Hybrid modeling of a biorefinery separation process to monitor short-term and long-term membrane fouling

Membrane filtration is commonly used in biorefineries to separate cells from fermentation broths containing the desired products. However, membrane fouling can cause short-term process disruption and long-term membrane degradation. The evolution of membrane resistance over time can be monitored to track fouling, but this calls for adequate sensors in the plant. This requirement might not be fulfilled even in modern biorefineries, especially when multiple, tightly interconnected membrane modules are used. Therefore, characterization of fouling in industrial facilities remains a challenge. In this study, we propose a hybrid modeling strategy to characterize both reversible and irreversible fouling in multi-module biorefinery membrane separation systems. We couple a linear data-driven model, to provide high-frequency estimates of trans-membrane pressures from the available measurements, with a simple nonlinear knowledge-driven model, to compute the resistances of the individual membrane modules. We test the proposed strategy using real data from the world's first industrial biorefinery manufacturing 1,4-bio-butanediol via fermentation of renewable raw materials. We show how monitoring of individual resistances, even when done by simple visual inspection, offers valuable insight on the reversible and irreversible fouling state of the membranes. We also discuss the advantage of the proposed approach, over monitoring trans-membrane pressures and permeate fluxes, from the standpoints of data variability, effect of process changes, interaction between module in multi-module systems, and fouling dynamics

Optimization of the appearance quality in CO2 processed ready-to-eat carrots through image analysis

A high-pressure CO2 process applied to ready-to-eat food products guarantees an increase of both their microbial safety and shelf-life. However, the treatment often produces unwanted changes in the visual appearance of products depending on the adopted process conditions. Accordingly, the alteration of the visual appearance influences consumers’ perception and acceptability. This study aims at identifying the optimal treatment conditions in terms of visual appearance by using an artificial vision system. The developed methodology was applied to fresh-cut carrots (Daucus carota) as the test product. The results showed that carrots packaged in 100% CO2 and subsequently treated at 6 MPa and 40◦C for 15 min maintained an appearance similar to the fresh product for up to 7 days of storage at 4◦C. Mild appearance changes were identified at 7 and 14 days of storage in the processed products. Microbiological analysis performed on the optimal treatment condition showed the microbiological stability of the samples up to 14 days of storage at 4◦C. The artificial vision system, successfully applied to the CO2 pasteurization process, can easily be applied to any food process involving changes in the appearance of any food product

In vivo effect of pneumonia on surfactant disaturated-phosphatidylcholine kinetics in newborn infants

Bacterial pneumonia in newborns often leads to surfactant deficiency or dysfunction, as surfactant is inactivated or its production/turnover impaired. No data are available in vivo in humans on the mechanism of surfactant depletion in neonatal pneumonia. We studied the kinetics of surfactant's major component, disaturated-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC), in neonatal pneumonia, and we compared our findings with those obtained from control newborn lungs

Análise da biomassa em pastagens com indicativos de degradação na bacia do Alto Tocantins.

Resumo: O presente estudo objetivou aplicar o Surface Algorithm For Retrieving Evapotranspiration (SAFER) e imagens MODIS, juntamente com medições de campo, para analisar a biomassa de acordo com classes indicativas de degradação das pastagens na Bacia Hidrográfica do Alto Tocantins. Para o ano de 2012 observou-se que as classes não degradado e baixa degradação tiveram valores de biomassa muito próximos, com média em torno de 1550 kg ha-1 mês-1. Para as classes de degradação moderada e forte a biomassa média foi de 1400 e 965 kg ha-1 mês-1, respectivamente. Estes resultados indicam perda significativa do potencial de produção das áreas de pastagens. Abstract: This study aimed to apply the Surface Algorithm For Retrieving Evapotranspiration (SAFER) and MODIS images together with field measurements in order to analyze the biomass in each class with indicatives of degradation of pastures in the Watershed Alto Tocantins. For the year 2012 it was observed that biomass in the low degradation class was very close to the values found for pasture areas of nondegraded class, with average value around 1,550 kg ha-1 month-1. For the classes of moderate and strong degradation the average biomass was 1,400 and 965 kg ha-1 month- 1, respectively. These results indicate significant loss of potential production of pasture areas

L’abilità di Decision Making dello studente infermiere e la soddisfazione degli utenti: l’esperienza del Corso di Laurea in Infermieristica di Torino

Introduction. The objectives of a clinic stage were to measure the ability of Decision Making in the 3rd year students before and after stage, where structured educational and tutorial strategies were adopted and to evaluate the level of satisfaction perceived by hospitalized patients. Materials and methods. The study presented is quasi-experimental pre-post. The sample consisted of 14 students of the 3rd year who were asked to produce six clinical cases, for a total of 84 planning assistance both before and after the clinical stage. During the stage clinical case discussions led by the tutor, briefing and debriefing sessions once a week were conducted and the nursing care has been delivered on care plans constructed by the students. The assessment of the degree of user satisfaction was performed using the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales questionnaire, administered both during the internship of students, that in a later date. Results. Students have shown an increase from 19% to 69% in the ability to recognize the priority issues in the post-test as well as relevant interventions, which have grown from 24 to 33%. The related factors and defining characteristics are improved at the limit of statistical significance. Patients were fully satisfied by the students support they received during the clinic stage, but also by the standard care delivered during their absence. Conclusions. The educational and tutorial strategies experienced seem to be significantly related to the ability of Decision Making. The place of training for nursing students has proven to be an effective model of care

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma: European multicentre case-series and systematic literature review

Objective. Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma (BSNS) is a rare low-grade cancer that was included from the 4th edition of WHO classification of head and neck tumours. The purpose of this study is to analyse clinical behaviour, pattern of recurrences and survival outcomes of this neoplasm. Methods. Retrospective review of patients affected by BSNS who were treated via an en-doscopic-assisted approach in 6 European tertiary-care referral hospitals. Cases of BSNS described in literature since 2012 to date were fully reviewed, according to PRISMA guide-lines. Results. A total of 15 patients were included. Seven patients were treated via an endoscopic endonasal approach, 4 with endoscopic transnasal craniectomy, and 4 via a cranio-endoscopic approach. Adjuvant treatment was delivered in 2 cases. After a mean follow-up of 27.3 months, systemic metastasis was observed in 1 case; the 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 100% and 80 ± 17.9%, respectively. Conclusions. BSNS is a locally aggressive tumour with a low recurrence rate and encour-aging survival outcomes if properly treated with surgical resection and free margins fol-lowed by adjuvant radiotherapy for selected cases. Endoscopic-assisted surgery is safe and effective as an upfront treatment within a multidisciplinary care protocol

Vitamin D3 Supplementation: An Option Associated with The Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic complex neurodegenerative disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on observational studies and analytics on impact of Vitamin D supplementation in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. In our research, a total of 457 articles were selected and identified for analysis. This systematic review article and meta-analysis, which included evidence from randomized controlled trials conducted with patients with multiple sclerosis, revealed that Vitamin D3 supplementation is effective as an option associated with the treatment of this disease, and that it also has a diffuse protective role against various remission outbreaks in the health. Doses (50,000 IU/week) are appropriate to restore neuroimmunological parameters when used within 12 weeks

The Use of Vitamin D in The Infectious Process in The Hospital Period in Childhood Effective?

Goals: To verify whether the use of Vitamin D as parallel therapy to hospital and drug treatment can be effective in the process of infectious reduction in hospitalized children. Data source: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, published between 2011 and the first quarter of 2019, in the Cochrane Library, Medline, US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health (PubMed), Literature databases. Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (Lilacs), Scopus and Web of Science. The studies were scored by the Down and Black scale associated with the quality assessment method according to the Cochrane criteria (RCT). Summary of the data: Of the 1475 studies, 09 were included. There is a direct relationship between Vitamin D level and mortality rate in hospitalized children with infections. Conclusion: This study highlighted that the vitamin D deficiency in children under serum analysis during hospitalization triggers severe immunological changes

Emergence of qualia from brain activity or from an interaction of proto-consciousness with the brain: which one is the weirder? Available evidence and a research agenda

This contribution to the science of consciousness aims at comparing how two different theories can explain the emergence of different qualia experiences, meta-awareness, meta-cognition, the placebo effect, out-of-body experiences, cognitive therapy and meditation-induced brain changes, etc. The first theory postulates that qualia experiences derive from specific neural patterns, the second one, that qualia experiences derive from the interaction of a proto-consciousness with the brain\u2019s neural activity. From this comparison it will be possible to judge which one seems to better explain the different qualia experiences and to offer a more promising research agenda