Stripe formation in horizontally oscillating granular suspensions

We present the results of an experimental study of pattern formation in horizontally oscillating granular suspensions. Starting from a homogeneous state, the suspension turns into a striped pattern within a specific range of frequencies and amplitudes of oscillation. We observe an initial development of layered structures perpendicular to the vibration direction and a gradual coarsening of the stripes. However, both processes gradually slow down and eventually saturate. The probability distribution of the stripe width approaches a nonmonotonic steady-state form which can be approximated by a Poisson distribution. We observe similar structures in MD simulations of soft spherical particles coupled to the motion of the surrounding fluid.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Europhys. Lett. (2014

Fractionation of proteins and carbohydrates from crude microalgae extracts using an ionic liquid based-aqueous two phase system

publishedVersionPaid Open Acces

Detection of pollution transport events southeast of Mexico City using ground-based visible spectroscopy measurements of nitrogen dioxide

This work presents ground based differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) during the MILAGRO field campaign in March 2006 at the Tenango del Aire research site located to the southeast of Mexico City. The DOAS NO<sub>2</sub> column density measurements are used in conjunction with ceilometer, meteorological and surface nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen oxides (NO<sub>x</sub>) and total reactive nitrogen (NO<sub>y</sub>) measurements to analyze pollution transport events to the southeast of Mexico City during the MILARGO field campaign. The study divides the data set into three case study pollution transport events that occurred at the Tenango del Aire research site. The unique data set is then used to provide an in depth analysis of example days of each of the pollution transport events. An in depth analysis of 13 March 2006, a Case One day, shows the transport of several air pollution plumes during the morning through the Tenango del Aire research site when southerly winds are present and demonstrates how DOAS tropospheric NO<sub>2</sub> vertical column densities (VCD), surface NO<sub>2</sub> mixing ratios and ceilometer data are used to determine the vertical homogeneity of the pollution layer. The analysis of 18 March 2006, a Case Two day, shows that when northerly winds are present for the entire day, the air at the Tenango del Aire research site is relatively clean and no major pollution plumes are detected. Case 3 days are characterized by relatively clean air throughout the morning with large DOAS NO<sub>2</sub> enhancements detected in the afternoon. The analysis of 28 March 2006 show the DOAS NO<sub>2</sub> enhancements are likely due to lightning activity and demonstrate how suitable ground-based DOAS measruements are for monitoring anthropogenic and natural pollution sources that reside above the mixing layer

Selective and mild fractionation of microalgal proteins and pigments using aqueous two-phase systems

publishedVersionPaid Open Acces

Mobile health application to support CPAP therapy in obstructive sleep apnoea: design, feasibility and perspectives

Background: Current continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices can be monitored remotely; however, in-person visits are kept for clinical follow-up in order to promote CPAP use and resolve potential side-effects. Mobile health is a promising way to provide remote and easy clinical control for CPAP follow-up and support. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance by obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients and healthcare professionals of a newly designed mobile app (Appnea-Q) to promote clinical control through a self-monitoring tool for patients with CPAP supervised by sleep professionals. Methods: Appnea-Q incorporates a simple follow-up questionnaire with automated responses, together with frequent problems and lifestyle recommendations sections. Feasibility, acceptance and usefulness were assessed. First, an internal validation was performed during outpatient CPAP follow-up visits with sleep professionals from various sleep units. Second, an external validation was performed in a subgroup of 15 patients at home. Results: Most patients (n=75) considered the app useful and were willing to use it and recommend it (72-88%). Up to 64.87% agreed on its capacity to reduce hospital visits. Appnea-Q was rated as acceptable (79.37 +/- 19.29) by the system usability score. Sleep professionals (n=30) concurred on its usefulness for OSA patient follow-up, particularly during the first month of CPAP therapy. The external validation showed its feasibility among 11 out of 15 patients and their data were received accordingly on the professionals' web platform. Conclusions: According to our validation process, and the viewpoints of the patients and professionals, our new mobile app is a feasible and well-received tool for personal OSA management. Future clinical trials should substantiate its performance and cost-effectiveness in the clinical arena

Telemedicine Strategy to Rescue CPAP Therapy in Sleep Apnea Patients with Low Treatment Adherence: A Pilot Study

Patients with sleep apnea are usually treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This therapy is very effective if the patient's adherence is satisfactory. However, although CPAP adherence is usually acceptable during the first months of therapy, it progressively decreases, with a considerable number of patients accepting average treatment duration below the effectiveness threshold (4 h/night). Herein, our aim was to describe and evaluate a novel telemedicine strategy for rescuing CPAP treatment in patients with low adherence after several months/years of treatment. This two-week intervention includes (1) patient support using a smartphone application, phone and voice recorder messages to be answered by a nurse, and (2) daily transmission and analysis of signals from the CPAP device and potential variation of nasal pressure if required. On average, at the end of the intervention, median CPAP adherence considerably increased by 2.17 h/night (from 3.07 to 5.24 h/night). Interestingly, the procedure was able to markedly rescue CPAP adherence: the number of patients with poor adherence (<4 h/night) was considerably reduced from 38 to 7. After one month, adherence improvement was maintained (median 5.09 h/night), and only 13 patients had poor adherence (<4 h/night). This telemedicine intervention (103€ per included patient) is a cost-effective tool for substantially increasing the number of patients with CPAP adherence above the minimum threshold for achieving positive therapeutic effects

IFE Plant Technology Overview and contribution to HiPER proposal

HiPER is the European Project for Laser Fusion that has been able to join 26 institutions and signed under formal government agreement by 6 countries inside the ESFRI Program of the European Union (EU). The project is already extended by EU for two years more (until 2013) after its first preparatory phase from 2008. A large work has been developed in different areas to arrive to a design of repetitive operation of Laser Fusion Reactor, and decisions are envisioned in the next phase of Technology Development or Risk Reduction for Engineering or Power Plant facilities (or both). Chamber design has been very much completed for Engineering phase and starting of preliminary options for Reactor Power Plant have been established and review here