Evaluation of Joint Management of Pine Wood Waste and Residual Microalgae for Agricultural Application

[EN] This work addresses the joint management of residual microalgae and pine wood waste through pyrolysis to obtain a solid product for its use as soil amendment and two other by-products (liquid and gaseous) that can be used for energy purposes. Two management routes have been followed. The first route is through the co-pyrolysis of mixtures of both residual materials in several proportions and the later use of their solid fraction for soil amendment. The second route is the pyrolysis of pine wood waste and its direct combination with dried residual microalgae, also using it as soil amendment. The solid fraction assessment shows that from seven solid products (biochar) three stand out for their positive applicability in agriculture as soil amendment. In addition, they also present the benefit of serving as carbon sink, giving a negative balance of CO2 emissions. However, caution is suggested due to biochar applicability being subject to soil characteristics. To ensure the sustainability of the overall process, the energy available in liquid and gaseous fractions has been assessed for covering the drying needs of the residual microalgae in both cases. These results suggest that the pyrolysis process is a sustainable way to manage specific evaluated residues and their products.S

Parametrization of a Modified Friedman Kinetic Method to Assess Vine Wood Pyrolysis Using Thermogravimetric Analysis

[EN] Common kinetic parameters were obtained for leached and non-leached samples of vine wood biomass. Both samples were considered to have different proportions of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin compositions as a result of the leaching process. The two samples were analyzed in terms of pyrolysis kinetic parameters using non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, the classic Friedman isoconversional method, a deconvolution procedure using the Fraser–Suzuki function, and a modified Friedman method from a previous study on the delay in conversion degree were satisfactorily applied. The observed difference when the deconvolution technique was applied suggests that the classic Friedman method is not adequate for studying the pyrolysis of individual vine wood biomass components. However, this issue was solved by studying the delay in conversion degree of both biomasses and calculating the kinetic parameters using the resulting information. This procedure was found to be useful for studying and comparing the kinetics of heterogeneous biomasses and has a sound scientific explanation, making this research a basis for future similar studies.S

In vitro antimicrobial activity of total extracts of the leaves of Petiveria alliacea L. (Anamu)

The antimicrobial activity of 13 total extracts was evaluated, 10 soft extracts (B) and 3 blended extracts (E) prepared from dry and fresh leaves of Petiveria alliacea L. Various solvents were used for their preparation: hydroalcoholic solution at 30%, 80% and isopropyl alcohol. The antimicrobial effect of the extracts was tested by means of the method of Kirby-Bauer, using four bacterial strains from the ATCC collection (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a leveduriform fungus (Candida albicans). The following quality control parameters were determined for most active extracts: physical, physical-chemical and chemical parameters. The results were: nine extracts showed antibacterial activity, being the most concentrated (B8 and E3), the ones with the highest activity in the presence of the bacteria tested; the effect of blended extracts (E1, E2 and E3) was greater in the presence of P. aeruginosa. Blended extracts are considered more potent and active than soft extracts. No antifungal activity was obtained for both types of extracts. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined for both extracts, with the following results: MIC-soft extracts (>;100 mg/mL), blended extracts (>;50 mg/mL); MBC-soft extracts (≥400 mg/mL), blended extracts (≥200 mg/mL) based on fresh leaves.Avaliou-se a atividade antimicrobiana de 13 extratos totais, 10 brandos (B) e 3 batidos (E) elaborados a partir da folha seca e fresca da Petiveria alliacea L. Para sua preparação se empregaram vários solventes: solução hidroalcoólica 30%, 80% e álcool isopropílico. O efeito antimicrobiano dos extratos foi comprovado pelo método do Kirby-Bauer, usando para isso quatro cepas bacterianas da coleção ATCC (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis e Pseudomonas aeruginosa) e um fungo leveduriforme (Candida albicans). Determinaram-se parâmetros de controle da qualidade físicos, físico-químicos e químicos dos extratos mais ativos. Obtiveram-se como resultados: que 9 extratos mostraram atividade antibacteriana, sendo os mais concentrados (B8 e E3) os de maior espectro de ação frente às bactérias provadas; o efeito dos extratos batidos (E1, E2 e E3) foi maior frente a P. aeruginosa; os extratos batidos se consideram mais ativos que os brandos e não se obteve atividade antifúngica caso algum. Determinou-se a Concentração Mínima Inhibitoria e Bactericida para ambos os extratos, resultando a primeira para os extratos brandos maior a 100 mg/mL e para as batidos maior a 50 mg/mL; a segunda para os extratos brandos maior ou igual a 400 mg/mL e para as batidos maior ou igual a 200 mg/mL, em relação à droga fresca

Estudio tecnológico del extracto blando de las hojas de la Petiveria alliacea L

Se realizó un estudio tecnológico del extracto blando de las hojas de la Petiveria alliacea L., a través de la optimización del método de elaboración y la determinación de los parámetros de calidad en la zona del óptimo experimental. Para la optimización, se tuvieron en cuenta, los resultados de un trabajo investigativo previo; sobre esta base, se realizó un diseño univariado, en el que se fijaron a un cierto nivel los factores: volumen de menstruo para humectar (X2): 1,5 vol./g de peso; tiempo de maceración (X3): 48 h y temperatura de concentración del extracto (X4): 40 oC; en el caso del tiempo de humectación (X1): fue variado (6 y 8 h), hasta encontrar la mejor respuesta. Se realizaron dos experimentos con sus réplicas. Se tomó como variable respuesta los sólidos totales, según establece la Norma Ramal de Salud Pública (NRSP) 312. Los resultados se procesaron, utilizando el programa estadístico STATGRAPHICS (PLUS) versión 5.1 (2001). Para la determinación de los parámetros de calidad del extracto blando, se tuvieron en cuenta las características organolépticas, pH, densidad relativa y sólidos totales; según NRSP 312; además del tamizaje fitoquímico. Los resultados de la optimización, confirmaron, que siguiendo la dirección X1, X2 y X3 positivas y la X4 negativa, se encuentra el óptimo experimental en el experimento No. 1 (X1: 6 h; X2: 1,5 vol./g de peso; X3: 48 h y X4: 40 oC). Se informan los valores de los parámetros de calidad para el extracto blando optimizad

Inter-Rater Variability in the Evaluation of Lung Ultrasound in Videos Acquired from COVID-19 Patients

12 páginas, 7 figuras, 1 tablaLung ultrasound (LUS) allows for the detection of a series of manifestations of COVID-19, such as B-lines and consolidations. The objective of this work was to study the inter-rater reliability (IRR) when detecting signs associated with COVID-19 in the LUS, as well as the performance of the test in a longitudinal or transverse orientation. Thirty-three physicians with advanced experience in LUS independently evaluated ultrasound videos previously acquired using the ULTRACOV system on 20 patients with confirmed COVID-19. For each patient, 24 videos of 3 s were acquired (using 12 positions with the probe in longitudinal and transverse orientations). The physicians had no information about the patients or other previous evaluations. The score assigned to each acquisition followed the convention applied in previous studies. A substantial IRR was found in the cases of normal LUS (κ = 0.74), with only a fair IRR for the presence of individual B-lines (κ = 0.36) and for confluent B-lines occupying 50% (κ = 0.50). No statistically significant differences between the longitudinal and transverse scans were found. The IRR for LUS of COVID-19 patients may benefit from more standardized clinical protocols.This research was partially funded by CDTI (Spanish acronym: Centre for Industrial Tech- nological Development), funding number COI-20201153. Partially supported by the Google Cloud Research Credits program with the funding number GCP19980904, by the project RTI2018-099118- A-I00 founded by MCIU/AEI/FEDER UE and by the European Commission–NextGenerationEU, through CSIC’s Global Health Platform (PTI Salud Global)

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Modelación del secado neumático vortiginoso del bagazo de la caña de azúcar//Modulation of sugar cane bagasse pneumatic drying in a vortex

Tomando en consideración los estudios realizados sobre la modelación del movimiento vortiginoso de partículas de bagazo, se realizó el estudio del secado neumático de esta importante biomasa teniendo en cuenta la transferencia de calor y de masa. Se modeló el proceso de secado a través de las ecuacionesfundamentales que describen la cinética del mismo y se compararon los resultados obtenidos con resultados reportados en la literatura especializada sobre mediciones de la variación del contenido de humedad en otros tipos de secadores neumáticos de bagazo para iguales condiciones de operación. Esta modelación permitió realizar simulaciones de este proceso las cuales arrojaron resultados aceptables en cuanto a los valores de disminución del contenido de humedad del bagazo lo que permitirá continuar profundizando en el desarrollo de próximos estudios sobre el tema ya que se evidencia que por esta vía es posible disminuir las dimensiones de los secadores de bagazo.Palabras claves: secado neumático vortiginoso, secado de bagazo, modelación matemática.______________________________________________________________________________AbstractTaking in account the studies carried out about the vortex movement of bagasse particles, the study of pneumatic drying of this important biomass was carried out considering the heat and mass transfer. The drying process was modeled through the fundamentals equations which describe the kinetic of it and theobtained results were compared with results reported in the specialized literature on drying measurements in others kinds of bagasse pneumatics dryers under the same conditions of operation. This modulation permitted to made simulations of this process which produced acceptable results about the decrease humidity values of bagasse and it will permit to continue in the development of next studies about this topic because it is evident that it is possible to reduce bagasse dryer dimensions.Key words: pneumatic vortex drying, bagasse drying, mathematical modeling.</p

Efecto de la espiral normal en el movimiento vortiginoso con partículas de bagazo de caña//Effect of normal spiral in the vortex movement with small sugar cane bagasse particles

Debido a la importancia que adquiere cada vez más el bagazo de caña, se estudia el movimiento vortiginoso de sus partículas transportadas por un gas y se comparan los resultados obtenidos experimentalmente con los simulados mediante un modelo matemático. La formación de la espiral se clasificó de tres formas, obteniéndose la velocidad y caída de presión en cada caso a través de un diseño de experimentos factorial multinivel con una réplica. Como variable dependiente cualitativa se tomó la formación de la espiral normal y como variables independientes cuantitativas la velocidad del gas, el tamaño de partículas y la concentración de la mezcla, obteniéndose una correlación que ajustó con84.64%. Se determinó el tamaño de muestra para comparar los valores de velocidades del gas y caídas de presión obtenidos experimentalmente con los simulados, los resultados experimentales cumplen una distribución normal y el modelo simula el proceso con error aceptable ingenierilmente.Palabras claves: movimiento de vórtice, secado neumático de bagazo, modelo matemático.______________________________________________________________________________AbstractThe vortex movement of sugar cane bagasse carry by a gas is study and the results obtained in the laboratory are compared with the ones simulated through a mathematical model. The formation of the hairspring was classified in three ways, being obtained the speed and fall of pressure in each case througha design of multilevel factorial experiments with a replica. The formation of the normal hairspring was taken as qualitative dependent variable, and as quantitative independent variables, the gas speed, particles sizeand the mixture concentration were taken, being obtained a correlation that adjusted with 84.64%. The sample size was determined to compare the values of gas speed and the falls of pressure experimentally obtained with those obtained by the simulation, the experimental results complete a normal distribution andthe pattern simulates the process with acceptable engineering error.Key words: vortex movement, pneumatic bagasse drying, mathematical modelDebido a la importancia que adquiere cada vez más el bagazo de caña, se estudia el movimientovortiginoso de sus partículas transportadas por un gas y se comparan los resultados obtenidosexperimentalmente con los simulados mediante un modelo matemático. La formación de la espiral seclasificó de tres formas, obteniéndose la velocidad y caída de presión en cada caso a través de un diseñode experimentos factorial multinivel con una réplica. Como variable dependiente cualitativa se tomó laformación de la espiral normal y como variables independientes cuantitativas la velocidad del gas, eltamaño de partículas y la concentración de la mezcla, obteniéndose una correlación que ajustó con84.64%. Se determinó el tamaño de muestra para comparar los valores de velocidades del gas y caídasde presión obtenidos experimentalmente con los simulados, los resultados experimentales cumplen unadistribución normal y el modelo simula el proceso con error aceptable ingenierilmente.Palabras claves: movimiento de vórtice, secado neumático de bagazo, modelo matemático.AbstractThe vortex movement of sugar cane bagasse carry by a gas is study and the results obtained in thelaboratory are compared with the ones simulated through a mathematical model. The formation of thehairspring was classified in three ways, being obtained the speed and fall of pressure in each case througha design of multilevel factorial experiments with a replica. The formation of the normal hairspring was takenas qualitative dependent variable, and as quantitative independent variables, the gas speed, particles sizeand the mixture concentration were taken, being obtained a correlation that adjusted with 84.64%. Thesample size was determined to compare the values of gas speed and the falls of pressure experimentallyobtained with those obtained by the simulation, the experimental results complete a normal distribution andthe pattern simulates the process with acceptable engineering error.Key words: vortex movement, pneumatic bagasse drying, mathematical model</div