Desempenho do tratamento de esgoto com tanque séptico, filtro anaeróbico e wetland construído com Typha spp

The study reports the performance of a sanitary effluent treatment constituted by a septic tank, anaerobic filter and constructed wetland. The study monitored nutrient’s, carbonaceous material’s and thermotolerant coliform’s (CT) removal efficiency during 12 months. The treatment system included a septic tank, an anaerobic filter and a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland cultivated with Typha spp. Effluent samples were monthly collected before and after the septic tank, anaerobic filter and wetland. The removal efficiency for N-NH+4 was 37.6%, 66.3% for total P, 37% for COD, 54% for BOD and 99.4% for CT. The anaerobic filter and wetland were more efficient than the septic tank. P-total reduction was higher in the constructed wetland than in the anaerobic filter. Climatic conditions influenced the evaluated constituent’s removal being the highest values during hot monthsO objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o desempenho do tratamento do esgoto sanitário, no que se refere à remoção de nutrientes, material carbonáceo e coliformes termotolerantes, durante 12 meses de monitoramento. O sistema de tratamento era composto por um tanque séptico, filtro anaeróbio e wetland construído com escoamento horizontal subsuperficial cultivado com Typha spp. As amostras do efluente foram coletadas mensalmente antes e após passar pelo tanque séptico, filtro anaeróbio e wetland. A partir das análises realizadas, notou-se que a eficiência do sistema na remoção para N-NH+4 foi de 37,6%; 66,3% para P-total; 37% para DQO; 54% para DBO e 99,4% para coliformes termotolerante. Em relação ao desempenho das fases, foi constatado que o filtro anaeróbio e o leito cultivado foram mais eficientes na redução do que o tanque séptico. A redução de P-total foi mais acentuada no wetland construído do que no filtro anaeróbio. A remoção dos constituintes investigados foi influenciada pela condição climática, sendo os maiores valores observados no período de verão e os menores no período de invernoinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diversity and ethics in trauma and acute care surgery teams: results from an international survey

Background Investigating the context of trauma and acute care surgery, the article aims at understanding the factors that can enhance some ethical aspects, namely the importance of patient consent, the perceptiveness of the ethical role of the trauma leader, and the perceived importance of ethics as an educational subject. Methods The article employs an international questionnaire promoted by the World Society of Emergency Surgery. Results Through the analysis of 402 fully filled questionnaires by surgeons from 72 different countries, the three main ethical topics are investigated through the lens of gender, membership of an academic or non-academic institution, an official trauma team, and a diverse group. In general terms, results highlight greater attention paid by surgeons belonging to academic institutions, official trauma teams, and diverse groups. Conclusions Our results underline that some organizational factors (e.g., the fact that the team belongs to a university context or is more diverse) might lead to the development of a higher sensibility on ethical matters. Embracing cultural diversity forces trauma teams to deal with different mindsets. Organizations should, therefore, consider those elements in defining their organizational procedures. Level of evidence Trauma and acute care teams work under tremendous pressure and complex circumstances, with their members needing to make ethical decisions quickly. The international survey allowed to shed light on how team assembly decisions might represent an opportunity to coordinate team member actions and increase performance

Valorização de resíduos agro-industriais para a produção biológica de hidrogénio

Mestrado em Engenharia do Ambiente - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaBiohydrogen (bioH2) production through anaerobic fermentation has the advantage of the possibility to use waste as substrate becoming an attractive alternative from both economic and environmental viewpoint. In this study, it was developed a microbiological anaerobic process to produce hydrogen by a strain of bacterium Enterobacter aerogenes using as a substrate, Jatropha curcas seed cake. In this context, the effects of the application of a thermal pretreatment and the increase of residue initial concentration on the process yields were studied. Therefore, batch assays were performed using Jatropha curcas seed cake (2,5gVSsubstrate/Lfermentation medium) submitted to thermal treatment in an autoclave during 15 and 30 minutes and the results obtained were compared with the same when the substrate was added without pretreatment. The best results were obtained in absence of pretreatment (68,2mLH2/gVSsubstrate; 169mLH2/Lfermentation medium), while the 30 minutes exposure time at 121°C led to lower yields (60,0mLH2/gVSsubstrate; 149mLH2/Lfermentation medium), indicating inhibitory effects caused by the application of pretreatment. In the best established conditions, it was verified that the increase of the Jatropha curcas seed cake initial concentration from 2,5 to 10gVSsubstrate/Lfermentation medium led to a increase of bioH2 production volume of about 32%, although it was followed by a specific yield decrease from 68,2 to 23,5mLH2/gVSsubstrate. On the other hand, bioH2 production rate increased from 0,7 to 1mLH2/h

Surgeons' perspectives on artificial intelligence to support clinical decision-making in trauma and emergency contexts: results from an international survey

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining traction in medicine and surgery. AI-based applications can offer tools to examine high-volume data to inform predictive analytics that supports complex decision-making processes. Time-sensitive trauma and emergency contexts are often challenging. The study aims to investigate trauma and emergency surgeons' knowledge and perception of using AI-based tools in clinical decision-making processes. Methods: An online survey grounded on literature regarding AI-enabled surgical decision-making aids was created by a multidisciplinary committee and endorsed by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). The survey was advertised to 917 WSES members through the society's website and Twitter profile. Results: 650 surgeons from 71 countries in five continents participated in the survey. Results depict the presence of technology enthusiasts and skeptics and surgeons' preference toward more classical decision-making aids like clinical guidelines, traditional training, and the support of their multidisciplinary colleagues. A lack of knowledge about several AI-related aspects emerges and is associated with mistrust. Discussion: The trauma and emergency surgical community is divided into those who firmly believe in the potential of AI and those who do not understand or trust AI-enabled surgical decision-making aids. Academic societies and surgical training programs should promote a foundational, working knowledge of clinical AI