Nutrición parenteral domiciliaria en España 2018. Informe del Grupo de Nutrición Artificial Domiciliaria y Ambulatoria NADYA

Objetivo: comunicar los datos de nutrición parenteral domiciliaria (NPD) obtenidos del registro del grupo NADYA-SENPE (www.nadya-senpe.com) del año 2018. Material y métodos: análisis descriptivo de los datos recogidos de pacientes adultos y pediátricos con NPD en el registro NADYA-SENPE del 1 de enero al 31 de diciembre de 2018. Resultados: se registraron 278 pacientes (54, 7% mujeres), 23 niños y 255 adultos, procedentes de 45 hospitales españoles, lo que representa una tasa de prevalencia de 5, 95 pacientes/millón de habitantes/año 2018. El diagnóstico más frecuente en adultos fue “oncológico paliativo” (22, 0%), seguido de “otros”. En niños fue la enfermedad de Hirschsprung junto con la enterocolitis necrotizante, con cuatro casos (17, 4%). El primer motivo de indicación fue síndrome de intestino corto tanto en niños (60, 9%) como en adultos (35, 7%). El tipo de catéter más utilizado fue el tunelizado tanto en niños (81, 0%) como en adultos (41, 1%). Finalizaron 75 episodios, la causa más frecuente fue el fallecimiento (52, 0%) y el paso a vía oral (33, 3%). Conclusiones: el número de centros y profesionales colaboradores en el registro de pacientes que reciben NPD se mantiene estable, así como las principales indicaciones y los motivos de finalización de la NPD. Aim: To communicate home parenteral nutrition (HPN) data obtained from the HPN registry of the NADYA-SENPE group (www.nadya-senpe.  com) for the year 2018. Material and methods: Descriptive analysis of the data collected from adult and pediatric patients with HPN in the NADYA-SENPE group registry from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018.  Results: There were 278 patients from 45 Spanish hospitals (54.7% women), 23 children and 255 adults, which represent a prevalence rate of 5.95 patients/million inhabitants/year 2018. The most frequent diagnosis in adults was “palliative cancer” (22.0%), followed by “others”. In children it was Hirschsprung’s disease together with necrotizing enterocolitis, with four cases (17.4%). The first indication was short bowel syndrome in both children (60.9%) and adults (35.7%). The most frequently used type of catheter was tunneled in both children (81.0%) and adults (41.1%). Ending 75 episodes, the most frequent cause was death (52.0%) and change to oral feeding (33.3%). Conclusions: The number of centers and collaborating professionals in the registry of patients receiving HPN remains stable, as well as the main indications and reasons for termination of HPN

Predictability and interrelations of spectral indicators for PV performance in multiple latitudes and climates

When PV is installed in the field, the module technologies are rated according to their output energy yield under local operating conditions rather than at standard test conditions STC , where the spectrum is set to AM1.5G. Care must be taken as this standard is not optimal for all latitudes and the solar spectral distribution variations are one primary influencing factor on PV performance. In addition, obtaining an accurate estimate of the spectral effects on PV performance, as set out in standard procedures, is hampered by the cost of gathering the inputs and the large amount of spectral data required for such a calculation. In this work, based on measured spectral irradiance data from nine sites of different latitudes and climates, we first show a characteristic trend in the spectral distribution over the year concerning the location latitude. The closer a site is to the equator, the more blue rich the solar spectrum is and the fewer seasonal spectral variations it will contain. Then, we calculate and correlate the most popular metrics device independent and device dependent used to describe the influence of solar spectra on PV performance. In particular, the monthly irradiance weighted Spectral Mismatch Factor for different PV technologies and Average Photon Energy show a global linear correlation for data from these nine sites. We use this global linear relationship to propose PV technology dependent equations that predict annual and monthly spectral gains losses within a prediction half interval of up to 1.66 by only inserting the monthly or annual irradiance weighted Average Photon Energy potentially for any site. Reducing the required spectral data sets for performance estimation through our methodology facilitates a more accessible and less costly communication of databases than complete spectral data sets. Finally, using this spectral data, we demonstrate statistically that the Spectral Mismatch Factor and Integrated Useful Fraction Ratio can be replaced by alternative spectral metrics, which require only averaged spectra and, thus, reduce the computational effort to estimate the above indicator

Design of the back-up system in Patio 2.12 photovoltaic installation

Andalucía team presented in the Solar Decathlon Europe 2012 competition a proposal of a modular, sustainable, self-sufficient housing, Patio 2.12. Inspired by Mediterranean style, Patio 2.12 was composed of four habitable modules around a common space (“patio”). Each habitable module has a photovoltaic system on its roof. Simplicity and modularity determined the design of the photovoltaic system so that, together with a global electrical energy management system, the use of the locally generated electrical energy can be optimized. Amongst others, a remarkable innovation included in Patio 2.12 was the use of an intelligent controlling device, based on an energetic support system that could manage the flows of electrical energy of all elements of the electrical installation integrated in the house. This system allows adapting the electricity availability to the consumption demand,maximizing the amount of photovoltaic energy locally generated and instantaneously consumed. This paper implements the use of a simulation software model to analyze the electrical energy balance ofthe photovoltaic electrical installation. This model estimates the electrical photovoltaic generation and the electrical exchanges with the grid and the battery bank, under a determined load profile, and for a specific period of time, using environmental data as inputs to the model

Application of biomass gasification fly ash for brick manufacturing

Biomass gasification technology offers an attractive way to use low-grade fuels in energy production with high efficiency and low environmental impact. However, an issue calling for further development is the volume and quality of fly ash, since biomass gasification fly ash contains more un-reacted carbon compounds than fly ash from direct combustion of similar fuels. This restricts direct gasification ash utilisation for many applications and makes some pre-treatment necessary, representing a significant share of the overall operating cost of gasification-based systems for energy production. Therefore, economical methods for the management of this type of ash without any pre-treatment are attractive. In this paper, we present an initial study on the manufacture of bricks made of gasification ash. Our goal was to come up with a product which satisfies two basic requirements: (a) it has elevated percentages of fly ash; and (b) it enables utilisation of ash without any pre-treatment. We have manufactured bricks by means of conventional moulding and curing methods, using ash percentages of up to 20 wt.%. No special additives were added to provide the bricks with acceptable mechanical and/or insulating properties. The fly ash used was generated in a fluidised bed pilot plant for processing olive mill cake, a by-product of the olive oil industry produced in large quantities in several EU countries. Some mechanical and environmental properties of ash gasification bricks were studied and compared with typical values for commercial bricks. The results lead us to conclude that the bricks could be used commercially as low density clay masonry units with a good thermal insulating capacity and, therefore, the potential for commercial development is promising. In addition, the environmental benefit of waste gasification added to the ash utilisation makes the overall process more attractive.Unión Europea NNE5-2001-0059