page. Results. During the three years of study a total of 1149 patients have been included by 14 Hospitals. The time needed to fill in a patient in the registry is approximately 3.4 minutes. This series of patients with spontaneous SAH is similar to other non-selected in-hospital series of SAH. The mean age of the patients is 55 years and there is a 4:3 female to male ratio. In relation to the severity of the bleeding 32% of the patients were in poor clinical grade at admission (WFNS 4 or 5). 5% of the patients died before angiography could be performed. An aneurysm was confirmed as the origin of the bleeding in 76% of the patients (aSAH), while in 19% of the patients no lesion was found in the angiographic studies and were thus classified as idiopathic subarachnoid hemorrhage (ISAH). Of those patients with aSAH, 47% were treated endovascularly, 39% surgically, 3% received a combined treatment and 11% did not receive any treatment for their aneurysm because of early death. Regarding outcome, there is a 22% mortality in the series. Only 40% of the patients with aSAH reached a good outcome at discharge (GOS = 5). Conclusions. Spontaneous SAH continues to be a disease with high morbidity and mortality. This database can be an ideal instrument for improving the knowledge about this disease in our environment and to achieve better results. It would be desirable that this database could in the future be the origin of a national registry of spontaneous SAH

Biodiversity Assessment and Geographical Affinities of Discards in Clam Fisheries in the Atlantic–Mediterranean Transition (Northern Alboran Sea)

This study focused on the assessment and quantification of discards generated by clam fisheries along the northern Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean). Discard samples (n = 278) were collected throughout one year on board nine commercial vessels. A total of 129 species were identified, mostly represented by molluscs (72 spp.), arthropods (20 spp.) and echinoderms (12 spp.). Molluscs dominated in terms of abundance (67.5%) and biomass (94.2%). The superfamily Paguroidea (i.e. hermit crabs), together with undersized target individuals, were the most abundant taxa. The abundance and biomass of discards displayed significant maximum values in winter, which could be partly related to biotic factors including population dynamics of some dominant species. Multivariate analyses indicated the presence of different assemblages related to the targeted bivalve species, reflecting the transition between a fine surface-sands biocoenosis exposed to wave action and a well-sorted fine sands biocoenosis below 5 m depth. Analysis of biogeographical affinities showed that most discarded species (73.2%) have an extensive Atlantic range, whereas 7.1% have a restricted distribution within the Mediterranean. The presence of subtropical species highlights the uniqueness of this area (the Atlantic–Mediterranean transition) in European seas. The usefulness of discard analysis for biodiversity assessment is discussed.Postprin