Prevalencia de consumo de tabaco en vehículos privados

ResumenObjetivoDeterminar la prevalencia de conductores fumadores en vehículos privados en la ciudad de Lleida.MétodosSe seleccionó una muestra aleatoria de 1600 vehículos privados en seis cruces regulados por semáforos. Las variables estudiadas fueron edad y sexo, conductor fumador, acompañante >18 años, tipo de cruce (urbano/interurbano), día (laborable/festivo), hora (mañana/tarde) y fumadores simultáneos. Se calculó la prevalencia de conductores fumadores y las odds ratio ajustadas (ORa), con su intervalo de confianza del 95% (IC95%).ResultadosLa prevalencia fue del 6,0% (IC95%: 4,9-7,3), mayor en los hombres (6,4%), en el grupo de 41 a 60 años (6,9%) y sin acompañante (6,5%). La probabilidad de que el conductor fumara aumentó con acompañante fumador (ORa=10,8; IC95%: 3,6-32,5). La frecuencia de conductores fumadores fue mayor en los días laborables (ORa=1,7; IC95%: 1,0-2,8) y por la mañana (ORa=1,6; IC95%: 1,0-2,4).ConclusionesLa prevalencia de conductores fumadores se considera elevada y perjudicial. Se recomienda evitar fumar en los vehículos.AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of smoking among drivers of private vehicles in the city of Lleida (Spain).MethodsA random sample of 1600 cars passing through six intersections regulated by traffic lights were selected. The variables were age, sex, smoking driver, adult passengers, intersection (urban/interurban), day (working day/weekend), hour (morning/evening) and simultaneous smokers. We calculated the prevalence of smoking drivers and the corresponding odds ratios (ORs), adjusted for the potential confounding variables, as well as their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsThe prevalence was 6.0% (95% CI: 4.9-7.3) and was higher in men (6.4%), in the group aged 41 to 60 years (6.9%), and in unaccompanied drivers (6.5%). The probability of the driver smoking increased if there was a smoking passenger (aOR=10.8; 95% CI: 3.6-32.5). The frequency of smoking drivers was higher on working days (aOR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.0-2.8) and in the morning (aOR=1.6; 95% CI: 1.0-2.4).ConclusionsThe prevalence of smoking drivers can be considered dangerously high. We recommend avoiding smoking while driving

Quartz crystal microbalance holder design for on-line sensing in liquid applications

In this paper, the design of a QCM sensor for liquid media measurements in vertical position is described. A rugged and low-cost proof holder has been designed, the cost of which is significantly lower than those of traditional commercial holders. The crystal is not replaceable but it can be easily cleaned. Its small volume permits to be used by dipping it in the liquid with the desired location and orientation. The developed design has been experimentally validated by measuring changes in the resonance frequency and resistance of the QCM sensor immersed vertically in different calibrated aqueous glycerol solutions. The obtained results show a great agreement with the Kanazawa theoretical expression. Consequently, the designed QCM sensor would be appropriate for sensing applications in liquids, and might take part of a future on-line multichannel low-cost QCM-based measurement system.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Acute-phase inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 levels in serum and milk of cows with subclinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus species and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species

The aim of the study was to investigate the concentrations of acute-phase inter-a-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) in serum and milk of cows with subclinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus sp. (STR) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp. (CNS) and healthy cows. The blood and milk samples were obtained from 60 mid-lactation, multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows from 7 herds in the Lublin region of Poland. In the milk samples from 40 cows with subclinical mastitis, Streptococcus sp. and CNS were isolated. The ITIH4 was significantly higher in serum of cows with subclinical mastitis caused both by STR and CNS compared with healthy cows. One hundred percent of animals infected with Streptococcus sp. and 89% of animals infected with Staphylococcus sp. showed ITIH4 concentration in sera higher than 0.5 mg/mL. The concentration of ITIH4 in milk also was significantly higher in cows with subclinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. compared with the control group. Seventy percent of cows infected by STR and CNS showed ITIH4 concentration in milk higher than 2.5 µg/mL. Milk ITIH4 concentration higher than 5 µg/mL was found in 55% of animals infected with Streptococcus sp. and in 40% of animals infected with Staphylococcus sp. No statistically significant differences were observed in ITIH4 concentrations both in serum and in milk between the studied unhealthy animal groups. These results suggest that ITIH4 may be used in the future as a novel diagnostic marker in serum and in milk of subclinical mastitis in cows

Tracing sulfate recycling in the hypersaline Pétrola lake (SE Spain): A combined isotopic and microbiological approach

Sulfur (S) plays a significant role in saline environments, and sulfate (SO4 2−) is an important component of the biogeochemical S-cycle since it acts as the main electron acceptor in anoxic sediments. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the fate of S, its origin, and processes affecting sulfate outcome in the hypersaline Pétrola Lake in the Castilla-La Mancha region (High Segura Basin, SE Spain). The lake is the terminal discharge zone of an endorheic basin with considerable anthropogenic pressures. Anthropogenic activities (mainly agricultural inputs and wastewater discharge), together with bedrock leaching of sulfate and sulfide-rich sediments, increase dissolved SO4 2− in surface and groundwater up to 123,000 mg/L. The source and fate of sulfate in this environment was investigated coupling hydrochemistry, including hydrogen sulfide (H2S) microprofiles, isotopic analyses (δ34S, δ18OSO4, δ2HH2O, δ18OH2O, and tritium), mineralogical determinations, and molecular biology tools (16S rDNA amplification and sequencing). The origin of dissolved SO4 2− in water is related to pyrite oxidation from Lower Cretaceous sediments, and secondary gypsum dissolution. Under the lake, dissolved SO4 2− decreases with depth, controlled by three main processes: (1) seasonal evaporation cycles, (2) hydrodynamic instability caused by the different density-driven groundwater flow, and (3) sulfate-reduction processes, i.e. dissimilatory bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR). These processes control the continuous recycling of sulfur in the system. Lake water and groundwater are in hydraulic connection, and a density-driven flow (DDF) is able to transport reactive organic matter and dissolved SO4 2− towards the underlying aquifer. Hydrochemical evolution in depth, H2S production (up to 0.024 nmol/cm3·s) and the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria suggest the existence of BSR processes. However, isotope techniques are insufficient to elucidate BSR processes since their isotopic effect is masked by low isotope fractionation and high SO4 2− concentrations. The pattern here described may be found in other saline basins worldwide

Current challenges in chronic bronchial infection in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Currently, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and their physicians face a number of significant clinical challenges, one of which is the high degree of uncertainty related to chronic bronchial infection (CBI). By reviewing the current literature, several challenges can be identified, which should be considered as goals for research. One of these is to establish the bases for identifying the biological and clinical implications of the presence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in the airways that should be more clearly elucidated according to the COPD phenotype. Another urgent area of research is the role of long-term preventive antibiotics. Clinical trials need to be carried out with inhaled antibiotic therapy to help clarify the profile of those antibiotics. The role of inhaled corticosteroids in patients with COPD and CBI needs to be studied to instruct the clinical management of these patients. Finally, it should be explored and confirmed whether a suitable antimicrobial treatment during exacerbations may contribute to breaking the vicious circle of CBI in COPD. The present review addresses the current state of the art in these areas to provide evidence which will enable us to progressively plan better healthcare for these patients

A study of the osmotic membrane bioreactor process using a sodium chloride solution and an industrial effluent as draw solutions

[EN] Osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR) is an emerging membrane process which has gained interest in the recent years because of the low energy consumption and the high effluent quality. The osmotic membrane bioreactor combines a forward osmosis (FO) membrane and a biological treatment. However, salt reverse flux is the main problem because of the negative effect of the salt concentration increase in the reactor on the microbial activity. This is the reason why the study of a suitable draw solution (DS) is very important in the overall performance of the reactor. This study compares the process performance using two draw solutions: a 53 g L-1 NaCI solution and a real waste water solution (waste water from an absorption column consisting mainly of SO42- and NH4-N with concentrations of 153 g L-1 and 19 g L-1, respectively). The comparison is focused on the salt reverse flux during the reactor operation, the mixed liquor characteristics, the membrane fouling and the overall performance. The results indicated that the industrial wastewater showed a higher salt reverse flux, but also a less severe fouling and a higher the osmotic pressure difference in comparison with the NaCl solution. In terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies, both draw solutions attained values higher than 80%, though the efficiency was slightly lower when the industrial effluent was used as DS. This was related to the higher conductivity reached in the bioreactor when the industrial effluent was used as draw solution. In spite of it, the use of this industrial effluent as draw solution is strongly recommended because of the high permeate fluxes yielded, the low membrane fouling and the lack of necessity of regenerating the draw solution. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain) through the project RTC-2015-3582-5-AR.Lujan Facundo, MJ.; Soler Cabezas, JL.; Mendoza Roca, JA.; Vincent Vela, MC.; Bes-Piá, M.; Doñate Hernández, S. (2017). A study of the osmotic membrane bioreactor process using a sodium chloride solution and an industrial effluent as draw solutions. Chemical Engineering Journal. 322:603-610. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2017.04.062S60361032

Integrated Membrane Process for the Treatment and Reuse of Residual Table Olive Fermentation Brine and Anaerobically Digested Sludge Centrate

[EN] Management of wastewater is a major challenge nowadays, due to increasing water demand, growing population and more stringent regulations on water quality. Wastewaters from food conservation are especially difficult to treat, since they have high salinity and high organic matter concentration. The aim of this work is the treatment of the effluent from a table olive fermentation process (FTOP) with the aim of reusing it once the organic matter is separated. The process proposed in this work consists of the following membrane-based technologies: Ultrafiltration (UF) (UP005, Microdyn Nadir), Forward Osmosis (FO) (Osmen2521, Hydration Technology Innovation) and Nanofiltration (NF) (NF245, Dow). The FO process was implemented to reduce the salinity entering the NF process, using the FTOP as draw solution and, at the same time, to concentrate the centrate produced in the sludge treatment of a municipal wastewater treatment plant with the aim of obtaining a stream enriched in nutrients. The UF step achieved the elimination of 50% of the chemical oxygen demand of the FTOP. The UF permeate was pumped to the FO system reducing the volume of the anaerobically digested sludge centrate (ADSC) by a factor of 3 in 6.5 h. Finally, the ultrafiltrated FTOP diluted by FO was subjected to NF. The transmembrane pressure needed in the NF stage was 40% lower than that required if the ultrafiltration permeate was directly nanofiltered. By means of the integrated process, the concentration of organic matter and phenolic compounds in the FTOP decreased by 97%. Therefore, the proposed process was able to obtain a treated brine that could be reused in other processes and simultaneously to concentrate a stream, such as the ADSC.This research was funded by CDTI (Centre for Industrial and Technological Development) depending on the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the INNPRONTA program, grant number IPT-20111020.Carbonell Alcaina, C.; Soler-Cabezas, JL.; Bes-Piá, M.; Vincent Vela, MC.; Mendoza Roca, JA.; Pastor-Alcañiz, L.; Alvarez Blanco, S. (2020). Integrated Membrane Process for the Treatment and Reuse of Residual Table Olive Fermentation Brine and Anaerobically Digested Sludge Centrate. Membranes. 10(10):1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10100253S1141010Abou-Elela, S. I., Kamel, M. M., & Fawzy, M. E. (2010). Biological treatment of saline wastewater using a salt-tolerant microorganism. Desalination, 250(1), 1-5. doi:10.1016/j.desal.2009.03.022Ferrer-Polonio, E., Iborra-Clar, A., Mendoza-Roca, J. A., & Pastor-Alcañiz, L. (2014). Fermentation brines from Spanish style green table olives processing: treatment alternatives before recycling or recovery operations. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 91(1), 131-137. doi:10.1002/jctb.4550Reid, E., Liu, X., & Judd, S. J. (2006). Effect of high salinity on activated sludge characteristics and membrane permeability in an immersed membrane bioreactor. Journal of Membrane Science, 283(1-2), 164-171. doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2006.06.021Ferrer-Polonio, E., Mendoza-Roca, J. A., Iborra-Clar, A., Alonso-Molina, J. ., & Pastor-Alcañiz, L. (2015). Comparison of two strategies for the start-up of a biological reactor for the treatment of hypersaline effluents from a table olive packaging industry. Chemical Engineering Journal, 273, 595-602. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2015.03.062Li, H., Meng, F., Duan, W., Lin, Y., & Zheng, Y. (2019). Biodegradation of phenol in saline or hypersaline environments by bacteria: A review. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 184, 109658. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109658Ayed, L., Asses, N., Chammem, N., Ben Othman, N., & Hamdi, M. (2017). Advanced oxidation process and biological treatments for table olive processing wastewaters: constraints and a novel approach to integrated recycling process: a review. Biodegradation, 28(2-3), 125-138. doi:10.1007/s10532-017-9782-0Ferrer-Polonio, E., Mendoza-Roca, J. A., Iborra-Clar, A., & Pastor-Alcañiz, L. (2015). Adsorption of raw and treated by membranes fermentation brines from table olives processing for phenolic compounds separation and recovery. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 91(7), 2094-2102. doi:10.1002/jctb.4807El-Abbassi, A., Kiai, H., Raiti, J., & Hafidi, A. (2014). Application of ultrafiltration for olive processing wastewaters treatment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 65, 432-438. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.08.016Carbonell-Alcaina, C., Álvarez-Blanco, S., Bes-Piá, M. A., Mendoza-Roca, J. A., & Pastor-Alcañiz, L. (2018). Ultrafiltration of residual fermentation brines from the production of table olives at different operating conditions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 189, 662-672. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.04.127Kiai, H., García-Payo, M. C., Hafidi, A., & Khayet, M. (2014). Application of membrane distillation technology in the treatment of table olive wastewaters for phenolic compounds concentration and high quality water production. Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, 86, 153-161. doi:10.1016/j.cep.2014.09.007Vu, M. T., Ansari, A. J., Hai, F. I., & Nghiem, L. D. (2018). Performance of a seawater-driven forward osmosis process for pre-concentrating digested sludge centrate: organic enrichment and membrane fouling. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 4(7), 1047-1056. doi:10.1039/c8ew00132dSoler-Cabezas, J. L., Mendoza-Roca, J. A., Vincent-Vela, M. C., Luján-Facundo, M. J., & Pastor-Alcañiz, L. (2018). Simultaneous concentration of nutrients from anaerobically digested sludge centrate and pre-treatment of industrial effluents by forward osmosis. Separation and Purification Technology, 193, 289-296. doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2017.10.058Duan, J., Litwiller, E., Choi, S.-H., & Pinnau, I. (2014). Evaluation of sodium lignin sulfonate as draw solute in forward osmosis for desert restoration. Journal of Membrane Science, 453, 463-470. doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2013.11.029Hu, B., Jiang, M., Zhao, S., Ji, X., Shu, Q., Tian, B., … Zhang, L. (2019). Biogas slurry as draw solution of forward osmosis process to extract clean water from micro-polluted water for hydroponic cultivation. Journal of Membrane Science, 576, 88-95. doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2019.01.029Singleton, V. L., Orthofer, R., & Lamuela-Raventós, R. M. (1999). [14] Analysis of total phenols and other oxidation substrates and antioxidants by means of folin-ciocalteu reagent. Methods in Enzymology, 152-178. doi:10.1016/s0076-6879(99)99017-1De Castro, A., & Brenes, M. (2001). Fermentation of washing waters of Spanish-style green olive processing. Process Biochemistry, 36(8-9), 797-802. doi:10.1016/s0032-9592(00)00280-6Luján-Facundo, M. J., Mendoza-Roca, J. A., Soler-Cabezas, J. L., Bes-Piá, A., Vincent-Vela, M. C., & Pastor-Alcañiz, L. (2019). Use of the osmotic membrane bioreactor for the management of tannery wastewater using absorption liquid waste as draw solution. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 131, 292-299. doi:10.1016/j.psep.2019.09.024Ferrer-Polonio, E., Carbonell-Alcaina, C., Mendoza-Roca, J. A., Iborra-Clar, A., Álvarez-Blanco, S., Bes-Piá, A., & Pastor-Alcañiz, L. (2017). Brine recovery from hypersaline wastewaters from table olive processing by combination of biological treatment and membrane technologies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142, 1377-1386. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.169Papadaki, E., & Mantzouridou, F. T. (2016). Current status and future challenges of table olive processing wastewater valorization. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 112, 103-113. doi:10.1016/j.bej.2016.04.008Carbonell-Alcaina, C., Corbatón-Báguena, M.-J., Álvarez-Blanco, S., Bes-Piá, M. A., Mendoza-Roca, J. A., & Pastor-Alcañiz, L. (2016). Determination of fouling mechanisms in polymeric ultrafiltration membranes using residual brines from table olive storage wastewaters as feed. Journal of Food Engineering, 187, 14-23. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2016.04.016Sayadi, S., Allouche, N., Jaoua, M., & Aloui, F. (2000). Detrimental effects of high molecular-mass polyphenols on olive mill wastewater biotreatment. Process Biochemistry, 35(7), 725-735. doi:10.1016/s0032-9592(99)00134-xLi, Y., Xu, Z., Xie, M., Zhang, B., Li, G., & Luo, W. (2020). Resource recovery from digested manure centrate: Comparison between conventional and aquaporin thin-film composite forward osmosis membranes. Journal of Membrane Science, 593, 117436. doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117436Bargeman, G., Vollenbroek, J. M., Straatsma, J., Schroën, C. G. P. H., & Boom, R. M. (2005). Nanofiltration of multi-component feeds. Interactions between neutral and charged components and their effect on retention. Journal of Membrane Science, 247(1-2), 11-20. doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2004.05.022Koyuncu, I., Topacik, D., & Wiesner, M. R. (2004). Factors influencing flux decline during nanofiltration of solutions containing dyes and salts. Water Research, 38(2), 432-440. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2003.10.001Virga, E., Spruijt, E., de Vos, W. M., & Biesheuvel, P. M. (2018). Wettability of Amphoteric Surfaces: The Effect of pH and Ionic Strength on Surface Ionization and Wetting. Langmuir, 34(50), 15174-15180. doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b02875Van der Bruggen, B., Cornelis, G., Vandecasteele, C., & Devreese, I. (2005). 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Electronic structure, charge transfer, and intrinsic luminescence of gadolinium oxide nanoparticles: Experiment and theory

The cubic (c) and monoclinic (m) polymorphs of Gd2O3 were studied using the combined analysis of several materials science techniques - X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Density functional theory (DFT) based calculations for the samples under study were performed as well. The cubic phase of gadolinium oxide (c-Gd2O3) synthesized using a precipitation method exhibits spheroidal-like nanoclusters with well-defined edges assembled from primary nanoparticles with an average size of 50 nm, whereas the monoclinic phase of gadolinium oxide (m-Gd2O3) deposited using explosive pyrolysis has a denser structure compared with natural gadolinia. This phase also has a structure composed of three-dimensional complex agglomerates without clear-edged boundaries that are ~21 nm in size plus a cubic phase admixture of only 2 at. % composed of primary edge-boundary nanoparticles ~15 nm in size. These atomic features appear in the electronic structure as different defects ([Gd...O-OH] and [Gd...O-O]) and have dissimilar contributions to the charge-transfer processes among the appropriate electronic states with ambiguous contributions in the Gd 5p - O 2s core-like levels in the valence band structures. The origin of [Gd...O-OH] defects found by XPS was well-supported by PL analysis. The electronic and atomic structures of the synthesized gadolinias calculated using DFT were compared and discussed on the basis of the well-known joint OKT-van der Laan model, and good agreement was established.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figures, accepted in Appl. Surf. Sc

Reference frames and rigid motions in relativity: Applications

The concept of rigid reference frame and of constricted spatial metric, given in the previous work [\emph{Class. Quantum Grav.} {\bf 21}, 3067,(2004)] are here applied to some specific space-times: In particular, the rigid rotating disc with constant angular velocity in Minkowski space-time is analyzed, a new approach to the Ehrenfest paradox is given as well as a new explanation of the Sagnac effect. Finally the anisotropy of the speed of light and its measurable consequences in a reference frame co-moving with the Earth are discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur