Chemical and nano-mineralogical study for determining potential uses of legal Colombian gold mine sludge: Experimental evidence

The present study is focused on the chemical and nano-mineralogical characterization of sludge from gold mine activities, in order to put forward diverse solution alternatives, where lack of knowledge has been found. The sample was collected from “La Estrella” mine of Suarez, located in Department of Cauca, south-west Colombia. The sludge micro-structure and chemical composition were analyzed using a high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) equipped with a dispersive X-ray detector (EDS). X-ray diffraction technique was employed to identify the mineralogical phases present in the sludge. Additional mineralogical characterization was done by using RAMAN spectroscopy. Main findings points to its potential to be used as a fertilizer, this is why, mine sludge contains macronutrients such as P, Ca and S, together with micronutrients like Cu. However, the presence of goethite could decrease the mobilization of nutrients to soils, thus additional alternatives, for instance, a mixture with humus or another material containing Humic Acids should be done, in order to minimizing its retention effect. Additionally, another possible uses to explore could be as construction and ceramic material or in the wastewater treatment for nutrient retention and organic material removal. Rutile (TiO2 nanoparticles) particles have been also detected, what could cause health concern due to its nanoparticle toxic character, mainly during gold extraction process

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Estudio de geotextiles para el tratamiento de efluentes del cultivo de Trucha Arcoíris (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract The process of production of the fish farms generate two types of effluents: one with continuous flow during normal operation and the other an intermittent flow during cleaning operations. This last one has a lot higher solid concentration than the normal operation effluent. The present study was designed to assess at laboratory scale, the non woven geotextile filtration for the treatment of cleaning effluents from a MULTIPRO pond with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) culture. The efficiency in the reduction of suspended material, nutrients and organic matter was evaluated, as well as the development of the hydraulic head losses. It was determined that the filtration of these effluents through non woven geotextiles allows to obtain the following average removal efficiencies: total suspended Solids (98%), biochemical oxygen demand (68%), total phosphorus (62%) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (79%) at filtration rate of 3 m/h. These efficiencies are comparable or even higher than those reported by higher-cost technologies, which would present limitations for rural use in Colombia. It was observed a rapid development of head loss and consequently low filter run duration with an average value of 39 min. This is suggesting that non woven geotextile filtration should be optimized en terms of filter run duration, so as to allow a more extended use of the blankets and to reduce the investment costs associated to the replacement of the same ones.Resumo O processo de produção de peixes gera dois tipos de efluentes; o primeiro fluxo contínuo associado com a operação normal de explorações piscícolas e o segundo de fluxo intermitente, gerado pelo trabalho de lavagem dos tanques. Este último contém a maior concentração de contaminantes do processo de cultivo. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar em escala de laboratório a filtração em geotêxtis não tecido como uma alternativa para o tratamento do fluxo de um tanque de lavar multiuso (MULTIPRO) com cultivo de truta Arco-íris, especificamente avaliou-se o comportamento do geotêxtil contra a eficiência na redução do material em suspensão, nutrientes e matéria orgânica, bem como o desenvolvimento de perda de carga. Determinou-se que o uso de geotêxtil permite a obtenção de uma média na eficiência na redução de sólidos suspensos totais (SST), demanda bioquímico de oxigênio (DBO), total de fósforo (TP) e total nitrogênio Kjeldahl (TNK) de 98%, 68%, 62% e 79% respectivamente, operando com taxa de filtração de 3m/h, estas eficiências são superio res aos relatados por tecnologias de custo mais elevadas que podem apresentar limitações de utilização na área rural, na Colômbia. Reparou-se um desenvolvimento rápido da perda de carga e, consequentemente, uma baixa duração da carreira de filtração, atingindo valores médios de 39 min, o que sugere que o uso deste tipo de filtros, em termos de duração da carreira se deve aperfeiçoar, a fim que permita uma utilização mais generalizada de geotêxtis e reduza os custos de inves timento associados com a substituição do mesmo.Resumen El proceso de producción piscícola genera dos tipos de efluentes; el primero de flujo continuo asociado a la operación normal de las granjas piscícolas y el segundo de flujo intermitente generado por labores de lavado de los estanques. Este último contiene la mayor concentración de contaminantes del proceso de cultivo. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar a escala de laboratorio la filtración en geotextiles no tejidos como alternativa para el tratamiento del flujo proveniente del lavado de un estanque multipropósito (MULTIPRO) con cultivo de Trucha Arcoíris, específicamente se evaluó el comportamiento del geotextil frente a la eficiencia en la reducción de material en suspensión, nutrientes y materia orgánica, así como el desarrollo de la pérdida de carga. Se determinó que el empleo de geotextiles permite obtener eficiencias promedio en reducción de sólidos suspendidos totales (SST), demanda bioquímica de oxígeno (DBO), fósforo total (PT) y nitrógeno total Kjeldahl (NTK) de 98%, 68%, 62% y 79% respectivamente, operando a tasa de filtración de 3 m/h. Estas eficiencias son superiores a las reportadas por tecnologías de mayor costo que podrían presentar limitaciones de uso en la zona rural en Colombia. Se observó un rápido desarrollo de la pérdida de carga y consecuentemente una baja duración de la carrera de filtración, alcanzando valores promedio de 39 min, lo cual sugiere que el empleo de este tipo de filtros, en términos de duración de carrera se debe optimizar, de modo que permita un uso más extendido de los geotextiles y disminuya los costos de inversión asociados al recambio de las mismas

Study of geotextiles in the treatment of wastewater from farming rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

El proceso de producción piscícola genera dos tipos de efluentes; el primero de flujo continuo asociado a la operación normal de las granjas piscícolas y el segundo de flujo intermitente generado por labores de lavado de los estanques. Este último contiene la mayor concentración de contaminantes del proceso de cultivo. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar a escala de laboratorio la filtración en geotextiles no tejidos como alternativa para el tratamiento del flujo proveniente del lavado de un estanque multipropósito (MULTIPRO) con cultivo de Trucha Arcoíris, específicamente se evaluó el comportamiento del geotextil frente a la eficiencia en la reducción de material en suspensión, nutrientes y materia orgánica, así como el desarrollo de la pérdida de carga. Se determinó que el empleo de geotextiles permite obtener eficiencias promedio en reducción de sólidos suspendidos totales (SST), demanda bioquímica de oxígeno (DBO), fósforo total (PT) y nitrógeno total Kjeldahl (NTK) de 98%, 68%, 62% y 79% respectivamente, operando a tasa de filtración de 3 m/h. Estas eficiencias son superiores a las reportadas por tecnologías de mayor costo que podrían presentar limitaciones de uso en la zona rural en Colombia. Se observó un rápido desarrollo de la pérdida de carga y consecuentemente una baja duración de la carrera de filtración, alcanzando valores promedio de 39 min, lo cual sugiere que el empleo de este tipo de filtros, en términos de duración de carrera se debe optimizar, de modo que permita un uso más extendido de los geotextiles y disminuya los costos de inversión asociados al recambio de las mismas.The process of production of the fish farms generate two types of effluents: one with continuous flow during normal operation and the other an intermittent flow during cleaning operations. This last one has a lot higher solid concentration than the normal operation effluent. The present study was designed to assess at laboratory scale, the non woven geotextile filtration for the treatment of cleaning effluents from a MULTIPRO pond with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) culture. The efficiency in the reduction of suspended material, nutrients and organic matter was evaluated, as well as the development of the hydraulic head losses. It was determined that the filtration of these effluents through non woven geotextiles allows to obtain the following average removal efficiencies: total suspended Solids (98%), biochemical oxygen demand (68%), total phosphorus (62%) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (79%) at filtration rate of 3 m/h. These efficiencies are comparable or even higher than those reported by higher-cost technologies, which would present limitations for rural use in Colombia. It was observed a rapid development of head loss and consequently low filter run duration with an average value of 39 min. This is suggesting that non woven geotextile filtration should be optimized en terms of filter run duration, so as to allow a more extended use of the blankets and to reduce the investment costs associated to the replacement of the same ones

Novel genes and sex differences in COVID-19 severity.

Here we describe the results of a genome-wide study conducted in 11 939 COVID-19 positive cases with an extensive clinical information that were recruited from 34 hospitals across Spain (SCOURGE consortium). In sex-disaggregated genome-wide association studies for COVID-19 hospitalization, genome-wide significance (p < 5x10-8) was crossed for variants in 3p21.31 and 21q22.11 loci only among males (p = 1.3x10-22 and p = 8.1x10-12, respectively), and for variants in 9q21.32 near TLE1 only among females (p = 4.4x10-8). In a second phase, results were combined with an independent Spanish cohort (1598 COVID-19 cases and 1068 population controls), revealing in the overall analysis two novel risk loci in 9p13.3 and 19q13.12, with fine-mapping prioritized variants functionally associated with AQP3 (p = 2.7x10-8) and ARHGAP33 (p = 1.3x10-8), respectively. The meta-analysis of both phases with four European studies stratified by sex from the Host Genetics Initiative confirmed the association of the 3p21.31 and 21q22.11 loci predominantly in males and replicated a recently reported variant in 11p13 (ELF5, p = 4.1x10-8). Six of the COVID-19 HGI discovered loci were replicated and an HGI-based genetic risk score predicted the severity strata in SCOURGE. We also found more SNP-heritability and larger heritability differences by age (<60 or ≥ 60 years) among males than among females. Parallel genome-wide screening of inbreeding depression in SCOURGE also showed an effect of homozygosity in COVID-19 hospitalization and severity and this effect was stronger among older males. In summary, new candidate genes for COVID-19 severity and evidence supporting genetic disparities among sexes are provided

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population