The excess pressure available in water distribution networks (WDNs) is a relevant aspect in the management and appropriate handling of water resources. If a WDN meets the minimum performance criteria ...(minimum pressure and maximum flow), excess pressure can occur throughout the day, which is usually lost. These excesses could be considered as potentially recoverable energy (PRE). One way of taking advantage of this energy is to find the nodes on the network where this excess pressure is evident and try to analyze the possible amount of PRE. This work presents a methodology to determine the maximum PRE in a WDN. This methodology includes the locations of the points where the installation of recovery devices leads to this maximum PRE. The method is based on reducing pressures but maintaining circulating points through the lines. Additionally, a new energy balance that allows visualizing and breaking down in more detail all the energy found in a WDN is proposed. The analysis is carried out in an extended period considering different feeding points either by gravity or pumping. Finally, a network resilience index called the Potentially Recoverable Energy Index (PREI) in WDNs is proposed, with which it is possible to diagnose and determine how much energy could be recovered from the network. Study cases presented demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology and will allow the development of optimizations in the operation of WDNs in favor of the good management of water and energy resources.
Background
Our previous phase-3 study (TTCC 2503) failed to show overall survival advantage of 2 induction chemotherapy (IC) regimens followed by standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) over CRT ...alone in patients with unresectable locally advanced head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC). This study described the long-term survival of those patients.
Materials and methods
Long-term follow-up study of patients with untreated LAHNSCC assigned to IC (three cycles), with either docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF arm) or cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (PF arm), followed by CRT, or CRT alone, included in the previous TTCC 2503 trial.
Results
In the intention-to-treat population (
n
= 439), the median OS times were 25.4 (95% CI, 16.8–34.4), 26.2 (95% CI, 18.2–36.6) and 25.4 months (95% CI, 17.4–36.0) in the TPF-CRT, PF-CRT and CRT arms, respectively (log-rank
p
= 0.51). In the per-protocol population (
n
= 355), patients with larynx–hypopharynx primary tumors treated with IC (TPF or PF) followed by CRT had a longer median PFS than those who received CRT alone. Moreover, patients with ECOG 0 treated with IC (TPF or PF) followed by CRT had a better TTF than those with CRT alone. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of OS, PFS or TTF, according to the tumor load or affected nodes.
Conclusion
After a long follow-up, the TTCC 2503 trial failed to show the benefit of IC-CRT in unresectable LAHNSCC regarding the primary end point. However, fit patients with ECOG 0 and primary larynx–hypopharyngeal tumors may benefit from the use of IC if administered by an experienced team.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier
NCT00261703
This study was dedicated to the functional characterization of innovative poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based bilayer films containing lignocellulosic nanostructures (cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) or ...lignin nanoparticles (LNPs)) and umbelliferone (UMB) as active ingredients (AIs), prepared to be used as active food packaging. Materials proved to have active properties associated with the antioxidant action of UMB and LNPs, as the combination of both ingredients in the bilayer formulations produced a positive synergic effect inducing the highest antioxidant capacity. The results of overall migration for the PLA bilayer systems combining CNCs or LNPs and UMB revealed that none of these samples exceeded the overall migration limit required by the current normative for food packaging materials in both non-polar and polar simulants. Finally, all the hydrophobic monolayer and bilayer films were completely disintegrated in composting conditions in less than 18 days of incubation, providing a good insight on the potential use of these materials for application as active and compostable food packaging.
The objective of this report is to analyze the value of CMV viral load (VL) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) and to analyze ...the concordance between CMV quantification in plasma and BAL samples. Fifty-six patients were included; in 16 (28.6%) patients with symptoms of lung disease a BAL sample was collected, 7 (43.7%) patients had a VL >150 copies/mL (six had probable CMV pneumonia). Patients with CMV pneumonia were female (100%), of median age 53.5 years, and the median time from transplantion to onset of symptoms was 67.5 days. Pneumonia was early in three cases (incidence 5.4%). Median BAL VL was 53 250 copies/mL and plasma VL was 538 copies/mL (in one patient, the plasma VL was negative). Three (50.0%) patients had an improvement in the first week of treatment, and plasma VL became negative; the other 3 (50.0%) patients died with a CMV pneumonia refractory to treatment. Therefore, any value of CMV VL in BAL, especially if it is greater than plasma, with compatible signs or symptoms, should be considered suggestive of CMV pneumonia in recipients of AHSCT and they should receive specific treatment.
Improving the adsorption of long-term radioactive species in the underground disposal of waste waters from nuclear reactors is a key issue. The natural metal oxides or hydroxides underground have the ...low retention ability of anionic species. Here, calcined Mg/Al LDHs were used as adsorbents. The influence on the adsorption capacity of different intercalated guest anions (carbonate (CO32−) and nitrate (NO3−)) in the parent LDH was investigated, along with the effect of ultrasonication. Two Mg/Al molar ratios (3/1 and 2/1) were compared. Adsorption capacity was strongly affected by material textural properties, and the carbonate LDH-derived mixed oxides showed the largest adsorption capacity. Mixed oxides with an Mg/Al molar ratio equal to 3 presented higher iodide adsorption due to their lower charge density. The adsorption assisted by ultrasound increased iodide removal efficiency by reducing internal diffusion limitation. Two models were used to determine adsorption capacity: Langmuir and Freundlich. The iodide adsorption was best fitted by the Langmuir equilibrium model.
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•Uptake capacity is dependent on their Mg/Al molar ratio and initial interlayer anion.•The uptake capacity is strongly affected by the material textural properties.•Adsorption assisted by ultrasound increases the iodide removal efficiency.•Mass transfer was better promoted by use of ultrasound.•Iodide adsorption capacity of hydrotalcites was better fitted by Langmuir model.
Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) bilayer films, containing cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) or lignin nanoparticles (LNP) and
(UMB) were extruded and successfully layered by thermo-compression starting from ...monolayer films. Lignocellulosic nanostructures were used in PLA based film as nanofillers at 3 wt.%, while UMB was used as active ingredient (AI) at 15 wt.%. The effects of processing techniques, presence, typology and content of lignocellulosic nanoparticles have been analyzed and thermal, morphological, mechanical and optical characterization of PLA nanocomposites have been made. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies evaluated the presence of nanofillers and AI at chemical level. Bilayer formulations showed a good interfacial adhesion and improved stress at break with respect of PLA monolayers, although they were less stretchable and transparent. Data obtained from thermal, colorimetric and transparency investigations underlined that the presence of lignocellulosic nanofillers and AI in PLA monolayer and bilayer films induced relevant alterations in terms of overall color properties and thermal stability, while antioxidant activity of umbelliferone was enhanced by the addition of lignin in produced materials.
Over time, cities have grown, developing various activities and accumulating important economic assets. Floods are a problem that worry city administrators who seek to make cities more resilient and ...safer. This increase in flood events is due to different causes: poor planning, population increase, aging of networks, etc. However, the two main causes for the increase in urban flooding are the increment in frequency of extreme rainfall, generated mainly by climate change, and the increase in urbanized areas in cities, which reduce green areas, decreasing the percentage of water that seeps naturally into the soil. As a contribution to solve these problems, the work presented shows a method to rehabilitate drainage networks that contemplates implementing different actions in the network: renovation of pipes, construction of storm tanks and installation of hydraulic controls. This work focuses on evaluating the flood risk in economic terms. To achieve this, the expected annual damage from floods and the annual investments in infrastructure to control floods are estimated. These two terms are used to form an objective function to be minimized. To evaluate this objective function, an optimization model is presented that incorporates a genetic algorithm to find the best solutions to the problem; the hydraulic analysis of the network is performed with the SWMM model. This work also presents a strategy to reduce computation times by reducing the search space focused mainly on large networks. This is intended to show a complete and robust methodology that can be used by managers and administrators of drainage networks in cities.
Novel non-invasive biomarkers for the precise diagnosis of malignancy in pleural effusion (PE) are needed. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of calprotectin for ...predicting malignancy in patients with exudative PE.
Calprotectin concentration was measured in 156 individuals diagnosed with exudative PE (67 malignant and 89 benign). Calprotectin accuracy for discriminating between malignant and benign PE was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to test the association between calprotectin levels and malignant PE.
Calprotectin levels were significantly lower in malignant pleural fluid (257.2 ng ml(-1), range: 90.7-736.4) than benign effusions (2627.1 ng ml(-1), range: 21-9530.1). The area under the curve was 0.963. A cutoff point of ≤ 736.4 ng ml(-1) rendered a sensitivity of 100%, with a specificity of 83.15%, which could prove useful to delimit those patients with negative cytology tests that should be referred for more invasive diagnostic procedures. Logistic regression demonstrated a strong association between calprotectin and malignancy (adjusted OR 663.14).
Calprotectin predicts malignancy in pleural fluid with high accuracy and could be a good complement to cytological methods.
The discovery of superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates has attracted much attention due to their association to the high-
T
c
cuprates. Cuprate superconductivity was first demonstrated in ...bulk samples and subsequently in thin films. In the nickelates, however, the situation has been reversed: although surging as a bulk phenomenon, nickelate superconductivity has only been reported in thin films so far. At the same time, the specifics of infinite-layer nickelates yield distinct interface and surface effects that determine their bulk vs thin-film behavior. In this paper, we provide an overview on these important aspects.
Recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M-SCCHN) overexpresses &agr;v&bgr;5 integrin. Cilengitide selectively inhibits &agr;v&bgr;3 and &agr;v&bgr;5 integrins and ...is investigated as a treatment strategy.
The phase I/II study ADVANTAGE evaluated cilengitide combined with cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and cetuximab (PFE) in R/M-SCCHN. The phase II part reported here was an open-label, randomized, controlled trial investigating progression-free survival (PFS). Patients received up to six cycles of PFE alone or combined with cilengitide 2000 mg once (CIL1W) or twice (CIL2W) weekly. Thereafter, patients received maintenance therapy (cilengitide arms: cilengitide plus cetuximab; PFE-alone arm: cetuximab only) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
One hundred and eighty-two patients were treated. Median PFS per investigator read was similar for CIL1W + PFE, CIL2W + PFE, and PFE alone (6.4, 5.6, and 5.7 months, respectively). Accordingly, median overall survival and objective response rates were not improved with cilengitide (12.4 months/47%, 10.6 months/27%, and 11.6 months/36%, respectively). No clinically meaningful safety differences were observed between groups. None of the tested biomarkers (expression of integrins, CD31, Ki-67, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, vascular endothelial-cadherin, type IV collagen, epidermal growth factor receptor, or p16 for human papillomavirus) were predictive of outcome.
Neither of the cilengitide-containing regimens demonstrated a PFS benefit over PFE alone in R/M-SCCHN patients.
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