The work was conducted to establish contamination from improper disposal of hazardous wastes containing lead (Pb) and antimony (Sb) into nearby soils. Besides other elements in the affected area, the ...biological role of Sb, its behaviour in the pedosphere and uptake by plants and the food chain was considered. Wastes contained 139532 ± 9601 mg kg−1 (≈14%) Pb and 3645 ± 194 mg kg−1 (≈0.4%) Sb respectively and variability was extremely high at a decimetre scale. Dramatically high concentrations were also found for As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Sn and Zn. In adjacent natural soils metal(oid)s amounts decreased considerably (Pb 5034 ± 678 mg kg−1, Sb 112 mg kg−1) though largely exceeded the directives for a given soil use. Metal(oid)s potential mobility was assessed by using H2O→KNO3→EDTA sequential extractions, and EDTA extracts showed the highest concentration suggesting stable humus-metal complexes formation. Nevertheless, selected plants showed high absorption potential of the investigated elements. Pb and Sb values for Dittrichia viscosa grown in wastes was 899 ± 627 mg kg−1 and 37 ± 33 mg kg−1 respectively. The same plant showed 154 ± 99 mg kg−1 Pb and 8 ± 4 mg kg−1 Sb in natural soils. Helichrysum stoechas had 323 ± 305 mg kg−1 Pb, and 8 ± 3 mg kg−1 Sb. Vitis vinifera from alongside vineyards contained 129 ± 88 mg kg−1 Pb and 18 ± 9 mg kg−1 Sb, indicating ability for metal uptake and warning on metal diffusion through the food chain. The biological absorption coefficient (BAC) and the translocation factor (TF) assigned phytoextraction potential to Dittrichia viscosa and Foeniculum vulgare and phytostabilization potential to Helichrysum stoechas. Dissolved metal (oid)s in the analysed water strongly exceeded the current directive being a direct threat for livings. Data warned against the high contamination of the affected area in all its compartments. Even though native plants growing in metal-contaminated sites may have phytoremediation potential, high risk of metal diffusion may threat the whole ecosystem.
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•High metal (oid)s concentrations warn on pollution hazard and pose environmental risk.•Low theoretical toxic element mobility to biota may be underestimated.•High concentration of metals and metalloids absorbed by selected plants.•Helichrysum stoechas and Dittricia vioscosa phytoremediation efficiency proved.•Foeniculum vulgare as new native plant for natural phytoremediation.
Toxic metal (oid)s persist for a long time threating ecosystems quality and human health, thus the identification of areas at risk, their extent and potential hazard through dispersal and bioavailability is of great relevance prior to establish remediation technologies.
Review of Aurora Egido, “Don Quijote de la Mancha” o el triunfo de la ficción
caballeresca, Madrid, Cátedra, 2023.
Reseña de: Aurora Egido, “Don Quijote de la Mancha” o el triunfo de la ficción
...caballeresca, Madrid, Cátedra, 2023.
La investigación de la conectividad de las sociedades pasadas a través de evidencia arqueológica ha ido integrando diversas herramientas computacionales, que han mejorado nuestra comprensión de ...las dinámicas de interacción entre grupos y territorios. Esta adopción de métodos computacionales en arqueología no ha tenido un desarrollo paralelo en la investigación histórica, pese al enorme potencial de las fuentes textuales para explorar patrones de conectividad a gran escala. Este trabajo aplica un enfoque basado en Humanidades Digitales para analizar la red de suministro de Barcelona durante el asedio llevado a cabo por los ejércitos combinados de Francia y España entre julio de 1713 y septiembre de 1714. Los resultados muestran que la ciudad, lejos del mito popular de la defensa desesperada y aislada, generó una compleja red de conectividad marítima con otros territorios imperiales que garantizó su abastecimiento e imposibilitó cualquier intento de capturar la ciudad. Este equilibrio finalizó tan sólo cuando las monarquías borbónicas desplegaron nuevos navíos de línea que consiguieron el bloqueo efectivo de la ciudad en julio de 1714, permitiendo así la derrota final de sus defensores dos meses después. Más allá del caso de estudio, el trabajo propone una metodología para el estudio de dinámicas complejas de conectividad a partir de fuentes textuales a través de la combinación de tres herramientas computacionales: la anotación de textos, los Sistemas de Información Geográfica, y la visualización de datos.
Aminopolycarboxylates, like ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), are chelating agents widely used in several industrial, agricultural, and domestic ...applications. However, the fact that they are not biodegradable leads to the presence of considerable amounts in aquatic systems, with serious environmental consequences. The replacement of these compounds by biodegradable alternatives has been the object of study in the last three decades. This paper reviews the most relevant studies towards the use of environmentally friendly chelating agents in a large number of applications: oxidative bleaching, detergents and cleaning compositions, scale prevention and reduction, remediation of soils, agriculture, electroplating, waste treatment, and biocides. Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), and iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) are the most commonly suggested to replace the nonbiodegradable chelating agents. Depending on the application, the requirements for metal complexation might differ. Metal chelation ability of the most promising compounds NTA, EDDS, IDS, methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), L-glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), ethylenediamine-N,N′-diglutaric acid (EDDG), ethylenediamine-N,N′-dimalonic acid (EDDM), 3-hydroxy-2,2-iminodisuccinic acid (HIDS), 2-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA), pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDA) with Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ca, and Mg was simulated by computer calculations. The advantages or disadvantages of each compound for the most important applications were discussed.
Aims To determine 3-year event rates in outpatients with vascular disease enrolled in the REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) Registry. Methods and results REACH enrolled 67 ...888 outpatients with atherothrombosis established coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral arterial disease (PAD), or with at least three atherothrombotic risk factors, from 44 countries. Among the 55 499 patients at baseline with symptomatic disease, 39 675 were eligible for 3-year follow-up, and 32 247 had data available (81% retention rate). Among the symptomatic patients at 3 years, 92% were taking an antithrombotic agent, 91% an antihypertensive, and 76% were on lipid-lowering therapy. For myocardial infarction (MI)/stroke/vascular death, 1- and 3-year event rates for all patients were 4.2 and 11.0%, respectively. Event rates (MI/stroke/vascular death) were significantly higher for patients with symptomatic disease vs. those with risk factors only at 1 year (4.7 vs. 2.3%, P < 0.001) and at 3 years (12.0 vs. 6.0%, P < 0.001). One and 3-year rates of MI/stroke/vascular death/rehospitalization were 14.4 and 28.4%, respectively, for patients with symptomatic disease. Rehospitalization for a vascular event other than MI/stroke/vascular death was common at 3 years (19.0% overall; 33.6% for PAD; 23.0% for CAD). For patients with symptomatic vascular disease in one vascular bed vs. multiple vascular beds, 3-year event rates for MI/stroke/vascular death/rehospitalization were 25.5 vs. 40.5% (P < 0.001). Conclusion Despite contemporary therapy, outpatients with symptomatic atherothrombotic vascular disease experience high rates of recurrent vascular events and rehospitalizations.
This work investigated the presence of 21 emerging contaminants of various chemical groups (7 estrogens, 3 progestogens, 6 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and 5 acidic pesticides) ...in the Llobregat river basin (NE Spain). Waters from the outlet of various sewage treatment plants (STP) and waterworks located along the river basin, as well as water samples from the river or its tributaries upstream and downstream of these plants were analysed in two pilot monitoring studies. Chemical analyses were performed by means of on-line or off-line solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry. Methods detection limits (in ng/L) were ⩽0.85 for estrogens, ⩽3.94 for progestogens, ⩽30 for PPCPs, and ⩽0.99 for pesticides. Of the estrogens and progestogens analysed, only estrone-3-sulfate, estrone, estriol and progesterone were found to be present in the low nanogram per liter range in some of the samples investigated. Except for atenolol, all PPCPs studied (ibuprofen, diclofenac, clofibric acid, salicylic acid, and triclosan) could be identified at levels usually lower than 250
ng/L and up to 1200
ng/l (diclofenac). Of the various pesticides investigated (2,4-D, bentazone; MCPA, mecoprop and propanil) MCPA and 2,4-D were the most ubiquitous and abundant and bentazone the only one not detected. Individual concentrations were most often below 100
ng/L and never surpassed the EU limits.
Construction of underground structures (e.g., subway lines, railways and highway tunnels) is inherently hazardous, posing risks to both workers and machinery at the site and to surrounding buildings. ...The presence of groundwater may increase these risks. We develop a general probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) framework to quantify risks driven by groundwater to the safety of underground constructions. The proposed approach is fully compatible with standard PRA practices, employing well-developed risk analysis tools based on the fault tree analysis method. The novelty and computational challenges of the proposed approach stem from the reliance on a combination of approaches including extracting information from databases, solving stochastic differential equations, or relying on expert judgment to compute probabilities of basic events. The general framework is presented in a case study and used to estimate and minimize risks at a construction site of an underground station for a new subway line in the Barcelona metropolitan area.
► Underground construction below water table requires rigorous and careful planning. ► Unforeseen events during the excavation process can lead to serious problems. ► Develop a probabilistic risk assessment framework to quantify risk due to groundwater. ► The methodology is presented in a case study to estimate and minimize risk. ► Improvement strategies can be applied if required.
Background & Aim
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and metastasis are classified as advanced or terminal stage by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system. This study investigates the ...prevalence, determinants, and prognostic effect of metastasis and its ability to improve the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system.
Methods
A total of 3414 patients were enrolled. The Kaplan‐Meier and Cox regression methods were used to determine survival predictors. Akaike information criterion was used to compare the prognostic performance of staging systems.
Results
There were 357 (10%) patients having extrahepatic metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Metastases were associated with old age, alcoholism, hepatitis B, poorer liver function, higher α‐foetoprotein level and larger tumour burden (all P < .05). Vascular invasion was associated with metastasis regardless of total tumour volume, and higher α‐foetoprotein level and multiple tumours were associated with metastasis in patients with smaller tumour volume (all P < .05). Patients with both vascular invasion and metastasis had significantly worse outcome compared to patients with either vascular invasion or metastasis (P < .05). In the Cox proportional model, the co‐existence of vascular invasion and metastasis was an independent predictor of decreased survival (P < .05). Re‐allocating 181 Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C patients with both vascular invasion and metastasis into stage D was associated with lower Akaike information criterion, indicating enhanced prognostic power of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer.
Conclusions
Metastasis is not uncommon, and is strongly associated with tumoural factors and poor long‐term survival in hepatocellular carcinoma. Modification of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system based on vascular invasion and metastasis may further improve its predictive accuracy in advanced stage patients.
The chemical composition of pore fluid and matric suction rule the mechanical behaviour of soils. In case of clays, their fabric changes in line with those variables. Since both the increase in ...matric suction and salinity cause a transition from an open to a close microstructure of low and medium activity clayey materials, a unique framework could tackle problems where salinity and saturation changes are expected.
This paper presents a simple elasto-plastic model capable of reproducing the behaviour of unsaturated clayey soils in saline environments. Changes in the pore fluid composition are addressed through the use of osmotic suction as a variable. The proposed model extends the Barcelona Basic Model for partially saturated soils to consider the effect of osmotic suction.
The model, implemented in the Thebes code, is calibrated for Boom Clay. The reproduced tests include mechanical loading at different matric and osmotic suctions in oedometric conditions, as well as more complex chemo-mechanical stress paths. Despite the simplicity of the formulation, the agreement between the experimental results and the simulations is encouraging. It seems that the modelling approach addresses the most important features of partially saturated soils with saline pore fluid which are slightly or moderately expansive.
•A simple modelling framework for partially saturated clays in saline environments is proposed.•The modelling framework is based on a sound microstructural interpretation.•The Barcelona Basic Model is enhanced to consider the effect of osmotic suction.•The model is applied to reproduce experimental data on compacted Boom Clay.
La Diada, Catalonia's national day, has had a complex history entwined in the cultural politics of Spain. It developed late in the nineteenth century as part of a constructed, reimagining of a past ...independent Catalan nation. The annual 11 September remembrance event was subsequently suppressed during the Franco regime, and later revived but limited to a short official wreath-laying ceremony with associated cultural events. Since 2012, grassroots independence campaigners have orgainzed huge public marches on the day, calling for Independence as the separatist movement across Catalonia gained momentum in the immediate aftermath of the global economic downturn of 2008. It is now a cultural-politico device and a tool for place making and nation-building. Drawing on Tali Hatuka's (2018, The Design of Protest; choreographing political demonstrations in public space. Austin: University of Texas Press) approaches to the Design of Protests, and through the utilization of discourse analysis of interviews, media coverage and political policy this study traces the development of the day through a number of key stages and its contemporary appropriated cultural role in the separatist movement. It concludes that the events staged around La Diada are an increasingly divisive set of tactics that lead to cultural alienation and give rise to division and increasing tension in Catalan and broader Spanish society.
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