Generación in situ de especies oxidantes para la remoción del herbicida 2,4-D en medio acuoso

En el presente estudio, se llevó a cabo la generación de especies fuertemente oxidantes: los radicales hidroxilo (HO•) y el ion ferrato [FeO4 2-] para la descomposición del ácido 2,4-diclorofenoxiacético (2,4-D), un herbicida recalcitrante. La degradación del 2,4-D se realizó por fotocatálisis heterogénea, oxidación anódica y por generación electroquímica del ion ferrato. Los resultados indican que la descomposición del 2,4-D durante el proceso fotocatalítico, depende del catalizador a utilizar y de las condiciones del proceso. Mientras que por el proceso electroquímico, la degradación del herbicida sucede debido a la acción conjunta del radical hidroóxilo y del ion ferrato electrogenerados in situ

Generación de especies oxidantes por métodos homogéneos y heterogéneos

Los procesos convencionales que actualmente se utilizan para el tratamiento de aguas residuales son ineficientes. Y como solución a este problema, se estudió una gran variedad de alternativas con base en la generación de especies con potencial de oxidación suficientemente alto para degradar este tipo de compuestos. De forma cada vez más frecuente, se ha recurrido al uso de sistemas capaces de producir radicales libres, hidroxilo (·OH) en solución, así como al ión ferrato [Fe(VI)], especies sumamente oxidantes, no selectivas, que degradan la mayoría de los compuestos orgánicos, incluso transformándolos en CO2 y agua. The conventional processes typically used for wastewater treatment generally tend to be inefficient. In this context, a wide variety of methods have been used in the past for organic compounds removal from water. However, currently, the systems that are based on generation of oxidizing species are the most attractive techniques in this topic. In this way, free hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and ferrate ion [Fe(VI)], currently are non selective species which can degrade organic compounds to CO2 and water transformation

Application of anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton and UVA photoelectro-Fenton to decolorize and mineralize acidic solutions of Reactive Yellow 160 azo dye

The degradation of 100 cm3 of a solution with 0.167 mmol dm-3 Reactive Yellow 160 (RY160) azo dye in sulfate medium of pH 3.0 has been comparatively studied by anodic oxidation with electrogenerated H2O2 (AO-H2O2), electro-Fenton (EF) and UVA photoelectro-Fenton (PEF). Trials were carried out with a stirred tank reactor equipped with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and an air-diffusion cathode for H2O2 production, upon addition of 0.50 mmol dm-3 Fe2+ as catalyst in EF and PEF. The solution was slowly decolorized by AO-H2O2 because of the low rate of reaction of the azo dye and its colored products with hydroxyl radicals generated at the BDD anode from water oxidation. The color loss was enhanced in EF by the larger oxidation ability of hydroxyl radicals produced in the bulk from Fenton's reaction between added Fe2+ and generated H2O2, whereas the solution was more rapidly decolorized by PEF owing to the additional generation of hydroxyl radicals from the photolysis of Fe(III)-hydroxy complexes by UVA light. The relative mineralization ability of the processes also increased in the sequence AO-H2O2 < EF < PEF. The PEF method was the most powerful due to the synergistic oxidation action of hydroxyl radicals and UVA irradiation, yielding 94% mineralization after 360 min at 100 mA cm-2. The influence of current density and RY160 concentration on the performance of all processes was assessed. Final carboxylic acids like maleic, fumaric, tartronic, acetic, oxalic, oxamic and formic were quantified by ion-exclusion HPLC. All these acids were totally removed by PEF, but the formation of small amounts of other highly recalcitrant products impeded the total mineralization. Chloride, sulfate, ammonium and, to a smaller extent, nitrate ions were released to the solution from the heteroatoms of the azo dye in all cases

Electro-remediation in the presence of ferrous sulfate as an ex-situ alternative treatment for hydrocarbon polluted soil

Hydrocarbons in soil have become a growing concern due to their chronic toxicity and their impact on human health and the environment. Various conventional physical, chemical and biological technologies are available for the treatment of contaminated sites; however, they are unsuccessful in the remediation of soils that contain compounds with low solubility, such as hydrocarbons. Electrokinetic remediation is one of the most promising technologies for the remediation of soils. In this process, application of an electric field between two electrodes inserted in the contaminated mass allows the separation of contaminants, with or without the addition of chemical reagents. This study investigates the feasibility of using an enhanced electrokinetic process in the presence of FeSO4 under acidic conditions for the remediation of hydrocarbons contained in Vertisol pelic and Gleysol soil. Hydrocarbon removal was more efficient in Vertisol than in Gleysol soil when this electrochemical treatment was applied

Monitoring Study Participants and Implementation with Phone Calls to Support Hypertension Control during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of a Multicomponent Intervention Trial in Guatemala

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presents a challenge to health care for patients with chronic diseases, especially hypertension, because of the important association and increased risk of these patients with a severe presentation of COVID-19 disease. The Guatemalan Ministry of Health has been implementing a multi-component program aimed at improving hypertension control in rural communities since 2019 as a part of an intervention research cluster randomized trial. When the first cases of COVID-19 were reported (March 13, 2020) in Guatemala, our study paused all study field activities, and began monitoring participants through phone calls. The objective of this paper is to describe the approach used to monitor study participants during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare data obtained during phone calls for intervention and control group participants. Methods: We developed a cross-sectional study within the HyTREC (Hypertension Outcomes for T4 Research within Lower Middle-Income Countries) project ‘Multicomponent Intervention to Improve Hypertension Control in Central America: Guatemala’ in which phone calls were made to participants from both intervention and control groups to monitor measures important to the study: delivery of antihypertensive medications in both groups, receipt of coaching sessions and use of a home blood pressure monitor by intervention group participants, as well as reasons that they were not implemented. Results: Regarding the delivery of antihypertensive drugs by the MoH to participants, those in the intervention group had a higher level of medication delivery (73%) than the control group (51%), p<0.001. Of the total participants in the intervention group, 62% had received at least one health coaching session in the previous three months and 81% used a digital home blood pressure monitor at least twice a week. Intervention activities were lower than expected due to restricted public transportation on top of decreased availability of health providers. Conclusion: In Guatemala, specifically in rural settings, access to antihypertensive medications and health services during pandemic times was impaired and less than expected, even after accounting for the program’s implementation activities and actions.Fil: Hernández Galdamez, Diego. Institute Of Nutrition Of Central America And Panama Guatemala; GuatemalaFil: Mansilla, Kristyne. Institute Of Nutrition Of Central America And Panama Guatemala; GuatemalaFil: Peralta, Ana Lucía. Institute Of Nutrition Of Central America And Panama Guatemala; GuatemalaFil: Rodríguez Szaszdi, Javier. Institute Of Nutrition Of Central America And Panama Guatemala; GuatemalaFil: Ramírez, Juan Manuel. Institute Of Nutrition Of Central America And Panama Guatemala; GuatemalaFil: Roche, Dina. Institute Of Nutrition Of Central America And Panama Guatemala; GuatemalaFil: Gulayin, Pablo Elías. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez Zea, Manuel. Institute Of Nutrition Of Central America And Panama Guatemala; GuatemalaFil: He, Jiang. Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Irazola, Vilma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública; ArgentinaFil: Fort, Meredith P.. Colorado School of Public Health; Estados Unido

Synergism between anodic oxidation with diamond anodes and heterogeneous catalytic photolysis for the treatment of pharmaceutical pollutants

The mineralization of diclofenac and acetaminophen has been studied by single anodic oxidation with boron-doped diamond (AO-BDD) using an undivided electrolysis cell, by single heterogeneous catalytic photolysis with titanium dioxide (HCP-TiO) and by the combination of both advanced oxidation processes. The results show that mineralization can be obtained with either single technology. The type of functional groups of the pollutant does not influence the results of the single AO-BDD process, but it has a significant influence on the results obtained with HCP-TiO. A clear synergistic effect appears when both processes are combined showing improvements in the oxidation rate of more than 50% for diclofenac and nearly 200% for acetaminophen at the highest current exerted. Results obtained are explained in terms of the production of oxidants on the surface of BDD (primarily peroxodisulfate) and the later homogeneous catalytic light decomposition of these oxidants in the bulk. This mechanism is consistent with the larger improvement observed at higher current densities, for which the production of oxidants is promoted.La mineralización de diclofenaco y acetaminofén se ha estudiado por oxidación anódica simple con diamante dopado con boro (AO-BDD) usando una celda de electrólisis no dividida , por fotólisis catalítica heterogénea simple con dióxido de titanio (HCP-TiO) y por la combinación de ambos procesos de oxidación avanzados . Los resultados muestran que la mineralización se puede obtener con cualquiera de las dos tecnologías. El tipo de grupos funcionales del contaminante no influye en los resultados del proceso único AO-BDD, pero tiene una influencia significativa en los resultados obtenidos con HCP-TiO. Aparece un claro efecto sinérgico cuando ambos procesos se combinan mostrando mejoras en la tasa de oxidación de más del 50% para el diclofenaco y cerca del 200% para el acetaminofeno a la corriente más alta ejercida. Los resultados obtenidos se explican en términos de la producción de oxidantes en la superficie de BDD (principalmente peroxodisulfato) y la posterior descomposición ligera catalítica homogénea de estos oxidantes en la masa. Este mecanismo es consistente con la mayor mejora observada a mayores densidades de corriente, por lo que se promueve la producción de oxidantes

Hypertension in Guatemala’s Public Primary Care System: A Needs Assessment Using the Health System Building Blocks Framework

Background: Uncontrolled hypertension represents a substantial and growing burden in Guatemala and other low and middle-income countries. As a part of the formative phase of an implementation research study, we conducted a needs assessment to define short- and long-term needs and opportunities for hypertension services within the public health system. Methods: We conducted a multi-method, multi-level assessment of needs related to hypertension within Guatemala’s public system using the World Health Organization’s health system building blocks framework. We conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders at national (n = 17), departmental (n = 7), district (n = 25), and community (n = 30) levels and focus groups with patients (3) and frontline auxiliary nurses (3). We visited and captured data about infrastructure, accessibility, human resources, reporting, medications and supplies at 124 health posts and 53 health centers in five departments of Guatemala. We conducted a thematic analysis of transcribed interviews and focus group discussions supported by matrix analysis. We summarized quantitative data observed during visits to health posts and centers. Results: Major challenges for hypertension service delivery included: gaps in infrastructure, insufficient staffing and high turnover, limited training, inconsistent supply of medications, lack of reporting, low prioritization of hypertension, and a low level of funding in the public health system overall. Key opportunities included: prior experience caring for patients with chronic conditions, eagerness from providers to learn, and interest from patients to be involved in managing their health. The 5 departments differ in population served per health facility, accessibility, and staffing. All but 7 health posts had basic infrastructure in place. Enalapril was available in 74% of health posts whereas hydrochlorothiazide was available in only 1 of the 124 health posts. With the exception of one department, over 90% of health posts had a blood pressure monitor. Conclusions: This multi-level multi-method needs assessment using the building blocks framework highlights contextual factors in Guatemala’s public health system that have been important in informing the implementation of a hypertension control trial. Long-term needs that are not addressed within the scope of this study will be important to address to enable sustained implementation and scale-up of the hypertension control approach.Fil: Fort, Meredith P.. University of Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Mundo, William. University of Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Paniagua Avila, Alejandra. No especifíca;Fil: Cardona, Sayra. No especifíca;Fil: Figueroa, Juan Carlos. No especifíca;Fil: Hernández Galdamez, Diego. No especifíca;Fil: Mansilla, Kristyne. No especifíca;Fil: Peralta García, Ana. No especifíca;Fil: Roche, Dina. No especifíca;Fil: Palacios, Eduardo Alberto. No especifíca;Fil: Glasgow, Russell E.. University of Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Gulayin, Pablo Elías. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Irazola, Vilma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública; ArgentinaFil: He, Jiang. University of Tulane; Estados UnidosFil: Ramirez Zea, Manuel. No especifíca

Characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus newly treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists (CHADIG Study): a cross-sectional multicentre study in Spain

Objective: Several glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1Ra) have been made recently available in Spain for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) treatment. There are no published data on the clinical and sociodemographic profile of patients initiating treatment with GLP-1Ra in Spain. Our objective was to understand these patients' characteristics in a real-world clinical practice setting. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: Spanish specialist outpatient clinics. Participants: 403 adults with DM2 initiating GLP-1Ra treatment were included. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Sociodemographic and DM2-related clinical data, including treatment at and after GLP-1Ra initiation and comorbidities, were collected. Results: Evaluable patients (n=403; 50.9% female) were included ( July 2013 to March 2014) at 24 centres by 53 specialists (47 endocrinology, 6 internal medicine), with the following profile (value±SD): age (58.3±10.4 years), diabetes duration (9.9±7 years), body mass index (BMI; 36.2±5.5) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c; 8.4±1.4%); 14% had HbA1c≤7%. Previous antidiabetic treatment: 53.8% only oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), 5.2% insulin and 40% insulin and OAD; of those receiving OAD, 35% single drug, 38.2% 2 drugs and 24% 3 drugs. Concomitant to GLP-1Ra, 55.3% were only on OAD, 36.2% on insulin and OAD, and 7.2% only on insulin. Of those receiving OAD, the GLP-1Ra was mainly associated with 1 drug (65%) or 2 drugs (31.8%). GLP-1Ra are frequently added to existing antidiabetic drugs, with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors being the OAD most frequently switched (45% receiving 1 before starting GLP-1Ra, only 2.7% receiving it concomitantly). Conclusions: In Spain, GLP-1Ra therapy is usually started in combination with OADs or OADs and insulin. These drugs are used in relatively young patients often not reaching therapeutic goals with other treatment combinations, roughly a decade after diagnosis and with a relatively high BMI. The latter could be explaine

Adquisición de competencias profesionales en los estudiantes del Grado de Trabajo Social. La argumentación y elaboración en el diagnóstico social a través de diferentes instrumentos

Se presentan los resultados obtenidos en el Proyecto Nº 21 Adquisición de competencias profesionales en los estudiantes del Grado de Trabajo Social. La argumentación y elaboración en el diagnóstico social a través de diferentes instrumentos, acerca de reforzar la argumentación en el alumnado del Grado de Trabajo Social a través de instrumentos, que refuercen su aprendizaje en la elaboración del diagnóstico social, donde se visualiza la calidad y eficacia de la intervención profesional