Linguistic Neoliberalism in the European Union. Politics and Policies of the EU's approach to Multilingualism.

The European Union has always placed linguistic diversity at the core of Europe’s DNA. The EU’s motto “United in Diversity” is recurrently mentioned when referring to the multiplicity of languages in the continent, which are discursively portrayed as one of Europe’s greatest assets. This EU political rhetoric on multilingualism, however, does not match the policy actions undertaken by the European Union, which point at a decreasing interest in multilingualism. This article seeks to analyze the evolution of the EU’s multilingualism policy over the period 2005-2016 from a Discourse Analysis perspective, which shows an increasing commodification of languages and a utilitarian approach on the EU’s language policy. It argues that while the idea of promotion, protection and respect of linguistic diversity remains in the current EU political rhetoric on languages, the actual policies adopt a market-oriented  approach, which considers languages as mere commodities for economic growth, mobility and jobs. The article ultimately argues that the EU has fully embraced linguistic neoliberalism as its policy on multilingualism –defined as the exclusive focus on language skills for market-oriented purposes

Use of Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Chemometrics to Visualise Fluoroquinolones Photodegradation Major Trends: A Confirmation Study with Mass Spectrometry

[EN] In this work, we employed EEM-PARAFAC (fluorescence excitation-emission matrices-parallel factor analysis) as a low-cost tool to study the oxidation pathways of (fluoro)quinolones. Amounts of 12.5 ¿M of enrofloxacin (ENR), ciprofloxacin (CIP), ofloxacin (OFL), oxolinic acid (OA), and flumequine (FLU), as individual solutions, were irradiated under UVA light. A 5-component PARAFAC model was obtained, four of them related to the parent pollutants, named as ENR-like (including CIP), OFL-like, OA-like, and FLU-like, and an additional one related to photoproducts, called ENRox-like (with an emission red-shift with respect to the ENR-like component). Mass spectrometry was employed to correlate the five PARAFAC components with their plausible molecular structures. Results indicated that photoproducts presenting: (i) hydroxylation or alkyl cleavages exhibited fingerprints analogous to those of the parent pollutants; (ii) defluorination and hydroxylation emitted within the ENRox-like region; (iii) the aforementioned changes plus piperazine ring cleavage emitted within the OA-like region. Afterwards, the five antibiotics were mixed in a single solution (each at a concentration of 0.25 ¿M) in seawater, PARAFAC being also able to deconvolute the fingerprint of humic-like substances. This approach could be a potential game changer in the analysis of (fluorescent) contaminants of emerging concern removals in complex matrices, giving rapid visual insights into the degradation pathways.This work is part of a project that received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 765860 (AQUAlity). The paper reflects only the authors' view and the Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. The authors also wish to thank the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCI) for funding under the AquaEnAgri Project (Reference: PID2021-126400OB-C31). Further thanks goes to the Water JPI-Biodiversa COFUND Program for funding the BIORESET project and supporting the research of the scientist Laura Ferrando Climent.Sciscenko, IM.; García-Negueroles, P.; Amat Payá, AM.; Oller, I.; Escudero-Oñate, C.; Ferrando-Climent, L.; Arqués Sanz, A. (2023). Use of Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Chemometrics to Visualise Fluoroquinolones Photodegradation Major Trends: A Confirmation Study with Mass Spectrometry. Molecules. 28(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules2802077728

Wastewater treatment by microalgae

The growth of the world's population increases the demand for fresh water, food, energy, and technology, which in turn leads to increasing amount of wastewater, produced both by domestic and industrial sources. These different wastewaters contain a wide variety of organic and inorganic compounds which can cause tremendous environmental problems if released untreated. Traditional treatment systems are usually expensive, energy demanding and are often still incapable of solving all challenges presented by the produced wastewaters. Microalgae are promising candidates for wastewater reclamation as they are capable of reducing the amount of nitrogen and phosphate as well as other toxic compounds including heavy metals or pharmaceuticals. Compared to the traditional systems, photosynthetic microalgae require less energy input since they use sunlight as their energy source, and at the same time lower the carbon footprint of the overall reclamation process. This mini-review focuses on recent advances in wastewater reclamation using microalgae. The most common microalgal strains used for this purpose are described as well as the challenges of using wastewater from different origins. We also describe the impact of climate with a particular focus on a Nordic climate

Comparison of different removal techniques for selected pharmaceuticals

[EN] Recently, there is an emergence of endocrine-disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (EDC/PPCPs) as important pollutants to remove from drinking water and reclaimed wastewater. In this work, the efficiency of removing pharmaceuticals (PCs) from model aqueous solutions and raw wastewater with ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), activated carbon adsorption (AC), biological methods (SBR) and oxidation with ClO2 was investigated. Some treatments have also been used as combined processes: UF + NF, UF +AC, SBR + ClO2. Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Diclofenac, Sulfamethoxazole, Clonazepam, and Diazepam were selected as model compounds. In order to evaluate their removal, PC solutions were also considered at several operating conditions (pH, conductivity, concentration, and temperature), andoptimal conditions were obtained. Experiments wereperformedatusual PCconcentrations in wastewaters: 1000 ng/L for Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen, 300 ng/L for Diclofenac, Sulfamethoxazole, Clonazepam, and Diazepam. Separation was evaluated by liquid chromatography¿mass spectroscopy. Results indicated that the removal efficiency depends on their Log KOW, which is intrinsically related to their hydrophobicity and then,to their adsorption onto the surface (UF, NF, andAC).Also, NF,AC, and combined processes (UF + NF, UF +AC) were the most suitable separation techniques to obtain high removal efficiencies for most of the PCs used, except for Acetaminophen (which showed great removal efficacy using SBR). UF presented low removal yields for all PCs tested. ClO2 treatment was more effective at high concentration (50 mg ClO2/L). Furthermore, results also showed that there are significant differences on the performance of the processes applied and which treatment is the most effective for each PC analyzed. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The authors of this work wish to gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the project CTM2013-42342-P.Vona, A.; Di Martino, F.; García-Ivars, J.; Picó, Y.; Mendoza Roca, JA.; Iborra Clar, MI. (2015). Comparison of different removal techniques for selected pharmaceuticals. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 5:48-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2014.12.011S4857

Translating microarray data for diagnostic testing in childhood leukaemia

BACKGROUND: Recent findings from microarray studies have raised the prospect of a standardized diagnostic gene expression platform to enhance accurate diagnosis and risk stratification in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). However, the robustness as well as the format for such a diagnostic test remains to be determined. As a step towards clinical application of these findings, we have systematically analyzed a published ALL microarray data set using Robust Multi-array Analysis (RMA) and Random Forest (RF). METHODS: We examined published microarray data from 104 ALL patients specimens, that represent six different subgroups defined by cytogenetic features and immunophenotypes. Using the decision-tree based supervised learning algorithm Random Forest (RF), we determined a small set of genes for optimal subgroup distinction and subsequently validated their predictive power in an independent patient cohort. RESULTS: We achieved very high overall ALL subgroup prediction accuracies of about 98%, and were able to verify the robustness of these genes in an independent panel of 68 specimens obtained from a different institution and processed in a different laboratory. Our study established that the selection of discriminating genes is strongly dependent on the analysis method. This may have profound implications for clinical use, particularly when the classifier is reduced to a small set of genes. We have demonstrated that as few as 26 genes yield accurate class prediction and importantly, almost 70% of these genes have not been previously identified as essential for class distinction of the six ALL subgroups. CONCLUSION: Our finding supports the feasibility of qRT-PCR technology for standardized diagnostic testing in paediatric ALL and should, in conjunction with conventional cytogenetics lead to a more accurate classification of the disease. In addition, we have demonstrated that microarray findings from one study can be confirmed in an independent study, using an entirely independent patient cohort and with microarray experiments being performed by a different research team

Ecotoxicity of disinfectant benzalkonium chloride and its mixture with antineoplastic drug 5-fluorouracil towards alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

Background Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is one of the most common ingredients of the disinfectants. It is commonly detected in surface and wastewaters where it can interact with the residues of pharmaceuticals that are also common wastewater pollutants. Among the latter, the residues of antineoplastic drugs are of particular concern as recent studies showed that they can induce adverse effect in aquatic organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations. Methods Ecotoxicity of BAC as an individual compound and in a binary mixture with an antineoplastic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was determined towards alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, a representative of primary producers. The toxicity of the BAC+5-FU binary mixture was predicted by the two basic models: concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA), and compared to the experimentally determined toxicity. Additionally combination index (CI) was calculated to determine the type of interaction. Results After 72 h exposure to BAC a concentration dependent growth inhibition of P. subcapitata was observed with an EC50 0.255 mg/L. Comparing the predicted no effect concentration to the measured concentrations in the surface waters indicate that BAC at current applications and occurrence in aquatic environment may affect algal populations. The measured toxicity of the mixture was higher from the predicted and calculated CI confirmed synergistic effect on the inhibition of algal growth, at least at EC50 concentration. The observed synergism may have impact on the overall toxicity of wastewaters, whereas it is less likely for general environments because the concentrations of 5-FU are several orders of magnitude lower from its predicted no effect concentration. Discussion These results indicate that combined effects of mixtures of disinfectants and antineoplastic drugs should be considered in particular when dealing with environmental risk assessment as well as the management of municipal and hospital wastewaters

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation

The European politics on language for immigrant integration: a multilevel comparative perspective

This PhD thesis analyzes the conceptual frames underpinning discourses on language for immigrant integration to understand their rationale, evolution and structuring effects. Analyzed from a multilevel perspective – state and sub-state level – and taking France and Catalonia as case studies, it empirically demonstrates how, under the politically-accepted rhetoric of integration, the politics of language for immigrant integration are motivated by a variety of ideological-political goals. Whereas the French politics on language for immigrant integration have built a dominant frame in terms of problematization of immigration to legitimate the adoption of language measures as a gate-keeping mechanism for immigration control, the Catalan politics on language for immigrant integration have strategically built a frame of positive representation and incorporation of immigration to seek the empathy of migrants into the Catalan nation-building project. This PhD thesis constitutes, in sum, an effort to elevate the underlying, often implicit cognitive frames that affect the language politics of immigrant integration, which have social, political, institutional and legal implications.Aquesta tesi doctoral analitza els marcs conceptuals que sostenen els discursos sobre llengua i immigració amb la idea de comprendre’n els objectius, l’evolució i els seus efectes estructurals. Des d’un enfocament multinivell – estat i sub-estat – amb França i Catalunya com a estudis de cas, aquesta recerca mostra com, sota la retòrica políticament acceptada d’integració, les polítiques de la llengua en un context migratori estan motivades per un seguit d’objectius ideològics-polítics estratègics. L’anàlisi mostra com els debats sobre llengua i immigració a França han construït un marc dominant que primerament problematitza la immigració amb l’objectiu de legitimar posteriorment mesures lingüístiques restrictives, que tenen com a finalitat el control migratori. En canvi, l’anàlisi sobre els debats a Catalunya mostren la construcció d’un marc estratègic que positivitza discursivament la immigració amb l’objectiu polític de captar l’empatia dels immigrants i incorporar-los al projecte de construcció nacional català. Aquesta tesi constitueix, doncs, un esforç per evidenciar els patrons discursius, sovint implícits, que es reiteren i activen els marcs cognitius en les polítiques de la llengua i la immigració, i que tenen conseqüències socials, polítiques, institucionals i legals.Esta tesis doctoral analiza los marcos conceptuales que sustentan los discursos sobre lengua e inmigración con el objetivo de desvelar su intencionalidad, su evolución y sus efectos estructurales. Partiendo de un enfoque multinivel – estado y sub-estado – y con Francia y Cataluña como estudios de caso, la presente tesis demuestra cómo, bajo una retórica políticamente aceptada sobre la idea de integración, las políticas lingüísticas en un contexto migratorio están motivadas por una serie de objetivos ideológicos y políticos estratégicos. El análisis demuestra cómo los debates sobre lengua e inmigración en Francia han construido un marco dominante que primero problematiza la inmigración con el objetivo de, posteriormente, legitimar medidas lingüísticas restrictivas, ejerciendo así el efecto de control migratorio. En cambio, el análisis sobre los debates en Cataluña revela la construcción de un marco estratégico que positiviza discursivamente la inmigración con el objetivo político de captar la empatía de los inmigrantes e incorporarlos al proyecto de construcción nacional. Esta tesis constituye, por lo tanto, un esfuerzo para evidenciar los patrones discursivos, a menudo implícitos, que se reiteran, activando los marcos cognitivos en las políticas sobre lengua e inmigración, y que tienen consecuencias sociales, políticas, institucionales y legales

Analysis of chemotherapy drugs and related compounds in aquatic environment: removal, transformation and risk evaluation in eco-friendly and advanced technologies

In order to evaluate the increasing environmental and human risk of anticancer drugs in the environment, more information needs to be gathered about their presence, their toxicity, bioaccumulation and persistence. In addition, their removal performance in conventional wastewater treatment facilities and in alternative treatments needs further investigation efforts. The aim of this thesis is to fill knowledge gaps and provide tools for a better assessment about the presence and fate of anticancer drugs in the urban water cycle. The work presented hereby includes three main objectives: i) to develop analytical methodologies for target and non-target analysis of anticancer drugs in aquatic environment, ii) to assess the occurrence of anticancer drugs in urban systems and iii) to appraise different technological alternatives to remove anticancer drugs from polluted effluentsPer tal d'avaluar l'augment de risc ambiental i humà de medicaments contra el càncer en el medi ambient, més informació necessita ser recopilada sobre la seva presència, la seva toxicitat, bioacumulació i persistència. A més, la seva capacitat d'eliminació d'aigües residuals en plantes de tractament convencionals i en tractaments alternatius necessita a investigacions addicionals. L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi és omplir els buits de coneixement i proporcionar eines per a una millor avaluació de la presència i el destí dels medicaments contra el càncer en el cicle urbà de l'aigua. El treball presentat per aquest mitjà inclou tres objectius principals: i) desenvolupar metodologies analítiques per a la meta i anàlisi que no són objecte de medicaments contra el càncer a medi aquàtic, ii) per avaluar l'ocurrència de medicaments contra el càncer en els sistemes urbans i iii) per avaluar diferents alternatives tecnològiques a eliminar medicaments contra el càncer d'efluents contaminat