Developments in microbial fuel cell modeling Ortiz-Martínez, V.M.; Salar-García, M.J.; de los Ríos, A.P. ...
Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996),
07/2015, Volume:
271
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
•Modeling is a powerful tool for the in-depth study and optimization of MFCs.•MFC modeling allows valuable data to be collected for decision-making.•MFC models can be classified according to the ...approach they follow and their complexity.•MFC modeling studies remain scarce compared with experimental works.
Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) offer promising prospects in the field of renewable energy since green electrical power is produced by the microbial activity and wastewater is treated simultaneously. MFCs are complex devices whose study requires an interdisciplinary approach as many processes of a diverse nature are involved. Interest in MFC has significantly increased in recent decades, and much scientific effort has been dedicated to making this technology more efficient. However, the focus has been on experimental work, and MFC modeling has tended to be neglected, and only recently has it received more attention with a consequent rise in the number of new MFC models available. Modeling is an effective tool for gaining a better understanding of MFCs, since it has many advantages in terms of cost and time savings. The present article looks at the state of modeling and simulation of MFCs and outlines and classifies the most prominent models described in the literature. Since modeling approaches can vary greatly from case to case, this work will summarize the advantages and drawbacks of each approach, including not only models based on classic approaches but also those using mathematical optimization techniques.
The present study shows the results of solar photo-Fenton oxidation of paracetamol (PCT) and amoxicillin (AMX). Fe2(SO4)3 was used as the source of iron and EDDS as the iron complexing agent, ...employing different doses of hydrogen peroxide. Two aqueous matrices, a synthetic wastewater and real wastewater from El Ejido WWTP effluent (Almeria) were used. In all cases, the process was operated under conditions of natural sunlight.
Results showed that the degradation of both drugs is favoured when the aqueous matrix presents low concentration of carbonates. Under the conditions studied here, degradation percentages above 90% were obtained in the synthetic wastewater and 80% in the actual effluent. The degradation products were determined using liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight analyser. The intermediates detected throughout the oxidative process for both micro-contaminants were mainly products of hydroxylation reactions.
The toxicity of the samples was determined using the bacterium Vibrio fischeri. In the acute toxicity test, it was observed that the bacteria did not undergo inhibition in any of the cases. However, chronic toxicity studies showed that the higher the Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) employed in the assays, the higher the bacterial inhibition.
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•Solar photo-Fenton successfully degraded microcontaminants under natural sunlight and circumneutral pH.•90% and 80% degradation percentages were obtained in the synthetic wastewater and actual effluent.•In acute toxicity tests, bacteria did not undergo inhibition in any of the cases.
Analysis of urine samples from COVID-19 patients by
1
H NMR reveals important metabolic alterations due to SAR-CoV-2 infection. Previous studies have identified biomarkers in urine that reflect ...metabolic alterations in COVID-19 patients. We have used
1
H NMR to better define these metabolic alterations since this technique allows us to obtain a broad profile of the metabolites present in urine. This technique offers the advantage that sample preparation is very simple and gives us very complete information on the metabolites present. To detect these alterations, we have compared urine samples from COVID-19 patients (n = 35) with healthy people (n = 18). We used unsupervised (Robust PCA) and supervised (PLS-LDA) multivariate analysis methods to evaluate the differences between the two groups: COVID-19 and healthy controls. The differences focus on a group of metabolites related to energy metabolism (glucose, ketone bodies, glycine, creatinine, and citrate) and other processes related to bacterial flora (TMAO and formic acid) and detoxification (hippuric acid). The alterations in the urinary metabolome shown in this work indicate that SARS-CoV-2 causes a metabolic change from a normal situation of glucose consumption towards a gluconeogenic situation and possible insulin resistance.
This work evaluates the effect of agricultural plastic waste (APW) in two particle sizes, microplastic and film debris, and subjected to a pre-treatment by exposure to UV-C, in the development of the ...vermicomposting process. Eisenia fetida health status and metabolic response and the vermicompost quality and enzymatic activity were determined. The environmental significant of this study is mainly related to how can affect plastic presence (depending on plastic type, size and/or if it is partially degraded) not only to this biological process of organic waste degradation, but also to the vermicompost characteristics, since these organic materials will be reintroduced in the environment as organic amendments and/or fertilizers in agriculture. The plastic presence induced a significant negative effect in survival and body weight of E. fetida with an average decrease of 10% and 15%, respectively, and differences on the characteristics of the vermicomposts obtained, mainly related with NPK content. Although the plastic proportion tested (1.25% f. w.) did not induce acute toxicity in worms, effects of oxidative stress were found. Thus, the exposure of E. fetida to AWP with smaller size or pre-treated with UV seemed to induce a biochemical response, but the mechanism of oxidative stress response did not seem to be dependent on the size or shape of plastic fragments or pre-treated plastic.
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•Plastic presence reduced E. fetida survival (10%) and body weight (15%).•Vermicompost characteristics depended on plastic materials, especially PET and PS.•E. fetida oxidative stress response was not dependent on size or treated plastic.
Purpose
Familial papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (FPTMC) can present a more aggressive behavior than the sporadic microcarcinoma. However, few studies have analyzed this situation. The objective is ...to analyze the recurrence rate of FPTMC and the prognostic factors which determine that recurrence in Spain.
Methods
Spanish multicenter longitudinal analytical observational study was conducted. Patients with FPTMC received treatment with curative intent and presented cure criteria 6 months after treatment. Recurrence rate and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed. Two groups were analyzed: group A (no tumor recurrence) vs. group B (tumor recurrence).
Results
Ninety-four patients were analyzed. During a mean follow-up of 73.3 ± 59.3 months, 13 recurrences of FPTMC (13.83%) were detected and mean DFS was 207.9 ± 11.5 months. There were multifocality in 56%, bilateral thyroid involvement in 30%, and vascular invasion in 7.5%; that is to say, they are tumors with histological factors of poor prognosis in a high percentage of cases. The main risk factors for recurrence obtained in the multivariate analysis were the tumor size (OR: 2.574, 95% CI 1.210–5.473;
p
= 0.014) and the assessment of the risk of recurrence of the American Thyroid Association (ATA), both intermediate risk versus low risk (OR: 125, 95% CI 10.638–1000;
p
< 0.001) and high risk versus low risk (OR: 45.454, 95% CI 5.405–333.333;
p
< 0.001).
Conclusion
FPTMC has a recurrence rate higher than sporadic cases. Poor prognosis is mainly associated with the tumor size and the risk of recurrence of the ATA.
Graphical abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) is the cause of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It has been hypothesized oral health may be related to the ...severity and complications of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of apical periodontitis and the frequency of root canal treatment in a sample of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19), correlating them with the severity of the disease.
This retrospective study was conducted following the Strengthening Reporting Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. The study examined 280 patients with positive real time PCR COVID-19 test whose treatment was performed in our hospital. Fifty-two patients aged 52.3 ± 17.3 years, including 30 males and 22 females, who had an orthopantomography in their clinical record, performed in the last 2 years, were included. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were grouped as mild or moderate (MM) and severe or critical (SC) illness groups, according to the NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines (Wu & McGoogan 2020). Radiographic records were analyzed and apical periodontitis (AP) was diagnosed as radiolucent periapical lesions (RPLs), using the periapical index score (PAI). Student's t test, χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression were used in the statistical analysis.
The number of carious teeth was significantly higher in the SC group (3.4 ± 4.1), which showed more than twice as many teeth with carious lesions than the MM group (1.4 ± 1.8) (p = 0.02). Multivariate regression analysis showed association between the number of carious teeth and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 disease (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1-2.1; p = 0.017). Endodontic status (OR = 7.12; 95% CI = 1.2-40.9; p = 0.027) also correlated with the disease severity.
The results suggest that the oral health status of COVID-19 patients correlated with the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. Significant association has been found between the severity of COVID-19 disease and the presence of a greater number of teeth with caries lesions, as well as with endodontic status.
Sludge from Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been determined as a sink of microplastics (MP) removed from wastewater. The aim of this research work has been to evaluate the presence of these ...pollutants in the sludge of seven WWTPs (five urban and two industrial), located in southern Spain. Samples were collected in the primary, secondary and digested sludge matrixes, MPs were extracted following wet peroxide oxidation and the removal of cellulose, finally the samples were analyzed according to their abundance, size (from 100 μm to 5 mm), shape, colour, and polymer type. Subsequently, the data obtained on the WWTPs were compared, the main difference among the WWTPs and different sample points showed high heterogeneity in terms of abundance of microplastics, due to the differences in the sludge loaded, the processes and the type of sludge. The results from this study established that the most abundant shape was fibers; regarding the size, 100–355 μm fraction was the most abundant, showing that the amount of MPs increased when the size decreased. Regarding the type of polymers, 23 were identified by ATR-FTIR. Further, Acrylate, PE, EAA and PP were the most abundant found polymers. The presence of MPs in the digested sludge varied from 0.02 ± 0.006 MP g DW−1 to 57.18 ± 20.69 MP g DW−1 in the WWTP 6 (food industry) and WWTP 3 (urban city over 212,000 inhabitants), respectively; higher abundance of MPs found in the primary sludge in respect to secondary sludge; in concordance with the removal from wastewater line reported in other studies. The results obtained showed that MPs were widely present in sludge, becoming a sink of these pollutants, estimating that among 8.05 · 104 and 1.77 · 109 MPs · day−1 were loaded to sludge; therefore, these facilities act as a significant source of MPs into agriculture when sludge is used as soil amendment.
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•MPs were found in all sludge samples, from primary, secondary and digested sludge.•Great heterogeneity in terms of MPs abundance ranging from 0.02 to 57.18 MP/g DW.•Fibers were the most abundant shape and 44% of the particles were under 355 μm.•Twenty-three polymers were identified, where PE, PP and Acrylates were the predominant.•Sewage and industrial sludge act as a sink of MPs into soil when used as agriculture amendment.
Background
Familial papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (FPTMC) appears to be more aggressive than sporadic papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (SPTMC). However, there are authors who indicate that ...unicentric FPTMC has a similar prognosis to SPTMC. The objective is to analyze whether unicentric FPTMC has a better prognosis than multicentric FPTMC.
Design and methods
Type of study: National multicenter longitudinal analytical observational study. Study population: Patients with FPTMC. Study groups: Two groups were compared: Group A (unicentric FPTMC) vs. Group B (multicentric FPTMC). Study variables: It is analyzed whether between the groups there are: a) differentiating characteristics; and b) prognostic differences. Statistical analysis: Cox regression analysis and survival analysis.
Results
Ninety-four patients were included, 44% (
n
= 41) with unicentric FPTMC and 56% (
n
= 53) with multicentric FPTMC. No differences were observed between the groups according to socio-familial, clinical or histological variables. In the group B a more aggressive treatment was performed, with higher frequency of total thyroidectomy (99 vs. 78%;
p
= 0.003), lymph node dissection (41 vs. 15%;
p
= 0.005) and therapy with radioactive iodine (96 vs. 73%;
p
= 0.002). Tumor stage was similar in both groups (
p
= 0.237), with a higher number of T3 cases in the group B (24 vs. 5%;
p
= 0.009). After a mean follow-up of 90 ± 68.95 months, the oncological results were similar, with a similar disease persistence rate (9 vs. 5%;
p
= 0.337), disease recurrence rate (21 vs. 8%;
p
= 0.159) and disease-free survival (
p
= 0.075).
Conclusions
Unicentric FPTMC should not be considered as a SPTMC due to its prognosis is similar to multicentric FPTMC.
Graphical Abstract
Gonorrhoea infections are frequently diagnosed at extragenital locations in asymptomatic individuals and are historically related to poor recovery in culture, which hinders antimicrobial ...susceptibility testing. The aim of this study was to evaluate recovery rates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by culture among asymptomatic individuals who tested positive by nucleic acid amplification tests between 2018 and 2019 in Barcelona (Spain). In total, 10 396 individuals were tested for N. gonorrhoeae on first‐void urine, rectal, pharyngeal and/or vaginal swabs depending on sexual behaviour. Overall infection prevalence was 5·5% (95% confidence interval CI 5·0–5·9). Seven hundred and ten samples were positive corresponding to 567 individuals. The most common site of infection was the pharynx (71·3%), followed by rectum (23·1%) and genitals (4·7%) (P < 0·0001). The N. gonorrhoeae recovery rate in culture, time from positive screening to culture specimen and inoculation delay were calculated. Recovery rate was 21·7% in pharynx, 66·9% in rectum and 37·0% in genitals (25·0% vagina, 71·4% urethra) (P < 0·0001). Median culture collection time was 1 0; 3 days, and median inoculation delay was 5·01 4·99–7·99 h, with no impact on N. gonorrhoeae recovery, P = 0·8367 and P = 0·7670, respectively. Despite efforts towards optimizing pre‐analytical conditions, the N. gonorrhoeae recovery rate in asymptomatic individuals is unacceptably low (especially for pharynx), representing a problem for monitoring antimicrobial‐resistant infections.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture remains indispensable to monitor antimicrobial‐resistant infections. This standardized study shows that the infection location of gonorrhoea directly impacts on culture recovery. We report that recovery of N. gonorrhoeae from extragenital sites (especially pharynx) is unacceptably low and that reducing pre‐analytical times is not sufficient to optimize culture recovery.
This study investigates whether early clozapine use is associated with improved responses in different clinical domains, including positive and negative symptoms, functioning, and well-being.
Data ...from 254 clozapine-treated patients at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) were analysed. Among them, 231 (90.9 %) had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, 21 (8.3 %) schizoaffective disorder, and 2 (0.8 %) had other diagnoses. The International Classification of Diseases-Mortality and Morbidity Statistics criteria (ICD-10) were employed (World Health Organization, 1992). The cohort was assessed using the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), and the short version of Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS). Logistic regression models (for positive and negative symptom remission) and linear regression (for functioning and well-being) were utilized to assess the influence of time to clozapine initiation (TCI), age at the first episode of psychosis (AFE), duration of clozapine treatment (DCT), and gender.
Early clozapine treatment (within the first three years after the first episode of psychosis) was associated with increased negative symptom remission (exp (B) = 0.38; p = 0.02) and higher functioning scores (β = −0.12, p = 0.046). However, no effect of time to clozapine initiation was found on positive symptom remission rates or well-being scores.
Initiating clozapine treatment within the first 3 years of the first episode of psychosis may lead to reduced severity of negative symptoms and improved functioning in clozapine-treated patients. The time to clozapine initiation did not influence its effect on positive symptom remission rates.
