Removal of Heavy Metals Using Adsorption Processes Subject to an External Magnetic Field

Adsorption is a broadly used process for the removal of heavy metals and the world trend is directed to the application of new technologies to intensify existing processes. The properties of the magnetic field (intensity and arrangement) and the intrinsic magnetic properties of the adsorbent and the adsorbate are decisive for satisfactory results. The intensity of the magnetic field is important, because this implies that the greater number of spins present will align with the magnetic field according to the magnetic nature present, allowing the mobility of the adsorbate and generating heterogeneity on the surface of the adsorbent. Similarly, the arrangement of the magnetic field will determine the direction of the magnetic field lines. The application of a magnetic field as an alternative for the intensification of the adsorption process based on the consideration that the magnetic field is safe, environmentally friendly and economic

Energy Estimation of Cosmic Rays with the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is part of the Pierre Auger Observatory and is used to detect the radio emission of cosmic-ray air showers. These observations are compared to the data of the surface detector stations of the Observatory, which provide well-calibrated information on the cosmic-ray energies and arrival directions. The response of the radio stations in the 30 to 80 MHz regime has been thoroughly calibrated to enable the reconstruction of the incoming electric field. For the latter, the energy deposit per area is determined from the radio pulses at each observer position and is interpolated using a two-dimensional function that takes into account signal asymmetries due to interference between the geomagnetic and charge-excess emission components. The spatial integral over the signal distribution gives a direct measurement of the energy transferred from the primary cosmic ray into radio emission in the AERA frequency range. We measure 15.8 MeV of radiation energy for a 1 EeV air shower arriving perpendicularly to the geomagnetic field. This radiation energy -- corrected for geometrical effects -- is used as a cosmic-ray energy estimator. Performing an absolute energy calibration against the surface-detector information, we observe that this radio-energy estimator scales quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy as expected for coherent emission. We find an energy resolution of the radio reconstruction of 22% for the data set and 17% for a high-quality subset containing only events with at least five radio stations with signal.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Active structures and geological hazards in the central sector of the Betic-Rif Cordillera and the Alboran Sea

X Congreso Geológico de España, 5-7 de julio 2021, Vitoria-Gasteiz.-- 1 page[EN] The recent geodynamic activity in the Betic-Rif Cordillera and the Alboran Sea is determined by the interaction of subduction processes with roll-back in the West and tectonic indentation in the East. The integration of sea and land data in the DAMAGE project characterizes the central area of interaction. At the northern end, the seismicity of the frontal region of Sierra de Cazorla is associated with incipient tectonic indentation. To the South, seismic and aseismic extensional faults of high and low angle interact in the Granada Basin. The active normal faults in the Campo de Dalías are connected with recent and new strike-slip faults that affect the Alboran Sea, being responsible of the 2016 Alhoceima earthquake (M 6.3). Towards the Rif, new areas of deformation in the Al Hoceima region are identified on blind faults with significant seismogenic activity in 1993 and 2004. These structures represent an important geological hazard related to slope instability and tsunami development in the Alboran Sea and in water reservoirs. The economic and social impact of this geological hazard should be considered and quantified[ES] La actividad geodinámica reciente en la Cordillera Bético-Rifeña y el Mar de Alborán está determinada por la interacción entre los procesos de subducción con roll-back en el Oeste y la indentación tectónica en el Este. La integración de datos en mar y tierra en el proyecto DAMAGE caracteriza la zona central de interacción. En el extremo septentrional, la sismicidad de la región frontal de Sierra de Cazorla está asociada a indentación tectónica incipiente. Hacia el Sur, en la Cuenca de Granada, interaccionan fallas extensionales sísmicas y asísmicas de alto y bajo buzamiento. Las fallas normales activas en el Campo de Dalías, están conectadas con fallas de salto en dirección neoformadas que afectan el Mar de Alborán, y son responsables del terremoto de Alhucemas de 2016 (M 6.3). Hacia el Rif se identifican nuevas zonas de deformación en Alhucemas sobre fallas ciegas con importante actividad sismogénica en 1993 y 2004. Estas estructuras tienen asociada una importante peligrosidad geológica relacionada con la estabilidad de los taludes y la generación de tsunamis en el Mar de Alborán y estabilidad de masas de agua en embalses, cuya incidencia económica y social se debe considerar y cuantificarPeer reviewe

Diagnóstico diferencial avanzado, septiembre 2012

Material docent de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.Material docente de la "Universitat Oberta de Catalunya".Learning material of the "Universitat Oberta de Catalunya"

Establishment of human embryonic stem cell line Amicqui-2 using poor-quality embryos from Mexican population

Although investigation with human embryonic stem cells (HESC) is not decreasing, the derivation of new lines has been diminished. The preeminence of only a few HESC lines in research is accompanied by lack of universal applicability of results as well as by genetic under-representation. We previously reported the derivation of one line with male karyotype from Mexican population. Here, we derived one HESC line (Amicqui-2) with female karyotype from poor-quality embryos. These line comply the pluripotent requirements (normal karyotype, detection of pluripotency-associated markers, mycoplasma test and teratoma formation) and could be a valuable model for studying diseases specific to under-represented population