Non-woven polypropylene fabric modified with carbon nanotubes and decorated with nanoakaganeite for arsenite removal

Due to its harmful impact on human health, the presence of heavy metals, metalloids and other toxic pollutants in drinking or irrigation water is a major concern. Recent studies have proved that nanosized adsorbents are significantly more effective than their microsized counterparts. Particular attention has been given to nanocomposites with nanoadsorbents embedded in matrixes that could provide stability to the material and contribute to eliminating problems that may appear when using conventional granular systems. This study presents the preparation of a novel hybrid filter from a commercially available polypropylene (PP) non-woven fabric matrix modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and iron oxy(hydroxide) nanoparticles, and its use in the removal of As(III). A Box–Behnken statistical experimental design has been chosen to explore relevant variables affecting the filter performance: (1) As(III) concentration, (2) pH and (3) sorbent dose. From an As(III) concentration of 10 mg L−1, at pH 6.5 and with a sorbent dose of 5 g L−1, the PP filter modified with MWCNT removes 10% of the initial metalloid concentration, reaching a capacity of 0.27 mg g−1. After modification with iron oxy(hydroxide), the performance of the material is largely enhanced. The filter, under the same conditions, removes 90% of the initial As(III) concentration, reaching a capacity almost tenfold higher (2.54 mg g−1). This work demonstrates that the developed hybrid filter is effective toward the removal of As(III) in a wide range of pHs. A cubic regression model to compute the removal of the filter as a function of pH and sorbent dose is provided.acceptedVersio

Methodological-technological framework for construction 4.0

The construction industry has traditionally been characterised by the high diversity of its agents and processes, high resistance to change and low incorporation of technology compared to manufacturing industries. However, the construction sector is experiencing now a strong renovation process in methodology and tools due to the incorporation of the Building Information Modelling, Lean Construction and Integrated Project Delivery. Meanwhile, in production systems, “Industry 4.0” is a new paradigm that proposes automation, monitoring, sensorisation, robotisation, and digitalisation to improve production and distribution processes. In this context, some authors have proposed the concept of “Construction 4.0” as the counterpart of Industry 4.0 for the construction sector, although the methodological-technological implications are not clear. This research shows a methodological-technological framework adapted to the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations industry. This papers includes a detailed proposal for a reference frameworks and related technologies that could impact on this sector, responding to its complexities and specific challenges, such as the unique spaces for each work, which are difficult to standardise, arbitrary cost overruns and a productivity far below the average for other industries, increasing competitiveness and globalisation, as opposed to its traditionally local deployment, and an increasing demand to reduce the carbon footprint for all its activities

Multidisciplinary Acoustic Survey PELACUS0313: Preliminary Results on Fish Abundance Estimates and Distribution

The PELACUS 0313 survey was undertook this year on board R/V Miguel Oliver, an oceanographic research stern trawler vessel similar to R/V Thalassa. The survey was characterised by a very bad weather conditions during the first two weeks which did not allow working properly. Moreover, the weather conditions during the rest of survey were almost similar. As a consequence, most of the coastal pelagic fish community remained very close to the coast, thus not accessible to the pelagic gear samplers. (33% of the total acoustic energy – NASC- was unable to be properly allocated into fish species). Outside the coastal area (>90 m depth) main abundance fish species was mackerel with 380.000 tonnes, corresponding to 1.725 million fish. On the contrary, sardine distribution was scarce, and occurred in small schools (probably as a consequence of the bad weather condition), with only 3.343 tonnes corresponding to 54.0 million fish. Age group 2 was the most abundant, which confirms the high abundance found last year at age group 1 of the 2011 cohort

Quantifying the effect of Tmax extreme events on local adaptation to climate change of maize crop in Andalusia for the 21st century

Extreme events of Tmax can threaten maize production on Andalusia (Ruiz-Ramos et al., 2011). The objective of this work is to attempt a quantification of the effects of Tmax extreme events on the previously identified (Gabaldón et al., 2013) local adaptation strategies to climate change of irrigated maize crop in Andalusia for the first half of the 21st century

Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change for summer crops on Andalusia: evaluation for extreme maximum temperatures

Evaluate a set of agricultural adaptation strategies to cope with climate change impacts, with focus on the consequences of extreme events on the adaptations proposed in the semi-arid environment of Andalusia (Southern Spain)

A randomized phase II clinical trial of dendritic cell vaccination following complete resection of colon cancer liver metastasis

Surgically resectable synchronic and metachronic liver metastases of colon cancer have high risk of relapse in spite of standard-of-care neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy regimens. Dendritic cell vaccines loaded with autologous tumor lysates were tested for their potential to avoid or delay disease relapses (NCT01348256). Patients with surgically amenable liver metastasis of colon adenocarcinoma (n = 19) were included and underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Fifteen patients with disease-free resection margins were randomized 1:1 to receive two courses of four daily doses of dendritic cell intradermal vaccinations versus observation. The trial had been originally designed to include 56 patients but was curtailed due to budgetary restrictions. Follow-up of the patients indicates a clear tendency to fewer and later relapses in the vaccine arm (median disease free survival –DFS-) 25.26 months, 95% CI 8. 74-n.r) versus observation arm (median DFS 9.53 months, 95% CI 5.32–18.88)

Métodos para la identificación del antígeno de histocompatibilidad HLA-B27: comparación de cuatro protocolos técnicos

Introducción: La asociación del HLA-B27 y las Espondiloartritis, ha hecho evidente que la tipificación del HLA-B27 sea considerada como un apoyo en el diagnóstico de estas enfermedades. Los métodos más empleados para la determinación del antígeno HLA-B27 en los laboratorios clínicos y en investigación son: la microlinfocitotoxicidad (MCTX), la citometría de flujo digital (CMFd), la citometría de flujo análoga (CMFa) y la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con primers de secuencia específicos (PCR-SSP).Objetivo: Comparar MCTX con la CMFd, la CMFa con la CMFd, y la técnica de CMFd frente a PCR-SSP.Métodos para la identificación del antígeno de histocompatibilidad hla-b27 Métodos: Se analizaron 4109 solicitudes de HLA-B27 en población con manifestaciones sugestivas de EAS remitidas entre 2009 y 2012 al Hospital Militar Central y al Instituto de Referencia Andino. Se evaluaron las frecuencias obtenidas por Chi cuadrado (X2); para estimar la concordancia metodológica se utilizó el Coeficiente de Correlación Intraclase (CCI). Los análisis se realizaron con el paquete estadístico SPSS V18.Resultados: Al evaluar 467 datos por la técnica de CMFa frente a PCR-SSP, la CMFa mostró 239 resultados entre positivos y en rango indeterminado, de los cuales, luego de ser confirmados PCRSSP, solo 213 demostraron la expresión de HLA-B27 (p<0.05). Se obtuvieron 208 resultados realizados por CMFd y PCR-SSP simultáneamente, observándose una alta correspondencia entre estas técnicas (p<0.05). Para evaluar la concordancia entre la MCTX y CMFd se analizaron 34 datos,revelando un 100% de correspondencia entre esta dos metodologías CCI=1,p<0.05).Conclusión: La citometría de flujo digital es un método rápido que presenta un desempeño altamente confiable para la identificación de HLA-B27, resultados que se recomiendan confirmar por PCR SSP

Tuberculosis incidence in foreign-born people residing in European countries in 2020.

BackgroundEuropean-specific policies for tuberculosis (TB) elimination require identification of key populations that benefit from TB screening.AimWe aimed to identify groups of foreign-born individuals residing in European countries that benefit most from targeted TB prevention screening.MethodsThe Tuberculosis Network European Trials group collected, by cross-sectional survey, numbers of foreign-born TB patients residing in European Union (EU) countries, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK) in 2020 from the 10 highest ranked countries of origin in terms of TB cases in each country of residence. Tuberculosis incidence rates (IRs) in countries of residence were compared with countries of origin.ResultsData on 9,116 foreign-born TB patients in 30 countries of residence were collected. Main countries of origin were Eritrea, India, Pakistan, Morocco, Romania and Somalia. Tuberculosis IRs were highest in patients of Eritrean and Somali origin in Greece and Malta (both > 1,000/100,000) and lowest among Ukrainian patients in Poland (3.6/100,000). They were mainly lower in countries of residence than countries of origin. However, IRs among Eritreans and Somalis in Greece and Malta were five times higher than in Eritrea and Somalia. Similarly, IRs among Eritreans in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK were four times higher than in Eritrea.ConclusionsCountry of origin TB IR is an insufficient indicator when targeting foreign-born populations for active case finding or TB prevention policies in the countries covered here. Elimination strategies should be informed by regularly collected country-specific data to address rapidly changing epidemiology and associated risks