Nanofiltration separation of polyvalent and monovalent anions in desalination brines

This work, as part of a global membrane process for the recovery of alkali and acids from reverse osmosis (RO) desalination brines, focuses on the nanofiltration (NF) separation of polyvalent and monovalent anions, more specifically sulfate and chloride. This pretreatment stage plays a key role in the whole recovery process. Working with model brines simulating the concentration of RO concentrates, 0.2–1.2 M chloride concentration and 0.1 M sulfate concentration, the experimental performance and modeling of the NF separation is reported. The study has been carried out with the NF270 (Dow Filmtec) membrane. The effect of operating pressure (500–2000 kPa), ionic strength (0.4–1.3 M) and chloride initial concentration (0.2–1.2 M) on the membrane separation capacity has been investigated. Finally, the Donnan Steric Pore Model (DSPM) together with experimentally determined parameters, effective pore radius (rp), thickness of the membrane effective layer (d) and effective membrane charge density (Xd), was proved accurate enough to satisfactorily describe the experimental results. In this work we provide for the first time the analysis of partitioning effects and transport mechanism in the NF separation of sulfate and chloride anions in concentrations that simulate those found in RO desalination brines.This work has been financially supported by projects CTQ2008-0690, ENE2010-15585 and CTM2011-23912 (co-financed by ERDF Funds).The authors would like to acknowledge SADYT, S.A. for providing assistance for this work

Higher COVID-19 pneumonia risk associated with anti-IFN-α than with anti-IFN-ω auto-Abs in children

We found that 19 (10.4%) of 183 unvaccinated children hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia had autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs (IFN-alpha 2 in 10 patients: IFN-alpha 2 only in three, IFN-alpha 2 plus IFN-omega in five, and IFN-alpha 2, IFN-omega plus IFN-beta in two; IFN-omega only in nine patients). Seven children (3.8%) had Abs neutralizing at least 10 ng/ml of one IFN, whereas the other 12 (6.6%) had Abs neutralizing only 100 pg/ml. The auto-Abs neutralized both unglycosylated and glycosylated IFNs. We also detected auto-Abs neutralizing 100 pg/ml IFN-alpha 2 in 4 of 2,267 uninfected children (0.2%) and auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-omega in 45 children (2%). The odds ratios (ORs) for life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia were, therefore, higher for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-alpha 2 only (OR [95% CI] = 67.6 [5.7-9,196.6]) than for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-. only (OR [95% CI] = 2.6 [1.2-5.3]). ORs were also higher for auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 12.9 [4.6-35.9]) than for those neutralizing low concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 5.5 [3.1-9.6]) of IFN-omega and/or IFN-alpha 2

Antibiothérapie aux urgences devant le diagnostic de méningite (évaluation de règles de décision clinique et des pratiques de prescription à l'hôpital Armand Trousseau)

Si, dans la plupat des cas, le diagnostic de méningite est aisé, différencier une méningite bactériennne d'une méningite virale peut être plus délicat. La première est rare et ne souffre aucun délai de de traitement, la seconde est fréquente et d'évolution spontanée favorable. En ce sens, de nombreuses règles de décision clinique ont vu le jour pour aider le pédiatre dans sa prise de décision. L'établissement de ces règles est maintenant bien codifié et en nous basant sur un précédent travail de Dubos et al., nous nous sommes plus précisément intéressé à cellle mise au point par Nigrovic et al. De façon rérospective, nous avons testé cette règle sur la population de patients ayant présenté une méningite bacrérienne ou aseptique durant la période 2004-2005 aux urgences de l'hôpital Armand Trousseau, nous l'avons comparé à l'attitude constatée aux urgences et nous avons cherché à savoir si en la modifiat ( en nous basant sur l'expérience du service) nous pouvions en augmenter la spécificité tout en maintenant une sensibilité de 100%. La règle de Nigrovic achève une sensibilité de 100% et une spécificite de 60%. Il apparaît que les données de la numération formule sanguine sont les moins informatives alors que les données du LCR, dont la protéinorachie, sont les plus discriminantes pour le diagnostic différentiel. Les marqueurs de l'inflammation sont une aide à la prise de décision. Quant à la prescription d'antibiotiques aux urgences, basée sur un document d'aide à la décision (et sur une culture de service), elle achève une sensibilité de 100% et une spécificite de 88%. l ne nous en apparaît pas moins important de remettre en question la méthodologie de prise en charge de nos patients, peut-être qu'un outil de décision clinique spécifique à chaque tranche d'âge ( nourrissons et enfants) pourrait être développé.FORT-DE-FRANCE-CHRU-BU (972332102) / SudocBORDEAUX2-BU Santé (330632101) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

EXPERIMEDIA: D2.1.2: First scenarios and requirements

This deliverable provides an early first iteration on the Scenarios informing the EXPERIMEDIA project, and the Requirements we derive from them. The document provides the EXPERIMEDIA developers will an initial set of functionalities expected to be supported by the facility during the connectivity phase, to be included in the V1.0 release. The document further develops the needs of the three driving scenarios of (live and augmented, live and 3D, and live and online) along with technologies and working practices necessary to support the experimental lifecycle. The document considers the implications of the initial results of methodology D2.1.1 and provides initial requirements for security and data protection from WP

Des violences conjugales aux violences intrafamiliales

Les articles réunis dans ce numéro d'Enfances Familles Générations se veulent une contribution à une réflexion qui considère les violences psychologiques, physiques et sexuelles comme des catégories d’action publique, dont il importe de retracer la généalogie. Ils engagent à comprendre les controverses qui entourent ces catégories, les artéfacts institutionnels qui leur permettent de s’ancrer dans une réalité concrète, les acteurs et les actrices qui les portent sur la place publique ainsi que les solutions variées qui sont proposées par les pouvoirs publics ou les associations, dans divers contextes d’intervention sociale et politique

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) face-mask ventilation is an easy and cheap option to manage a massive influx of patients presenting acute respiratory failure during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: A retrospective cohort study.

IntroductionBecause of the COVID-19 pandemic, intensive care units (ICU) can be overwhelmed by the number of hypoxemic patients.Material and methodsThis single centre retrospective observational cohort study took place in a French hospital where the number of patients exceeded the ICU capacity despite an increase from 18 to 32 beds. Because of this, 59 (37%) of the 159 patients requiring ICU care were referred to other hospitals. From 27th March to 23rd April, consecutive patients who had respiratory failure or were unable to maintain an SpO2 > 90%, despite receiving 10-15 l/min of oxygen with a non-rebreather mask, were treated by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) unless the ICU physician judged that immediate intubation was indicated. We describe the characteristics, clinical course, and outcomes of these patients. The main outcome under study was CPAP discontinuation.ResultsCPAP was initiated in 49 patients and performed out of ICU in 41 (84%). Median age was 65 years (IQR = 54-71) and 36 (73%) were men. Median respiratory rate before CPAP was 36 (30-40) and median SpO2 was 92% (90-95) under 10 to 15 L/min oxygen flow. Median duration of CPAP was 3 days (IQR = 1-5). Reasons for discontinuation of CPAP were: intubation in 25 (51%), improvement in 16 (33%), poor tolerance in 6 (12%) and death in 2 (4%) patients. A decision not to intubate had been taken for 8 patients, including the 2 who died while on CPAP. Two patients underwent less than one hour CPAP for poor tolerance. In the end, 15 (38%) out of 39 evaluable patients recovered with only CPAP whereas 24 (62%) were intubated.ConclusionsCPAP is feasible in a non-ICU environment in the context of massive influx of patients. In our cohort up to 1/3 of the patients presenting with acute respiratory failure recovered without intubation

EXPERIMEDIA: D2.1.5: Second scenarios and requirements

This deliverable updates the scenarios and requirements described in D2.1.2 to include on-demand features identified during connectivity phase development, the usage by driving experiments and experiments funded through the open calls. The document provides a description of the functionality that needs to be developed within the expansion phase, to be included in the V2.0 release