Membrane distillation: Solar and waste heat driven demonstration plants for desalination

The development of small to medium size, autonomous and robust desalination units is needed to establish an independent water supply in remote areas. This is the motivation for research on alternative desalination processes. Membrane distillation (MD) seems to meet the specific requirements very well. This work is focused on experimental studies on full scale demonstration systems, utilizing a parallel multi MD-module setup. Three different plant concepts are introduced, one of them is waste heat driven and two of them are powered by solar thermal collectors. Design parameters and system design are presented. After the analysis of plant operation a comparison among the plants as well as a comparison with laboratory experiments is carried out and discussed. Impact of different feed flow rates, salinities, operating hours and process temperatures are taken into consideration and put into relation. GOR values and specific thermal heat demand are derived and compared. Energy balances of all three plants are given, uncovering heat losses and identifying room for improvemen

Low Complexity Time Synchronization Algorithm for OFDM Systems with Repetitive Preambles

In this paper, a new time synchronization algorithm for OFDM systems with repetitive preamble is proposed. This algorithm makes use of coarse and fine time estimation; the fine time estimation is performed using a cross-correlation similar to previous proposals in the literature, whereas the coarse time estimation is made using a new metric and an iterative search of the last sample of the repetitive preamble. A complete analysis of the new metric is included, as well as a wide performance comparison, for multipath channel and carrier frequency offset, with the main time synchronization algorithms found in the literature. Finally, the complexity of the VLSI implementation of this proposal is discussed. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia under grants TEC2006-14204-C02-01 and TEC2008-06787.Canet Subiela, MJ.; Almenar Terre, V.; Flores Asenjo, SJ.; Valls Coquillat, J. (2012). Low Complexity Time Synchronization Algorithm for OFDM Systems with Repetitive Preambles. Journal of Signal Processing Systems. 68(3):287-301. doi:10.1007/s11265-011-0618-6S287301683IEEE 802.11a standard (1999). Wireless LAN medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) specifications: high-speed physical layer in the 5 GHz band.IEEE 802.11 g standard (2003). Wireless LAN specifications: Further higher data rate extension in the 2.4 GHz band.IEEE 802.16-2004 (2004). Standard for local and metropolitan area networks, part 16: Air interface for fixed broadband wireless access systems.Lee, D., & Cheun, K. (2002). Coarse symbol synchronization algorithms for OFDM systems in multipath channels. IEEE Communications Letters, 6(10), 446–448.Park, B., Cheon, H., Ko, E., Kang, C., & Hong, D. (2004). A blind OFDM synchronization algorithm based on cyclic correlation. IEEE Signal Processing Letters, 11(2), 83–85.Beek, J. J., Sandell, M., & Börjesson, P. O. (1997). ML estimation of time and frequency offset in OFDM system. IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, 45(7), 1800–1805.Ma, S., Pan, X., Yang, G., & Ng, T. (2009). Blind symbol synchronization based on cyclic prefix for OFDM systems. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 58(4), 1746–1751.Schmidl, T., & Cox, D. (1997). Robust frequency and timing synchronization for OFDM. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 45(12), 1613–1621.Coulson, A. J. (2001). Maximum likelihood synchronization for OFDM using a pilot symbol: Algorithms. IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, 19(12), 2495–2503.Tufvesson, F., Edfors, O., & Faulker, M. (1999). Time and frequency synchronization for OFDM using PN-sequence preambles. Proceedings of the Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC), 4, 2203–2207.Shi, K., & Serpedin, E. (2004). Coarse frame and carrier synchronization of OFDM systems: a new metric and comparison. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 3(4), 1271–1284.Minn, H., Zeng, M., & Bhargava, V. K. (2000). On timing offset estimation for OFDM Systems. IEEE Communications Letters, 4, 242–244.Minn, H., Bhargava, V. K., & Letaief, K. B. (2003). A robust timing and frequency synchronization for OFDM systems. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2(4), 822–839.Minn, H., Bhargava, V. K., & Letaief, K. B. (2006). A combined timing and frequency synchronization and channel estimation for OFDM. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 54(3), 416–422.Park, B., Cheon, H., Ko, E., Kang, C., & Hong, D. (2003). A novel timing estimation method for OFDM systems. IEEE Communications Letters, 7(5), 239–241.Chang, S., & Kelley, B. (2003). Time synchronization for OFDM-based WLAN systems. Electronics Letters, 39(13), 1024–1026.Wu, Y., Yip, K., Ng, T., & Serpedin, E. (2005). Maximum-likelihood symbol synchronization for IEEE 802.11a WLANs in unknown frequency-selective fading channels. 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J., del Castillo-Sánchez, E., Entrambasaguas, J. T., & Martos-Naya, E. (2010). Iterative-gradient based complex divider FPGA core with dynamic configurability of accuracy and throughput. Journal of Signal Processing Systems. doi: 10.1007/s11265-010-0464-y .Angarita, F., Canet, M. J., Sansaloni, T., Perez-Pascual, A., & Valls, J. (2008). Efficient mapping of CORDIC Algorithm for OFDM-based WLAN. Journal of Signal Processing Systems, 52(2), 181–191

Microbial Community Analysis During Start-up of Anaerobic Co-digestion Based on Quinone Profiles Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction

Quinone profile is well known as a useful tool for the analysis of microbial community dynamics in mixed cultures in terms of quantification, simplicity, and reproducibility. The application of quinone profile method in anaerobic digestion is to monitor and overcome instability during fermentation process. A lab-scale anaerobic digestion treating a mixture of milk cow manure (CM) and simulated food waste (FW) during start-up process at mesophilic conditions was used to monitor the change of microbial community dynamics and stability. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) experiments using CO2 and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was applied for extract and determination of ubiquinones (UQ) and menaquinones (MK) species. Quinone can be a helpful tool to make the link between microbial community and anaerobic digestion parameters in order to overcome digester instability during the start-up process

Use of saliva for diagnosis and monitoring the SARS-CoV-2: a general perspective

In this report, updated information and future perspectives about the use of saliva as a sample for laboratory analysis of the Covid-19 are highlighted. Saliva can be used for the direct detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the quantification of the specific immunoglobulins produced against it, and for the evaluation of the non-specific, innate immune response of the patient. Moreover, a deeper knowledge of potential changes in the saliva proteome in this disease may allow the identification of new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, or even help our understanding of the mechanisms associated with the disease. With the development of appropriate sample collection and processing methods and the use of adequate assays, saliva can provide useful clinical information about the disease and could be potentially included in guidelines for sample collection for the diagnosis, disease management, and control of Covid-19

Stability of selected enzymes in saliva of pigs under different storage conditions : a pilot study

Stability of α-amylase (α-A), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), lipase, adenosine deaminase (ADA) and total esterase activity (TEA) in two pools of porcine saliva was studied after 1 and 4 days at 4°C, and after 30, 90 and 360 days at −20° and −80°C. At 4°C, BChE, lipase and TEA were stable less than 1 day, α-A less than 4 days and ADA for up to 4 days. At −20°C, BChE and TEA were stable less than 30 days, α-A and lipase less than 90 days and ADA up to 360 days. At −80°C, TEA was stable less than 30 days, α-A and lipase less than 360 days, and BChE and ADA for up to 360 days

Perioperative stress response in dogs undergoing elective surgery : variations in behavioural, neuroendocrine, immune and acute phase responses

The aim of this trial was to describe the behavioural, neuroendocrine, immune and acute phase stress responses in dogs undergoing elective surgery in normal, clinical practice conditions. Sixteen dogs were submitted to elective orchiectomy or ovariohysterectomy using a standardised surgical protocol. Each animal was confined to the Intensive Care Unit during pre- and post-surgery and perioperative behavioural, neuroendocrine, immune and acute phase responses were studied. Behavioural categories, cortisol, prolactin, white blood cell, C-reactive protein and haptoglobin variation were evaluated. Values at different times were compared with basal values shown by the dog in its usual environment. Communicative and explorative behaviours showed high occurrence pre-surgery and were inhibited post-surgery. Decreases in post-surgery activity, interactive behaviours and changes in waking/sleeping patterns were observed. The most sensitive marker of psychological stress, cortisol, in comparison with basal values, showed a significant increase both during pre- and post-surgery confinement in the ICU cage. Prolactin values were characterised by a significant decrease early into the post-surgery period. The immune response was characterised by long-term neutrophilia and monocytosis, but by short-term lymphopaenia and eosinopaenia, limited to the early post-operative period. With regard to the acute phase response, both C-reactive protein and haptoglobin showed a long-term increase, post-surgery. Changes in behavioural, haematological and biochemical markers showed that perioperative stress represents a major challenge to dog welfare

Measurement of urea and creatinine in saliva of dogs : a pilot study

Urea and creatinine in saliva have been reported to be possible markers of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans. The aim of this study was to assess if urea and creatinine could be measured in canine saliva, and to evaluate their possible changes in situations of CKD

Targets for COVID-19 symptomatology and disease control

Funding Information: This study was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain and EU‐FEDER [Grant BIOGAL PID2020‐116761GB‐I00]. M.C. was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain, grant IJC2020‐042710‐I. RV‐R was funded by Universidad de Castilla‐La Mancha (UCLM), Spain and the European Social Fund (ESF) [grant 2022‐PRED‐20675]. Funding Information: This study was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain and EU-FEDER [Grant BIOGAL PID2020-116761GB-I00]. M.C. was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain, grant IJC2020-042710-I. RV-R was funded by Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Spain and the European Social Fund (ESF) [grant 2022-PRED-20675]. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. European Journal of Immunology published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still poses a challenge for biomedicine and public health. To advance the development of effective diagnostic, prognostic, and preventive interventions, our study focused on high-throughput antibody binding epitope mapping of the SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD protein by IgA, IgM and IgG antibodies in saliva and sera of different cohorts from healthy uninfected individuals to SARS-CoV-2-infected unvaccinated and vaccinated asymptomatic, recovered, nonsevere, and severe patients. Identified candidate diagnostic (455-LFRKSNLKPFERD-467), prognostic (395-VYADSFVIRGDEV-407-C-KLH, 332-ITNLCPFGEV-342-C-KLH, 352-AWNRKRI-358-C-KLH, 524-VCGPKKSTNLVKN-536-KLH), and protective (MKLLE-487-NCYFPLQSYGFQPTNGVG-504-GGGGS-446-GGNYNYLYRLFRKSNLKPFERD-467) epitopes were validated with sera from prevaccine and postvaccine cohorts. The results identified neutralizing epitopes and support that antibody recognition of linear B-cell epitopes in RBD protein is associated with antibody isotype and disease symptomatology. The findings in asymptomatic individuals suggest a role for anti-RBD antibodies in the protective response against SARS-CoV-2. The possibility of translating results into diagnostic interventions for the early diagnosis of asymptomatic individuals and prognosis of disease severity provides new tools for COVID-19 surveillance and evaluation of risks in hospitalized patients. These results, together with other approaches, may contribute to the development of new vaccines for the control of COVID-19 and other coronavirus-related diseases using a quantum vaccinomics approach through the combination of protective epitopes.publishersversionpublishe