Implementación de un sistema de gestión de la energía basado en ISO 50001 en una PYME

El siguiente trabajo tiene por objetivo demostrar brevemente las características en implementar un Sistema de Gestión de la Energía ("SGEn") basado en la norma ISO 50001:2011 en una PyME manufacturera de heladeras comerciales en Rosario, Argentina. El proceso comenzó hacia inicios del 2017 con la aplicación de las secciones de la norma, su inclusión con ISO 9001 y, fundamentalmente, la incorporación en los hábitos de la planta. Integrando ambas normas se elaboró el Sistema Integrado de Gestión ("SIG"), el cual permitió llevar adelante actividades para el monitoreo de la calidad y a su vez la aplicación de medidas de uso racional de la energía y eficiencia energética, por mencionar los más destacados. En el aspecto técnico, se ejecutaron inversiones de casi nula y baja escala, figurando en ellas necesidades del SIG y de la empresa. Entre los resultados más destacados, se tiene que las mejoras en el desempeño energético en el año 2019 fueron del 10% y 2% de electricidad y de GLP respectivamente; por otro lado, las sensibilizaciones y capacitaciones hacia el personal de todas las jerarquías permitió la visibilidad de temas referidos a la sustentabilidad ambiental de la industria y el impacto de cada uno en la misma.The following work aims to briefly demonstrate the main characteristics about the implementation of an Energy Management System (EnMS) on an SME based on the ISO 50001 standard. This SME manufactures commercial refrigerators in Rosario, Argentina. The whole process began towards the beginning of 2017 with the gradual application of all the sections of this standard, its inclusion con the ISO 9001:2015 standard, and, fundamentally, the incorporation of the different methods and habits in the plant. Integrating both standards, the Integrated Management System (IMS) was developed, which allowed both activities to be carried out in for quality monitoring and the application both of rational use of energy and energy efficiency measures, among the most relevant ones. On the technical side, near-zero and low-scale investments were implemented, both comprehending IMS and EnMS needs. Among the most outstanding results, is has been that energy performance improvements in 2019 were 10% and 2% of electricity and LPG, respectively; on the other hand, awareness-raising and training towards staff from all hierarchies allowed the visibility of issues related to environmental sustainability of this industry and the impact of each member on it.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Prediction of seizure recurrence risk following discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs

OBJECTIVE: Discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in seizure‐free patients is an important goal because of possible long‐term side effects and the social stigma burden of epilepsy. The purpose of this work was to assess seizure recurrence risk after suspension of AEDs, to evaluate predictors for recurrence, and to investigate the recovery of seizure control after relapse. In addition, the accuracy of a previously published prediction model of seizure recurrence risk was estimated. METHODS: Seizure‐free patients with epilepsy who had discontinued AEDs were retrospectively enrolled. The frequency of seizure relapses after AED withdrawal as well as prognosis after recurrence were assessed and the predictive role of baseline clinical‐demographic variables was evaluated. The aforementioned prediction model was also validated and its accuracy assessed at different seizure‐relapse probability levels. RESULTS: The enrolled patients (n = 133) had been followed for a median of 3 years (range 0.8–33 years) after AED discontinuation; 60 (45%) of them relapsed. Previous febrile seizures in childhood (hazard ratio [HR] 3.927; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.403–10.988), a seizure‐free period on therapy of less than 2 years (HR 2.313; 95% CI 1.193–4.486), and persistent motor deficits (HR 4.568; 95% CI 1.412–14.772) were the clinical features associated with relapse risk in univariate analysis. Among these variables, only a seizure‐free period on therapy of less than 2 years was associated with seizure recurrence in multivariate analysis (HR 2.365; 95% CI 1.178–4.7444). Pharmacological control of epilepsy was restored in 82.4% of the patients who relapsed. In this population, the aforementioned prediction model showed an unsatisfactory accuracy. SIGNIFICANCE: A period of freedom from seizure on therapy of less than 2 years was the main predictor of seizure recurrence. The accuracy of the previously described prediction tool was low in this cohort, thus suggesting its cautious use in real‐world clinical practice