Analysis of labour market needs for engineers with enhanced knowledge in renewable energy in some European and Latin-American Countries

One of the main challenges related to the renewable energy labour market is that of human capital and as a consequence the educational profile of future employees is of paramount importance. Unfortunately, the skill level gained at University does not always fit with the practical needs of industry thus reducing the benefit-cost ratio of new employees and slowing down the transition to a green economy. Within this context, ‘The Crux’ project co-funded by EU under the framework of the Erasmus + programme aims at improving the renewable energy engineering curriculum at different university levels in several Universities of Latin America and Europe. In order to better appreciate the potential impact of the project, a survey on the labour market need for specialists with enhanced knowledge and skills in renewable and sustainable energy technologies has been conducted in the related EU and Latin America countries. More precisely, 60 organizations have been interviewed and almost 70% of them are interested in employing engineers with enhanced knowledge on renewable energy in the next three years. The analysis has shown significant discrepancies between EU and Latin American organizations. In fact, while future employees in EU countries will be mainly related to solar energy and management, the former together with wind and biomass will represent the main renewable energy working sector in Latin American countries. Moreover, MSc level will be the most demanded in EU while bachelor education seems to satisfy the future industry requirements in Latin America. Despite each country having its own needs, the research carried out under this EU project confirms the potential of renewable energy education on the global labour market in the near future

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background: There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low-and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods: Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results: Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion: For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89.6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle (753 of 1242, 60.6 per cent; odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.14 to 0.21, P <0001) or low (363 of 860, 422 per cent; OR 008, 007 to 010, P <0.001) HDI. Checklist use was less common in elective surgery than for emergency laparotomy in high-HDI countries (risk difference -94 (95 per cent c.i. -11.9 to -6.9) per cent; P <0001), but the relationship was reversed in low-HDI countries (+121 (+7.0 to +173) per cent; P <0001). In multivariable models, checklist use was associated with a lower 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 0.60, 0.50 to 073; P <0.001). The greatest absolute benefit was seen for emergency surgery in low- and middle-HDI countries. Conclusion Checklist use in emergency laparotomy was associated with a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate. Checklist use in low-HDI countries was half that in high-HDI countries.Peer reviewe

Global variation in anastomosis and end colostomy formation following left-sided colorectal resection

Background End colostomy rates following colorectal resection vary across institutions in high-income settings, being influenced by patient, disease, surgeon and system factors. This study aimed to assess global variation in end colostomy rates after left-sided colorectal resection. Methods This study comprised an analysis of GlobalSurg-1 and -2 international, prospective, observational cohort studies (2014, 2016), including consecutive adult patients undergoing elective or emergency left-sided colorectal resection within discrete 2-week windows. Countries were grouped into high-, middle- and low-income tertiles according to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Factors associated with colostomy formation versus primary anastomosis were explored using a multilevel, multivariable logistic regression model. Results In total, 1635 patients from 242 hospitals in 57 countries undergoing left-sided colorectal resection were included: 113 (6·9 per cent) from low-HDI, 254 (15·5 per cent) from middle-HDI and 1268 (77·6 per cent) from high-HDI countries. There was a higher proportion of patients with perforated disease (57·5, 40·9 and 35·4 per cent; P < 0·001) and subsequent use of end colostomy (52·2, 24·8 and 18·9 per cent; P < 0·001) in low- compared with middle- and high-HDI settings. The association with colostomy use in low-HDI settings persisted (odds ratio (OR) 3·20, 95 per cent c.i. 1·35 to 7·57; P = 0·008) after risk adjustment for malignant disease (OR 2·34, 1·65 to 3·32; P < 0·001), emergency surgery (OR 4·08, 2·73 to 6·10; P < 0·001), time to operation at least 48 h (OR 1·99, 1·28 to 3·09; P = 0·002) and disease perforation (OR 4·00, 2·81 to 5·69; P < 0·001). Conclusion Global differences existed in the proportion of patients receiving end stomas after left-sided colorectal resection based on income, which went beyond case mix alone

Dimensionado de un sistema térmico solar mediante simulación y su validación energética

This article presents the formulations to size and simulate a solar thermal installation. It is establish the criterions for the analysis of the energy system and description of the method of differential payback of the investment. With the results of the simulation, an Executive Project was presented was executed in the Hotel "Puesta del Sol". Later on is decided to carry out an evaluation in the built installation with the objective of validating the results of the contribution energy feigned lot, with the real results that it contributes the installation with real load. The level of comparison of the results settles down with the definition of the % of solar energy contribution is obtains in the previous simulations and the later results obtained in the test carried out in the installation built in the Hotel. The scheme of the installation is shown with the equipment was used in the established tests. These results are picked up in files and graphics in values of each hour, everyday and monthly results. The study concludes in an annual integral analysis where is defined the behavior of the solar installation in the period of exploitation.El trabajo presenta las formulaciones para dimensionar y simular instalaciones térmicas solares. Se establecen los criterios para el análisis del sistema energético y la descripción del método de recuperación diferencial de la inversión. Se presentó un Proyecto Ejecutivo que fue ejecutado en el Hotel "Puesta del Sol". Posteriormente se realizó una evaluación en la instalación solar construida con el objetivo de validar los resultados obtenidos en la simulación. La comparación de los resultados se establece definiendo el % de aportación energética solar obtenido en las simulaciones y los resultados en los ensayos realizados con carga real. Se muestra el esquema de la instalación con el equipamiento que fuera utilizado en los ensayos establecidos. Estos resultados se recogieron en ficheros y gráficos en valores horarios, diarios y resultados mensuales. El estudio concluyó en un análisis integral anual donde se definió el comportamiento de la instalación solar en el período de explotación

Modelo matemático para el diseño aerodinámico de los álabes de una turbina eólica de eje horizontal (TEEH)

The research purpose is elaborate a mathematical model for blade aerodynamic designing of horizontal axis wind turbine in fast and reliable way to facilitate the construction and performance evaluation under different operational conditions. To reach the theoretical and empirical approach it was used induction and deduction method starting from aerodynamic theories of Glauert and other researchers, in which necessary modifications were introduced. Also, the development of the model was programmed in aspreadsheet which allows to calcula table de radio R, the distribution of chord c (r), and the variation of twist angle or pitch Ө (r) in automatic way. The development of the model was structured according to the following stages: identification and definition, conceptualization, formulation andimplementation and finally the validation of the model. The model validation was made comparing the blade geometry and generated power by the rotor with a blade family of European manufacturers.El objetivo de esta investigación es elaborar un modelo matemático para el diseño aerodinámico de las palas de una turbina eólica de eje horizontal en forma rápida y confiable que facilite a construcción y comportamiento bajo diferentes condiciones. Este resultado se obtuvo por el método inductivo y deductivo partiendo de las teorías aerodinámicas de Glauert y otros introduciéndole modificaciones. Igualmente el desarrollo del modelo fue programado en una hoja de cálculo que permitió calcular el radio R del rotor, la distribución de la cuerda c(r) y la variación del ángulo de torsión Ө(r) de forma automática. El desarrollo del modelo está estructurado de acuerdo a las siguientes etapas: identificación y definición, conceptualización, formulación e implementación y finalmente la validación del modelo. La validación del modelo fue hecha comparando la geometría de la pala y la potencia generada por el rotor con una familia de palas de fabricantes europeos

Modelo matemático para el diseño aerodinámico de los álabes de una turbina eólica de eje horizontal (TEEH) Mathematical Model for Blades Aerodynami c Design of a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT)

El objetivo de esta investigación es elaborar un modelo matemát ico para el diseño aerodinámico de las palas de una turbina eólica de eje horizontal en forma rápida y confiable qu e facilite a construcción y comportamiento bajo diferentes condiciones. Este resultado se obtuvo por el método inductivo y deductivo partiendo de las teorías aerodinámicas de Glauert y otros introduciéndole modificaciones. Igualmente el d esarrollo del modelo fue programado en una hoja de cálculo que permitió calcular el radio R del rotor, la distribu ción de la cuerda c(r) y la variación del ángulo de torsión Ө(r) de forma automática. El desarrollo del modelo está estructura do de acuerdo a las siguientes etapas: identificación y definición, conceptualización, formulación e implementación y finalmente la validación del modelo. La validación del modelo fue hecha comparando la geometría de la pala y la potenc ia generada por el rotor con una familia de palas de fabricantes europeos. The research purpose is elaborate a mathematical model fo r blade aerodynamic designing of horizontal axis wind turbine in fast and reliable way to facilitate the construc tion and performance evaluation under different operational conditions. To reach the theoretical and empirical approa ch it was used induction and deduction method starting from aerodynamic theories of Glauert and other researchers, in which necessary modifications were introduced. Also, the development of the model was programmed in aspreadsheet which allows to calc ula table de radio R, the distribution of chord c (r), and the variation of twist angle or pitch Ө (r) in automatic way. The development of the model was structured according to the following stages: identification and definition, conceptualization, formulation andimplementation and finally the validation of the m odel. The model validation was made comparing the blade geometry and generated power by the rotor with a blade family of European manufacturers

Diseño de ánodo y tobera de una antorcha universal de plasma para proyectar hidroxiapatita;Design of anode and nozzleofaplasma universal torchfor hydroxyapatite projection

La importancia de mejorar la calidad de vida a personas de la tercera edad, así como a las afectadas por accidentes, hizo que la comunidad científica internacional se volcara a la búsqueda de soluciones en esta dirección. Con la intención de alcanzar mejores resultados en el proceso de proyección de la hidroxiapatitaHAP-200, de origen cubano, utilizada para el recubrimiento de prótesis médicas, se presentó una metodología para el rediseño del ánodo y la tobera de una antorcha de plasma universal. Ésta permitió, a través de consideraciones apoyadas en la eficiencia térmica de este dispositivo, la Teoría de la Termodinámica, la de los Fluidos, las experiencias, acumuladas anteriormente sobre otros diseños, realizados a este dispositivo y la valoración económica, realizar, el estudio de las características proyectivas de ésta, sino, y la no adquisición de este tipo de equipo por importación, permitiendo, además, un ahorro considerable, desde este puno de vista. The importance of improving the live quality to the person of thirds age and, those affecting by accident, made that the international scientific community worked to fine out the solution in that direction and try to help the peoples. In order to improve better projection results to the Cuban original hidroxiapatita HAP- 200, employed in recovering medical devise, used in invalid persons, was presenting the methodology for redesign of the anode and the nozzle of the universal plasma torch. This was established through the considerations of the Thermal Efficiency of this equipment, the Thermodynamic, the Flues Theories, the gartered experiences, about others designs, made to this before and the economical evaluation. It allows not only the study of its projective characteristics and, also, do not acquire this by the importation, guarantying, by this way, to save money, from this point of view.</p

Diseño de ánodo y tobera de una antorcha universal de plasma para proyectar hidroxiapatita

The importance of improving the live quality to the person of thirds age and, those affecting by accident, made that the international scientific community worked to fine out the solution in that direction and try to help the peoples. In order to improve better projection results to the Cuban original hidroxiapatitaHAP- 200, employed in recovering medical devise, used in invalid persons, was presenting the methodology for redesign of the anode and the nozzle of the universal plasma torch. This was established through the considerations of the Thermal Efficiency of this equipment, the Thermodynamic, the Flues Theories, the gartered experiences, about others designs, made to this before and the economical evaluation. It allows not only the study of its projective characteristics and, also, do not acquire this by the importation, guarantying, by this way, to save money, from this point of view.La importancia de mejorar la calidad de vida a personas de la tercera edad, así como a las afectadas por accidentes, hizo que la comunidad científica internacional se volcara a la búsqueda de soluciones en esta dirección. Con la intención de alcanzar mejores resultados en el proceso de proyección de la hidroxiapatitaHAP-200, de origen cubano, utilizada para el recubrimiento de prótesis médicas, se presentó una metodología para el rediseño del ánodo y la tobera de una antorcha de plasma universal. Ésta permitió, a través de consideraciones apoyadas en la eficiencia térmica de este dispositivo, la Teoría de la Termodinámica, la de los Fluidos, las experiencias, acumuladas anteriormente sobre otros diseños, realizados a este dispositivo y la valoración económica, realizar, el estudio de las características proyectivas de ésta, sino, y la no adquisición de este tipo de equipo por importación, permitiendo, además, un ahorro considerable, desde este puno de vista