This research examines fired clay bricks made with waste pomace from the wine industry as an additive in brick production. To this end, we analyse and discuss the chemical, mineralogical, textural ...and physical-mechanical behaviour of fired bricks made with three concentrations of wine pomace (2.5, 5 and 10 wt%) and at three different firing temperatures (800, 950 and 1100 °C) and evaluate their durability to salt crystallization. Variations in colour were also examined. The firing process resulted in the decomposition of phyllosilicates and carbonates, the crystallization of Fe oxides and the appearance of high-temperature Ca- (and Mg-) silicates phases such as gehlenite, wollastonite, anorthite and diopside. The bricks made with added wine pomace had very similar mineralogy to the control samples made without it. The bricks made with added wine pomace were lighter than the control samples and underwent less linear shrinkage during the drying process. Particles in the wine pomace were consumed during firing, leading to the appearance of voids. The bricks made with this additive had higher levels of water absorption and poorer mechanical strength. The greatest colour differences were detected after increasing the amount of waste, which generally resulted in yellower bricks. The increase in firing temperature resulted in an improvement in mechanical resistance regardless of the composition of the bricks. However, bricks fired at 1100 °C made without additive are more resistant to damage caused by salts than those made with wine pomace.
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•The reuse of wine pomace reduces the quantity of clayey material in the production of bricks.•The addition of wine pomace augments the size and number of pores in the bricks.•Bricks with wine pomace are suitable for use as lightweight materials in the construction industry.•The addition of wine pomace modifies the lightness and chromatism of bricks, not the mineralogy.
•A new radiometric and angular calibration plan for a Martian IR radiometer.•Simplified test setups and differences with Martian environmental are described.•Spectral response analysis vs. radiation ...incidence angle and operational temperature.•Performance analysis accounting for calibration uncertainties and set-up limitations.•Uncertainties meet the scientific requirements stated by the Mars 2020 science team.
This article describes a comprehensive testing method for the radiometric and angular calibration of the Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS) onboard NASA’s Mars 2020 mission. First, details of the TIRS opto-mechanical design, construction aspects of the IR detectors, and an update of the mathematical model used for the calculation of sensor internal IR fluxes are provided. Then, a set of sequential calibration tests to identify the radiometer model parameters are defined. The test setups are described, highlighting their limitations and restrictions based on differences between simulated and actual Martian environmental conditions. Finally, the uncertainty sources and potential systematic errors associated with the calibration tests are quantified and compared with the radiometer scientific requirements established by the Mars 2020 science team.
Abstract
Introduction: Silicone oil (SO) is a crucial agent used as an intraocular tamponade in the treatment of complex vitreoretinal diseases. Despite its effectiveness, SO is prone to ...emulsification, which can lead to significant and sometimes irreversible complications in both the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. The detection and monitoring of SO emulsification are therefore of paramount importance. Traditional imaging modalities have limitations in visualizing SO, leading to the exploration of more advanced imaging techniques. This study introduces the application of dynamic infrared confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (IRcSLO) for this purpose and evaluates its effectiveness. Case Presentation: We report on 2 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with subsequent SO injection for the management of retinal detachment. Postsurgery, both patients were imaged using the Heidelberg Retina Tomography Spectralis IRcSLO. The focus was on the visualization of the SO status, including the presence and distribution of emulsified SO droplets. The IRcSLO imaging technique demonstrated its capability to effectively visualize emulsified SO droplets. Interestingly, this was also true for cases where the SO had been removed. The emulsified droplets were observed as micron-sized, spherical entities with a nonuniform distribution throughout the vitreous cavity. Conclusion: Dynamic IRcSLO has proven to be an effective imaging modality for visualizing the emulsification of SO, offering a novel perspective into the characterization of SO droplets. It facilitates the analysis of droplet count, motility, and precise localization within the vitreous cavity. The findings from the case presentations underscore the variability of SO emulsification patterns and the sensitivity of IRcSLO in detecting even minuscule emulsified droplets. This imaging technique has significant potential for future research, particularly in understanding the timing of emulsification, the factors contributing to it, and the development of possible preventive strategies. Additionally, it allows for a more in-depth analysis of the behavior of emulsified SO droplets across different SO viscosities, which could be instrumental in optimizing patient outcomes.
there is insufficient data regarding bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis to support recommendations for empiric antibiotic treatments, particularly in Latin America. This study aimed to ...evaluate bacterial infection's clinical impact and microbiological characteristics, intending to serve as a platform to revise current practices.
multicenter prospective cohort study of patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections from Argentina and Uruguay. Patient and infection-related information were collected, focusing on microbiology, antibiotic susceptibility patterns, and outcomes.
472 patients were included. Spontaneous bacterial infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs) were registered in 187 (39.6%) and 116 (24.6%) patients, respectively, representing the most common infections. Of the 256 culture-positive infections, 103 (40.2%) were caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (reaching 50% for UTI), and 181 (70.7%) received adequate initial antibiotic treatment. The coverage of cefepime and ceftriaxone was over 70% for the empirical treatment of community-acquired spontaneous infections, but ceftazidime´s coverage was only 40%. For all UTI cases and for healthcare-associated or nosocomial spontaneous bacterial infections, the lower-spectrum antibiotics that covered at least 70% of the isolations were imipenem and meropenem. During hospitalization, a second bacterial infection was diagnosed in 9.8% of patients, 23.9% required at least one organ support, and 19.5% died.
short-term mortality of bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis is very high, and a high percentage were caused by multidrug-resistant organisms, particularly in UTIs. The information provided might serve to adapt recommendations, particularly related to empirical antibiotic treatment in Argentina and Uruguay. The study was registered in Clinical Trials (NCT03919032).
•MEDA TIRS IR radiometer for Mars exploration is presented.•Radiometer’s channels orientation, bands and scientific performance are described.•A thermo-mechanical and operational description is ...provided.•Performance at the beginning and at the end of life is computed.
The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) is a suite of environmental sensors onboard NASA’s Mars 2020 mission. The Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS), developed at Centro de Astrobiología of Spain, is one of the six sensors comprising MEDA, and it will measure the net thermal infrared radiation and reflected solar radiation at the surface, as well as the atmospheric and surface skin temperatures using five different channels. In combination with MEDA's other sensors, TIRS will allow the quantification of the surface energy budget and the determination of key geophysical properties of the terrain such as the albedo and thermal inertia. Here we present a general description of the TIRS, its channels scientific requirements, and the mechanical and thermal design. Then, a detailed sensor mathematical model and a sensitivity analysis to model uncertainties are described. Some characterization test results to model parameters identification are included. Finally, accuracy and resolution calculus for each channel versus operational temperature is presented. The calculus is performed based on sensitivity equations, the practical tests results and the estimated values for different uncertainty sources.
We describe the parameters that drive the design and modeling of the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) Ground Temperature Sensor (GTS), an instrument aboard NASA's Mars Science ...Laboratory, and report preliminary test results. REMS GTS is a lightweight, low-power, and low cost pyrometer for measuring the Martian surface kinematic temperature. The sensor's main feature is its innovative design, based on a simple mechanical structure with no moving parts. It includes an in-flight calibration system that permits sensor recalibration when sensor sensitivity has been degraded by deposition of dust over the optics. This paper provides the first results of a GTS engineering model working in a Martian-like, extreme environment.
The two upward‐looking Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS) channels from the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) instrument suite on board the Perseverance rover enable the retrieval of total ...aerosol optical depth (dust plus water ice cloud) above the rover for all observations when TIRS is taken. Because TIRS observes at thermal infrared wavelengths, the retrievals are possible during both the day and night and thus, they provide an excellent way to monitor both the diurnal and seasonal variations of aerosols above Jezero Crater. A retrieval algorithm has been developed for this purpose and here, we describe that algorithm along with our results for the first 400 sols of the Perseverance mission covering nearly the entire aphelion season as well as a regional dust storm and the beginning of the perihelion season. We find systematic diurnal variations in aerosol optical depth that can be associated with dust and water ice clouds as well as a clear change from a cloud‐filled aphelion season to a perihelion season where dust is the dominant aerosol. A comparison of retrieved optical depths between TIRS and the SkyCam camera that is also part of MEDA indicates evidence of possible diurnal variations in cloud height or particle size.
Plain Language Summary
Observations made by the Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS) instrument on the Perseverance rover enable the amount of airborne dust and clouds above the rover to be determined. The TIRS instrument observes thermal infrared radiation so it can observe the dust and clouds both during the day and night. Here, we present results for the first 13 months of observations by TIRS. These results show that the dust and clouds vary as a function of season on Mars and as a function of the time of day. At the beginning of the period of time studied here, there were more clouds than dust, and the clouds were maximum just before dawn and just after dusk. Later in the season, dust became the dominant aerosol, with the diurnal maximum near midday.
Key Points
The Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS) upward‐looking sensors enable the retrieval of total aerosol optical depth during both day and night
Aerosol optical depth shows clear diurnal and seasonal trends. Diurnal maximum opacity is near dawn for clouds and near noon for dust
TIRS retrievals of aerosol optical depth can detail the complex time history of rapidly changing events such as dust storms
Predicting short-term mortality in patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections is challenging.
To compare the performance of various scores in predicting in-hospital mortality in this ...population.
We performed an analysis of the multicenter prospective cohort study of patients with cirrhosis with bacterial infections throughout Argentina and Uruguay (clinicatrials.gov.NCT03919032). Patients were classified according to the CLIF criteria as having ACLF or mere acute decompensation (AD). We evaluated the performance of scores of liver disease and infection severity in predicting in-hospital mortality. MELD, MELD-Na, and Quick SOFA (qSOFA) were computed in all patients. CLIF-AD was only computed in patients without ACLF, and CLIF-ACLF only in patients with ACLF. We plotted ROC curves and estimated their area under the curve (AUROC).
We included 472 patients: 66% male, mean age 57 ± 12 years. Most frequent infections: SBP (30%) and urinary tract infection (25%). Overall, 332 (70%) patients had acute decompensation, and 140 (30%) ACLF. In-hospital mortality rate was 19%: 41% in patients with ACLF vs 10% in patients with AD (p<0,001). When we evaluated the AUROC of the entire cohort, MELD and MELD-Na performed similarly: 0.74 (95% CI 0.68-0.81) and 0.74 (95% CI 0.67-0.80), respectively; whereas qSOFA showed the lowest performance: 0.62 (95% CI 0.57-0.68). When evaluating only patients with ACLF, CLIF-ACLF performed significantly better than the other ones: AUROC 0.76 (95% CI 0.67-0.84, p =0.01). All scores performed poorly in patients with AD (Figure).
The best tool to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with infection-related ACLF was the CLIF-ACLF score. In patients with infection-related AD, all scores performed poorly. Evaluation of the scores performance is of paramount importance in different regions and for each complication of cirrhosis separately.
Antibiotic de-escalation is considered a safe strategy that reduces costs and the risk of multi-drug resistant infections. However, its prevalence and associated factors in real-life practice were ...not reported in patients with cirrhosis in Latin-America.
To estimate the prevalence of antibiotic de-escalation in patients with cirrhosis in real life-practice, and to explore its associated factors.
We performed an analysis of the multicenter prospective cohort study of cirrhotic patients with bacterial infections throughout Argentina and Uruguay (clinicatrials.gov NCT03919032). Patients who died in the first 72 hs from the diagnosis of the infection were excluded. In accordance with guidelines, de-escalation was defined as changing the initially antimicrobials to a narrower spectrum regimen, or suspending one or more of the empirical antibiotics, according to culture results or to other clinical reasons, either in patients with culture-positive or culture-negative bacterial infections. We used inverse probability weighting (IPW) of having a culture-positive infection to estimate its causal effect on de-escalation.
We included 450 patients. Most frequent infections were SBP (30.4%), and urinary tract infection (12.9%). Overall, 243 (54%) infections were culture-positive, and 207 (46%) culture-negative. De-escalation was reported in 85 patients (18.9%: 95% CI 15%-22%) at a mean of 3.3 ± 2.4 days from treatment initiation and was more frequent in culture-positive than culture-negative infections (28.4% vs 7.7%, p< 0.001). The table shows the crude analyses of variables associated with de-escalation. Culture-positive infection was strongly and independently associated with de-escalation (ORIPW 6.08; 95% CI: 2.90-12.70; p < 0.001).
Antibiotic de-escalation was reported in one-fifth of in-patients with cirrhosis. Given that having a culture-positive infection had a strong effect on de-escalation, efforts should be made to increase the likelihood of obtaining adequate culture samples in a timely manner.
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