Co-digestion of two-phase olive-mill waste and cattle manure: Influence of solids content on process performance

The solids content is a key parameter in the development of anaerobic digestion as it can determine the proper operation and performance of the process. The influence of the total solids content on the mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion of two-phase olive-mill waste (2POMW) and cattle manure (CM) was investigated. Four different total solids (TS) concentrations, in a 75:25 mixture of 2POMW:CM, were studied in batch reactors of 2 L capacity: 10%TS (R10), 15%TS (R15), 20%TS (R20) and 28.6%TS (Reactor non-diluted). The methane yields and the organic matter removal efficiency for the reactor with 10 and 15% TS were significantly higher than in the reactors with a higher solids content (R20 and Rnd). The hydrolytic and acidogenic phases were not adversely affected by the total solid content since the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) increased as TS per- centage increased. However, a clear effect on the methanogenic phase was observed, which led to the accu- mulation of VFAs in the reactors R15, R20 and Rnd. Experimental results have shown that the best conditions correspond to the reactor containing 10% TS. The volatile solids and VFA removal in reactor R10 were 57.5% and 93.7% respectively. Moreover, the methane yield and the specific methane production were 35.80 LCH4/ kgVSadded and 82.51 LCH4/kgVSremoved respectivelyThis research has been co-financed by the 2014-2020 ERDF Operational Programme and by the Department of Economic Transformation, Industry, Knowledge and University of the Regional Government of Andalusia. Project reference: FEDER-UCA18-107460

Chronological classification of ancient mortars employing spectroscopy and spectrometry techniques : Sagunto (Valencia, Spain) case

Forty-two mortar samples, from two archaeological excavations located in Sagunto (Valencian Community, Spain), were analysed by both portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pED-XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine major and minor elements, and traces including rare earth elements (REE). Collected data were crossed with those previously obtained from Sagunto Castle mortars and principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to discriminate the construction phases of the unearthed buildings. REE permitted to ascribe most of the masonries to the Roman Imperial period. Moreover, a statistical model was built by employing partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) in order to classify the mortars from Roman Imperial period and from Islamic period, due to the problematic overlapping between these two phases. Results confirmed the effectiveness of the developed indirect chronology method, based on REE data, to discriminate among historic mortars from different construction periods on a wide scale including different Sagunto archaeological sites

Start-up of the mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion of two-phase olive-mill waste and cattle manure using volatile fatty acids as process control parameter

In this work, the start-up and stabilization stages of mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion of 2POMW and CM in a semi-continuously fed stirred tank reactor (SSTR) were analyzed. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were monitored and used as the main control parameter for the start-up and stabilization stages, as well as to evaluate the potential inhibition episodes. The results showed that accumulation of propionic acid was the key factor in the inhibition of the methanogenic phase, leading to process imbalance. To avoid the problems associated with inhibition by high VFA concentrations, several reinoculations were performed using a suitable inoculum adapted to VFA degradation. The start-up phase was carried out in batch conditions for 97 days, reaching a final concentration of propionic acid of 12.77 mg/L. From that moment, the reactor was fed in a semi-continuous mode with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 40 days. A total period of 140 days was required to achieve a stable performance of the reactor with a methane productivity of 0.34 LCH4/LRd

Chemical characterisation of historic mortars to evaluate decay and construction phases

The chemical characterization of ancient mortars allowed the researchers to answer relevant questions about production technologies, raw materials supply, construction phases and state of decay. In this work one hundred and sixteen samples were collected from different structures during two archaeological excavations carried out in Sagunto’s city centre (Valencia, Spain). The studied area has been interested by several continuous phases of occupation since the Iberian Epoch (5th century BC) to the present times [1,2]. The samples were analysed employing X-ray fluorescence and Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to determine major and trace elements. The obtained data was statistically processed with Sagunto’s Castle mortar results [3], allowing us to identify the construction phases of most of the wall structures, confirming the particular effectiveness of Rare Earth Elements analysis to distinguish mortars from different periods. In conclusion, according to this data, the state of conservation of the different mortars has been evaluated. [1] Ripollés, Opulentissima Saguntum (2004) 165. [2] Monserrat, Arse 41 (2007) 231. [3] Gallello et al., Microchem. J. 132 (2017) 251

Evaluación de la sustentabilidad del turismo en Áreas Naturales Protegidas: propuesta de un modelo para el Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto

Sustainable development is a process that needs to be monitored and evaluated through indicators and indexes, its selection and application depends on the objective of the research, as well as the study area. In Mexico, the Natural Protected Areas (NPA) represent one of the main destinations for ecotourism activities, an example is Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto (PNBL). The application of management policies and regulations in the NPA requires updated information about the sustainable status of the system. In this sense, one of the aims of this study was to conduct a review of the systems of indicators and indexes that have been proposed to evaluate the sustainability of tourism in NPA. As a second goal, a model is proposed to evaluate the sustainability of tourism in the PNBL, composed of two indexes. The first one based on a multivariate statistical analysis to evaluate the destination's tendency towards the reach of sustainability within a time period; four dimensions were selected: socioeconomic, tourist, environmental and technological. The second index focuses on perceptions based on the community residents’ perceptions, tourist companies and tourists; the indicators were classified in social and environmental dimension. The proposed model will evaluate the sustainability of an NPA with tourist use in a new and integral method, considering all the components involved in the goals of sustainable tourism. Both objective and subjective indicators application offer an advantage over other indexes, since it considers the opinion of the sectors involved in addition to the hard data generated through monitoring and censuses. The indexes proposed here will allow identifying problems or risks, as well as redefining and creating new targets for the PNBL Management Program.El desarrollo sustentable es un proceso que requiere ser monitoreado y evaluado a través de indicadores e índices, su selección y aplicación depende del objetivo de la investigación, así como del área de estudio. En México, las Áreas Naturales Protegidas (ANP) representan uno de los principales destinos para realizar actividades de ecoturismo, un ejemplo es el Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto (PNBL). La aplicación de políticas y regulaciones de manejo en las ANP requieren de información actualizada sobre el estado de sustentabilidad del sistema. En este sentido, uno de los objetivos del presente estudio fue realizar una revisión de los sistemas de indicadores e índices que se han propuesto para evaluar la sustentabilidad del turismo en ANP. Como segundo objetivo se propone un modelo para evaluar la sustentabilidad del turismo en el PNBL, compuesto por dos índices. El primero basado en un análisis estadístico multivariado que permite evaluar la tendencia del destino hacia el alcance de la sustentabilidad dentro de un periodo de tiempo; el cual consiste en cuatro dimensiones: socioeconómica, turística, ambiental y tecnológica. El segundo índice es de percepción y se basa en la opinión de la comunidad residente, empresas turísticas y de los turistas; los indicadores se clasificaron en la dimensión social y ambiental. El modelo propuesto permitirá evaluar de manera novedosa e integral la sustentabilidad de un ANP con uso turístico, considerando todos los componentes involucrados en los objetivos del turismo sustentable. La aplicación de indicadores, tanto objetivos como subjetivos, ofrece una ventaja respecto a otros índices, ya que considera la opinión de los sectores involucrados además de los datos duros generados a través de monitoreos y censos. Los índices aquí propuestos permitirán identificar problemas o riesgos, así como redefinir y crear nuevos objetivos para el Programa de Manejo del PNBL

Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia after Bariatric Surgery: Diagnosis and Management Experience from a Spanish Multicenter Registry

Background: Severe postprandial hypoglycemia after bariatric surgery is a rare but invalidating complication. Our aim was to describe the different tests performed for its diagnosis and their outcomes as well as the response to the prescribed pharmacological and surgical treatments. Methods: Multicenter, retrospective systematic review of cases with recurrent severe postprandial hypoglycemia. Results: Over 11 years of follow-up, 22 patients were identified. The test most used to provoke hypoglycemia was the oral glucose load test followed by the mixed meal test which was the least standardized test. With pharmacological treatment, 3 patients were symptom-free (with octreotide) and in 12 patients hypoglycemic episodes were attenuated. Seven patients had persistent hypoglycemic episodes and underwent surgery. Partial pancreatectomy was performed in 3 patients who had positive selective arterial calcium stimulation, and nesidioblastosis was confirmed in 2 patients. Reconversion to normal anatomy was performed in 3 patients, and 1 patient underwent a resection of the 'candy cane' roux limb, with resolution of hypoglycemia in all cases. Conclusions: There is high heterogeneity in the evaluation and treatment options for postoperative hypoglycemia. In patients that do not respond to pharmacological treatment, reconstruction of gastrojejunal continuity may be the safest and most successful procedure

"Chem-game", el juego como estrategia para la dinamización del aprendizaje y la evaluación de conocimientos en Química General

Este proyecto pretende aplicar la "gamificación" en la enseñanza de la asignatura de Química General de primer curso del grado en Química para fomentar la formación, creatividad, compromiso y la capacidad de trabajo en equipo de los estudiantes

IFNAR2 relevance in the clinical outcome of individuals with severe COVID-19

Interferons (IFNs) are a group of cytokines with antiviral, antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, and immunomodulatory activities. Type I IFNs amplify and propagate the antiviral response by interacting with their receptors, IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. In COVID-19, the IFNAR2 (interferon alpha and beta receptor subunit 2) gene has been associated with the severity of the disease, but the soluble receptor (sIFNAR2) levels have not been investigated. We aimed to evaluate the association of IFNAR2 variants (rs2236757, rs1051393, rs3153, rs2834158, and rs2229207) with COVID-19 mortality and to assess if there was a relation between the genetic variants and/or the clinical outcome, with the levels of sIFNAR2 in plasma samples from hospitalized individuals with severe COVID-19. We included 1,202 subjects with severe COVID-19. The genetic variants were determined by employing Taqman® assays. The levels of sIFNAR2 were determined with ELISA in plasma samples from a subgroup of 351 individuals. The rs2236757, rs3153, rs1051393, and rs2834158 variants were associated with mortality risk among patients with severe COVID-19. Higher levels of sIFNAR2 were observed in survivors of COVID-19 compared to the group of non-survivors, which was not related to the studied IFNAR2 genetic variants. IFNAR2, both gene, and soluble protein, are relevant in the clinical outcome of patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19

Comparison of seven prognostic tools to identify low-risk pulmonary embolism in patients aged <50 years

publishersversionPeer reviewe

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation