A performance evaluation of MM5/MNEQA/CMAQ air quality modelling system to forecast ozone concentrations in Catalonia

We examine the ability of a modelling system to forecast the formation and transport of ozoneover Catalonia, at the NE of the Iberian Peninsula. To this end, the Community MultiscaleAir Quality (CMAQ) modelling system developed by the United States Environmental ProtectionAgency (US EPA) and the PSU/NCAR mesoscale modelling system MM5 are coupled to a newemission model, the Numerical Emission Model for Air Quality (MNEQA). The outputs of themodelling system for the period from May to October 2008 are compared with ozone measure-ments at selected air-monitoring stations belonging to the Catalan Government. Results indicatea good behaviour of the model in reproducing diurnal ozone concentrations, as statistical valuesfall within the EPA and EU regulatory frameworks

Preparation of palladium-supported periodic mesoporous organosilicas and their use as catalysts in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction

Three periodic mesoporous materials, i.e., two organosilicas with either ethylene or phenylene bridges and one silica, have been used as supports for Pd nanoparticles. All Pd-supported samples (1.0 wt%) were prepared by the incipient wetness method and subsequently reduced in an H2 stream at 200 °C. Both hydrogen chemisorption and temperature programmed reduction experiments revealed significant differences depending on the support. Pd2+ species were more reducible on the mesoporous organosilicas than on their silica counterpart. Also, remarkable differences on the particle morphology were observed by transmission electron microscopy. All Pd-supported samples were active in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between bromobenzene and phenylboronic acid

Preparation and characterisation of calcined Mg/Al hydrotalcites impregnated with alkaline nitrate and their activities in the combustion of particulate matter

The effect of incorporating alkaline nitrates in hydrotalcites for use in the combustion of particulate matter from diesel emissions has been studied. The catalysts were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis (EA), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Activity measurements were carried out using a thermobalance in air and using a fixed-bed reactor with a NO/O2 flow. The observed activities decreased in the following order: HTMgAlcCs>HTMgAlcK>HTMgAlcLi>HTMgAlc.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicada

Consensus document on the progression and treatment response criteria in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Purpose Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous group of low incidence neoplasms characterized by a low proliferative activity and slow growth. Their response to targeted therapies is heterogeneous and often does not lead to tumor shrinkage. Thus, evaluation of the therapeutic response should difer from other kind of tumors. Methods To answer relevant questions about which techniques are best in the assessment of progression or treatment response a RAND/UCLA-based consensus process was implemented. Relevant clinical questions were listed followed by a systematic search of the literature. The expert panel answered all questions with recommendations, combining available evidence and expert opinion. Recommendations were validated through a questionnaire and a participatory meeting. Results Expert recommendations regarding imaging tools for tumor assessment and evaluation of progression were agreed upon. Available imaging techniques were reviewed and recommendations for best patient monitoring practice and the best way to evaluate treatment response were formulated

Pd-Ir alloy as an anode material for borohydride oxidation

A Pd-Ir alloy (1:1) coated on microfibrous carbon (11 μm diameter) supported on a titanium plate was evaluated as an electrode for the anodic oxidation of borohydride. The hydrogen generated, due to the parallel reaction of borohydride hydrolysis, was measured during the electrolysis obtaining less than 0.1 cm 3 min -1 H 2 between -1 and 0 V vs. Hg/HgO (-0.86 and 0.14 V vs. SHE), while the current densities for the oxidation of borohydride were up to 367 mA cm -2 in 0.5 mol dm -3 NaBH 4 + 3 mol dm -3 NaOH. The low rate of hydrogen generation suggests that Pd-Ir could be a promising catalyst for borohydride oxidation. However, higher rates of hydrogen were generated at the open circuit potential, which is inconvenient in the direct borohydride fuel cell. Cyclic voltammetry allowed analysis of the oxidation peaks due to the borohydride oxidation. To obtain a further understanding of the borohydride oxidation mechanism at Pd-Ir electrodes, density functional theory (DFT) was used to examine the reaction mechanism at Pd 2 -Ir 1 (111) and Pd 2 -Ir 2 (111) surfaces. The competition between borohydride oxidation and hydrogen evolution on the Pd-Ir alloys is compared with that on pure Pd(111), suggesting that the presence of Ir favors borohydride oxidation rather than hydrogen evolution. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Preparation and characterisation of calcined Mg/Al hydrotalcites impregnated with alkaline nitrate and their activities in the combustion of particulate matter

The effect of incorporating alkaline nitrates in hydrotalcites for use in the combustion of particulate matter from diesel emissions has been studied. The catalysts were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis (EA), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Activity measurements were carried out using a thermobalance in air and using a fixed-bed reactor with a NO/O2 flow. The observed activities decreased in the following order: HTMgAlcCs>HTMgAlcK>HTMgAlcLi>HTMgAlc.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicada

Disease severity in familial cases of IBD

Background: Phenotypic traits of familial IBD relative to sporadic cases are controversial, probably related to limited statistical power of published evidence. Aim: To know if there are phenotype differences between familial and sporadic IBD, evaluating the prospective Spanish registry (ENEIDA) with 11,983 cases. Methods: 5783 patients (48.3%) had ulcerative colitis (UC) and 6200 (51.7%) Crohn's disease (CD). Cases with one or more 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree relatives affected by UC/CD were defined as familial case. Results: In UC and CD, familial cases compared with sporadic cases had an earlier disease onset (UC: 33 years [IQR 25–44] vs 37 years [IQR 27–49]; p b 0.0001); (CD: 27 years [IQR 21–35] vs 29 years [IQR 22–40]; p b 0.0001), higher prevalence of extraintestinal immune-related manifestations (EIMs) (UC: 17.2% vs 14%; p = 0.04); (CD: 30.1% vs 23.6%; p b 0.0001). Familial CD had higher percentage of ileocolic location (42.7% vs 51.8%; p = 0.0001), penetrating behavior (21% vs 17.6%; p = 0.01) and perianal disease (32% vs 27.1%; p = 0.003). Differences are not influenced by degree of consanguinity. Conclusion: When a sufficiently powered cohort is evaluated, familial aggregation in IBD is associated to an earlier disease onset, more EIMs and more severe phenotype in CD. This feature should be taken into account at establishing predictors of disease course

Evaluación de la influencia del uso de antiagregantes plaquetarios orales en el valor de la razón normalizada internacional (INR)

Introducción: La razón normalizada internacional (INR) expresa el resultado de la determinación del tiempo de protrombina. Por tanto, ofrece el resultado del control de la anticoagulación que se debe practicar a todos los pacientes anticoagulados. Objetivo: El objetivo del trabajo es evaluar la infl uencia del uso de antiagregantes plaquetarios orales en el valor de la INR en los pacientes con algún factor de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV). Métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal. El estudio se realizó durante el mes de febrero de 2009. Se identificaron dos grupos de pacientes: los que tomaban antiagregantes y los que no. La determinación de la INR se realizó mediante coagulómetro Coagucheck® XS. Resultados: Se incluyeron 41 pacientes, de los que 18 utilizaban antiagregantes orales (un 44,44% eran mujeres), con una media de edad de 75,33 años. Los antiagregantes utilizados fueron: ácido acetilsalicílico (77,77%), clopidogrel (16,66%) y triflusal (5,55%). El valor medio ± desviación estándar de la INR fue de 1,067 ± 0,076. Se identificó a 23 pacientes que no tomaban antiagregantes, con una media de edad de 67,08 años (un 65,21% eran mujeres). El valor medio de la INR fue de 1,009 ± 0,120. Discusión: El valor de la INR no presentó diferencias significativas entre grupos (p= 0,083). Por tanto, el uso de antiagregantes orales en los pacientes con algún FRCV, que fueron objeto de este estudio, no infl uyó en el valor de la INR del paciente con respecto a los pacientes del mismo grupo de población que no utilizaban antiagregantes orales

Evaluación de la influencia del uso de antiagregantes plaquetarios orales en el valor de la razón normalizada internacional (INR)

Introducción: La razón normalizada internacional (INR) expresa el resultado de la determinación del tiempo de protrombina. Por tanto, ofrece el resultado del control de la anticoagulación que se debe practicar a todos los pacientes anticoagulados. Objetivo: El objetivo del trabajo es evaluar la infl uencia del uso de antiagregantes plaquetarios orales en el valor de la INR en los pacientes con algún factor de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV). Métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal. El estudio se realizó durante el mes de febrero de 2009. Se identificaron dos grupos de pacientes: los que tomaban antiagregantes y los que no. La determinación de la INR se realizó mediante coagulómetro Coagucheck® XS. Resultados: Se incluyeron 41 pacientes, de los que 18 utilizaban antiagregantes orales (un 44,44% eran mujeres), con una media de edad de 75,33 años. Los antiagregantes utilizados fueron: ácido acetilsalicílico (77,77%), clopidogrel (16,66%) y triflusal (5,55%). El valor medio ± desviación estándar de la INR fue de 1,067 ± 0,076. Se identificó a 23 pacientes que no tomaban antiagregantes, con una media de edad de 67,08 años (un 65,21% eran mujeres). El valor medio de la INR fue de 1,009 ± 0,120. Discusión: El valor de la INR no presentó diferencias significativas entre grupos (p= 0,083). Por tanto, el uso de antiagregantes orales en los pacientes con algún FRCV, que fueron objeto de este estudio, no infl uyó en el valor de la INR del paciente con respecto a los pacientes del mismo grupo de población que no utilizaban antiagregantes orales

Response of ceramic microbial fuel cells to direct anodic airflow and novel hydrogel cathodes

© 2019 The Authors The presence of air in the anode chamber of microbial fuel cells (MFCs)might be unavoidable in some applications. This study purposely exposed the anodic biofilm to air for sustained cycles using ceramic cylindrical MFCs. A method for improving oxygen uptake at the cathode by utilising hydrogel was also trialled. MFCs only dropped by 2 mV in response to the influx of air. At higher air-flow rates (up to 1.1 L/h)after 43–45 h, power did eventually decrease because chemical oxygen demand (COD)was being consumed (up to 96% reduction), but recovered immediately with fresh feedstock, highlighting no permanent damage to the biofilm. Two months after the application of hydrogel to the cathode chamber, MFC power increased 182%, due to better contact between cathode and ceramic surface. The results suggest a novel way of improving MFC performance using hydrogels, and demonstrates the robustness of the electro-active biofilm both during and following exposure to air