Thermo-economic analysis of an oxygen production plant powered by an innovative energy recovery system

[EN] Oxy-fuel combustion is considered an attractive alternative to reduce pollutant emissions, which uses high-purity oxygen mixed instead of air for combustion processes. However, purchasing large amounts of high-purity oxygen may be unprofitable for certain industrial sectors, discouraging its implementation. Considering this, the potential of an oxygen production cycle for factories using oxy-fuel combustion is studied by performing a thermo-economic analysis where high-purity oxygen, electricity, and natural gas prices are considered. Oxygen is produced by membrane means, where mixed ionic-electronic conducting membranes are used, which require high temperatures and pressure gradients to work properly. A set of turbochargers is implemented, chosen by scaling an off-the-shelf model, what introduces an innovative way of waste energy recovering for improving the performance of the cycle. The whole cycle is powered by waste heat from high temperature flue gases, and it is sized for a ceramic manufacturing factory. In this work, two cases are analysed, differentiated by considering additional heating and the vacuum generation method in the oxygen line. The first case exhibits smaller production levels, although better profitability (31¿€t¿1), whereas the second case displays higher production levels and production costs (33¿€t¿1). Both cases are competitive concerning the average price of high-purity oxygen, supposing an average of 50¿€t¿1 in wholesale markets, proving the potential of the proposed alternative for oxygen production.This research work has been supported by Grant PDC2021120821-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR. This work has also been supported by Grant UPV-SOLGEN-79674 funded by the Vicerrectorado de Investigacion de la Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (PAID-11-21). The authors want to acknowledge the institution "Conselleria d'Educacio, Investigaci o, Cultura i Esport de la Generalitat Valenciana" and its grant program "Subvenciones para la contratacion de personal investigador de caracter predoctoral" for doctoral studies (ACIF/2020/246) funded by The European Union. Also, this work is part of grant number INNVA1/2021/38 funded by "Agencia Valenciana de la Innovacion (AVI)" and by "ERDF A way of making Europe".Serrano, J.; Arnau Martínez, FJ.; García-Cuevas González, LM.; Gutierrez, FA. (2022). Thermo-economic analysis of an oxygen production plant powered by an innovative energy recovery system. Energy. 255:1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.12441911825

Adapting an internal combustion engine to oxy-fuel combustion with in-situ oxygen production

[EN] In transport applications, reciprocating internal combustion engines still have important advantages in terms of endurance and refueling time and available infrastructure when compared against fuel cell or battery-based powertrains. Although conventional internal combustion engine configurations produce important amounts of greenhouse gases and pollutant emissions, oxy-fuel combustion can be used to mitigate to a great extent such emissions, mainly producing NOx-free, CO2 and H2O exhaust gases. However, the oxygen needed for the combustion, which is mixed with flue gases before entering the cylinder, has to be stored in an additional tank, which hinders the adoption of this technology. Fortunately, the latest developments in gas separation membranes are starting to produce extremely-high selectivity and high permeability oxygen-separation membranes. Using the waste heat of the exhaust gases to heat up a mixed ionic-electronic conducting membrane, and feeding it with pressurized air, it is possible to produce all the oxygen needed by the combustion process while keeping the whole system compact. This work presents a design of an oxy-fuel combustion engine with in-situ oxygen production. The numerical simulations show also that this concept keeps a competitive brake specific fuel consumption, while the high concentration of CO2 in the exhaust gases facilitates the introduction of carbon sequestration technologies, leading to potentially carbon-neutral internal combustion engines.The authors want to acknowledge the institution "Conselleria d'Educacio, Investigació, Cultura i Esport de la Generalitat Valenciana" and its grant program "Subvenciones para la contratacion de personal investigador de caracter predoctoral" for doctoral studies (ACIF/2020/246) funded by The European Union. This research was partially supported by the institution "Agencia Valenciana de la Innovacion (AVI)" and its grant program "Valorizacion y transferencia de resultados de investigación a las empresas. Línea 1. Valorizacion, transferencia y explotación por las empresas de resultados de I+D. Convocatoria 2021" for project named Demostrador de un motor de oxicombustion con captura de CO2 (DMOCCO2)" INNVA1/2021/38, under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) program.Arnau Martínez, FJ.; Novella Rosa, R.; García-Cuevas González, LM.; Gutierrez-Castro, FA. (2021). Adapting an internal combustion engine to oxy-fuel combustion with in-situ oxygen production. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICEF2021-67707S11

Possible Genetic Determinants of Response to Phenytoin in a Group of Colombian Patients With Epilepsy.

Background: Epilepsy is a serious health problem worldwide. Despite the introduction of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) almost 30% of these patients have drug-resistant forms of the disease (DRE), with a significant increase in morbi-mortality.Objective: Our objective was to assess the impact of some genetic factors and its possible association with treatment response and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to phenytoin in 67 adult Colombian patients with epilepsy.Methods: We conducted an analytical, observational, prospective cohort study to screen four polymorphisms in pharmacogenes: CYP2C9*2-c.430C>T (rs1799853), CYP2C9*3-c.1075A>C (rs1057910), ABCB1-c.3435T>C (rs1045642), and SCN1A-IVS5-91G>A (rs3812718), and their association with treatment response. Patients were followed for 1 year to confirm the existence of DRE (non-response) and ADRs using an active pharmacovigilance approach, followed by a consensus in order to classify ADRs according to causality, preventability, intensity and their relation with phenytoin dose, the duration of treatment, and susceptibility factors (DoTS methodology).Results: A little more than half of evaluated subjects (52.2%) were non-responding to phenytoin. Regarding the genotype-phenotype correlation there was no association between polymorphisms of SCN1A and ABCB1 and DRE (non-response) (p = 0.34), and neither with CYP2C9 polymorphisms and the occurrence of ADRs (p = 0.42). We only found an association between polymorphic alleles of CYP2C9 and vestibular-cerebellar ADRs (dizziness, ataxia, diplopia, and dysarthria) (p = 0.001). Alleles CYP2C9*2-c.430C>T and CYP2C9*3-c.1075A>C were identified as susceptibility factors to ADRs in 24% of patients.Conclusions: Decreased function alleles of CYP2C9 were highly predictive of vestibular-cerebellar ADRs to phenytoin in our study (p = 0.001). However, the genetic variants CYP2C9*2-c.430C>T, CYP2C9*3-c.1075A>C, ABCB1-c.3435T>C, and SCN1A-IVS5-91G>A, were not associated with treatment response in our study

Validation of Prognostic Scores in Extracorporeal Life Support: A Multi-Centric Retrospective Study

Multiple prognostic scores have been developed for both veno-arterial (VA) and veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), mostly in single-center cohorts. The aim of this study was to compare and validate different prediction scores in a large multicenter ECMO-population. Methods: Data from five ECMO centers included 300 patients on VA and 329 on VV ECMO support (March 2008 to November 2016). Different prognostic scores were compared between survivors and non-survivors: APACHE II, SOFA, SAPS II in all patients; SAVE, modified SAVE and MELD-XI in VA ECMO; RESP, PRESET, ROCH and PRESERVE in VV ECMO. Model performance was compared using receiver-operating-curve analysis and assessment of model calibration. Survival was assessed at intensive care unit discharge. Results: The main indication for VA ECMO was cardiogenic shock; overall survival was 51%. ICU survivors had higher Glasgow Coma Scale scores and pH, required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) less frequently, had lower lactate levels and shorter ventilation time pre-ECMO at baseline. The best discrimination between survivors and non-survivors was observed with the SAPS II score (area under the curve [AUC] of 0.73 (95% CI 0.67–0.78)). The main indication for VV ECMO was pneumonia; overall survival was 60%. Lower PaCO2, higher pH, lower lactate and lesser need for CPR were observed among survivors. The best discrimination between survivors and non-survivors was observed with the PRESET score (AUC 0.66 (95% CI 0.60–0.72)). Conclusion: The prognostic performance of most scores was moderate in ECMO patients. The use of such scores to decide about ECMO implementation in potential candidates should be discouraged

Detection mutations in the DNA mismatch repair genes of hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes in Colombian families with suspicion of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma (Lynch syndrome)

Introducción. El cáncer colorrectal es la segunda causa de morbilidad y mortalidad por cáncer en los países desarrollados. En Colombia es la quinta causa de muerte entre los diferentes cánceres. Cerca del 75% de éstos corresponde a cánceres esporádicos, alrededor del 25% son familiares, y son claramente hereditarios el 5%. De éstos, el más importantes es el cáncer colorrectal no polipósico hereditario o síndrome de Lynch. Objetivo. Analizar los dos genes más importantes involucrados en el síndrome de Lynch, el hMLH1 y el hMSH2. Materiales y métodos. En 17 familias colombianas que cumplían con los criterios de Ámsterdam II o las pautas de Bethesda, se analizaron por SSCP los 35 exones de estos dos genes y las variantes electroforéticas se secuenciaron. Resultados. Se detectaron 8 mutaciones de línea germinal en las familias analizadas, 7 en el gen hMLH1 y 1 en hMSH2, y se encontró una tasa de detección de mutaciones del 47%. Seis de las 8 mutaciones encontradas en este estudio han sido previamente reportadas en la literatura. Un cambio de una base en el sitio donador de empalme en el exón 9 del gen hMLH1 (G>A) (dos familias), un cambio A>G en el codón 755 del exón 17, y un cambio G>A en el exón 18. Se detectaron dos nuevas mutaciones, una en el exón 17, un cambio C>T en el codón 640, y una deleción de TG en el codón 184 del exón 3 del gen hMSH2. También se detectó en dos familias un polimorfismo del intrón 13 del hMLH1. Conclusión. Este es el primer estudio realizado en Colombia que detecta mutaciones en el síndrome de Lynch y pretende establecer un programa integral de manejo y prevención.Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second highest cause of cancer mortality in developed countries. In Colombia, CRC ranks fifth as a cause of cancer death. Approximately 75% of CRC appear to be spontaneous and 25% are familial, with 5% of the latter clearly hereditary. Of these, hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPCC)-or Lynch syndrome is the most important.OBJECTIVE: Herein, the two most important genes involved in Lynch syndrome, the hMLH1 and hMSH2 were analyzed for presence of mutations.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen Colombian families that fulfilled the Amsterdam II criteria or Bethesda guidelines for Lynch syndrome were selected. The of 35 exons of hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes were screened by SSCP and those with electrophoretic variants were sequenced.RESULTS: Eight germinal mutations were detected, corresponding to a 47% detection mutation rate. Six of the eight mutations have previously been reported. These consisted of the following mutations: a single base substitution at the donor splicing site of exon 9, a single base substitution (A>G) at codon 755 of the exon 17, and another single base substitution (G>A) at codon 681 of exon 18. The two novel mutations consisted of a single base substitution (C>T) at codon 640 of exon 17 of the hMLH1 gene and a two-nucleotide deletion (TG) at codon 184 of exon 3 of hMSH2 gene. In addition, two families were observed with a polymorphism in the intron 13 (G>A) nt 1558+14, of hMLH1 gene.CONCLUSIONS: This study represented the first survey for detecting mutations associated with Lynch syndrome in Colombia, and is intended to lead to the establishment of a management and prevention program

Boletín Económico Regional: Eje Cafetero, III trimestre de 2022

En el tercer trimestre de 2022, la actividad económica del Eje Cafetero mostró un menor ritmo de crecimiento anual en varios de sus indicadores. Aminoró la dinámica del comercio interno de la región y la ocupación hotelera, así como la industria, particularmente de Risaralda, el transporte de pasajeros y la movilización de mercancía; y en la parte pecuaria, el sacrificio de ganado bovino y porcino. Por su parte, se presentaron caídas en construcción, particularmente en despachos de cemento y venta de vivienda nueva, en comercio de vehículos y motos, en agropecuario en el acopio de leche y abastecimiento de productos agrícolas, y en la producción industrial en el caso de Caldas. En comercio exterior las exportaciones e importaciones crecieron en menor escala. En cuanto a la inflación, para las tres ciudades de la región continuó la tendencia ascendente, mientras la tasa de desempleo descendió en dos de ellas

The commissioning of the CUORE experiment: the mini-tower run

CUORE is a ton-scale experiment approaching the data taking phase in Gran Sasso National Laboratory. Its primary goal is to search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay in 130Te using 988 crystals of tellurim dioxide. The crystals are operated as bolometers at about 10 mK taking advantage of one of the largest dilution cryostat ever built. Concluded in March 2016, the cryostat commissioning consisted in a sequence of cool down runs each one integrating new parts of the apparatus. The last run was performed with the fully configured cryostat and the thermal load at 4 K reached the impressive mass of about 14 tons. During that run the base temperature of 6.3 mK was reached and maintained for more than 70 days. An array of 8 crystals, called mini-tower, was used to check bolometers operation, readout electronics and DAQ. Results will be presented in terms of cooling power, electronic noise, energy resolution and preliminary background measurements

Results from the Cuore Experiment

The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) is the first bolometric experiment searching for neutrinoless double beta decay that has been able to reach the 1-ton scale. The detector consists of an array of 988 TeO2 crystals arranged in a cylindrical compact structure of 19 towers, each of them made of 52 crystals. The construction of the experiment was completed in August 2016 and the data taking started in spring 2017 after a period of commissioning and tests. In this work we present the neutrinoless double beta decay results of CUORE from examining a total TeO2 exposure of 86.3kg yr, characterized by an effective energy resolution of 7.7 keV FWHM and a background in the region of interest of 0.014 counts/ (keV kg yr). In this physics run, CUORE placed a lower limit on the decay half- life of neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te > 1.3.1025 yr (90% C. L.). Moreover, an analysis of the background of the experiment is presented as well as the measurement of the 130Te 2vo3p decay with a resulting half- life of T2 2. [7.9 :- 0.1 (stat.) :- 0.2 (syst.)] x 10(20) yr which is the most precise measurement of the half- life and compatible with previous results

Association between convalescent plasma treatment and mortality in COVID-19: a collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Funder: laura and john arnold foundationBACKGROUND: Convalescent plasma has been widely used to treat COVID-19 and is under investigation in numerous randomized clinical trials, but results are publicly available only for a small number of trials. The objective of this study was to assess the benefits of convalescent plasma treatment compared to placebo or no treatment and all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19, using data from all available randomized clinical trials, including unpublished and ongoing trials (Open Science Framework, https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/GEHFX ). METHODS: In this collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis, clinical trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform), the Cochrane COVID-19 register, the LOVE database, and PubMed were searched until April 8, 2021. Investigators of trials registered by March 1, 2021, without published results were contacted via email. Eligible were ongoing, discontinued and completed randomized clinical trials that compared convalescent plasma with placebo or no treatment in COVID-19 patients, regardless of setting or treatment schedule. Aggregated mortality data were extracted from publications or provided by investigators of unpublished trials and combined using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman random effects model. We investigated the contribution of unpublished trials to the overall evidence. RESULTS: A total of 16,477 patients were included in 33 trials (20 unpublished with 3190 patients, 13 published with 13,287 patients). 32 trials enrolled only hospitalized patients (including 3 with only intensive care unit patients). Risk of bias was low for 29/33 trials. Of 8495 patients who received convalescent plasma, 1997 died (23%), and of 7982 control patients, 1952 died (24%). The combined risk ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.92; 1.02) with between-study heterogeneity not beyond chance (I2 = 0%). The RECOVERY trial had 69.8% and the unpublished evidence 25.3% of the weight in the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Convalescent plasma treatment of patients with COVID-19 did not reduce all-cause mortality. These results provide strong evidence that convalescent plasma treatment for patients with COVID-19 should not be used outside of randomized trials. Evidence synthesis from collaborations among trial investigators can inform both evidence generation and evidence application in patient care