•A novel standard methodology for WWTPs energy efficiency estimation is presented.•The methodology is based on KPIs that reflect the plant function (s).•The methodology allows benchmarking and ...diagnosing energy hotspots.•A case study illustrates the procedure to carry out an energy analysis.
This paper describes the first methodology specifically tailored to estimate energy efficiency at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Inspired by the cycle of continuous improvement, the method (i) precisely defines the concept of energy efficiency in WWTPs, (ii) proposes systematic and comparable ways to measure it, and (iii) allows benchmarking and diagnosing energy hotspots. The methodology delivers an aggregated measure of the WWTP energy efficiency defined as the Water Treatment Energy Index, a single energy label that uses universally known illustrations enabling wide communication of standardized information on the WWTP energy status. The accuracy, reproducibility and generality of the methodology were validated by a widespread energy benchmarking method, and a case study is presented to show its capabilities. By promoting dialogue towards the creation of a specific European Standard, the actions accomplished by the H2020 Coordination Support Action ENERWATER should positively contribute to improving the exchange of information on energy saving actions and results between wastewater utilities and towards other stakeholders.
Aims
We propose a thorough study of the succulent halophyte
Sarcocornia carinata
endemic to the saline lagoons of the center of the Iberian Peninsula. We describe its elemental composition and ...possible seasonal variation in relation to edaphic and climatic variables, identify biominerals and analyze the distribution of salt ions and biominerals in tissue.
Methods
Plants and edaphic samples were collected in the four seasons of 1 year. Soils were analyzed for their pH, EC, color, and bioavailable concentration of Na
+
, K
+
, Mg
2+
, Ca
2+
, Cl
−
, SO
4
2−
. Soils and plants were analyzed for their total elemental and mineralogical composition. The distribution of elements and minerals in tissues was studied by scanning electron microscopy.
Results
Despite the variations observed in the edaphic and climatic variables, the variables studied in the plants varied slightly throughout the year. In the plants, Mg was the element that reflected climatic changes the most, while the K and Ca concentrations did not vary. Salty precipitates and crystallizations were distributed mainly in the epidermis, water storage parenchyma, cortex, and vascular vessels. Several crystals observed were compatible with halite, gypsum, glushinskite and weddellite.
Conclusions
The study corroborates that inland
S. carinata
behaves in the same way as other littoral succulent euhalophytes and reinforces the hypothesis that the concentration of elements and quantitative abundance pattern depend largely on the main adaptation mechanisms of halophytes.
Graphene on different substrates, such as SiO2, h-BN and Al2O3, has been subjected to oscillatory electric fields to analyse the response of the carriers in order to explore the generation of ...terahertz radiation by means of high-order harmonic extraction. The properties of the ensemble Monte Carlo simulator employed for such study have allowed us to evaluate the high-order harmonic intensity and the spectral density of velocity fluctuations under different amplitudes of the periodic electric field, proving that strong field conditions are preferable for the established goal. Furthermore, by comparison of both harmonic intensity and noise level, the threshold bandwidth for harmonic extraction has been determined. The results have shown that graphene on h-BN presents the best featuring of the cases under analysis and that in comparison to III–V semiconductors, it is a very good option for high-order harmonic extraction under AC electric fields with large amplitudes.
The aptitude of a novel biodegradable material wheat gluten/montmorillonite (MMT) to be used as a food-contact material was assessed with a focus on mass transfer from the film into foodstuff ...(migration). Special attention was paid to the impact of high-pressure treatments and subsequent storage. Several aspects were treated: the migration of a model molecule (Uvitex OB), MMT migration, protein migration, and overall migration. The results showed that overall migration and protein migration were high; on the contrary, MMT and Uvitex OB migration was low or not detectable. No difference was found between the high-pressure-treated samples and the control, except for the migration of MMT. Two solid simulants (agar gel and Tenax) were also tested to emphasize the need of new migration tests adapted to water-sensitive materials.
Summary
Aims: To assess the evolution of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) quality indicators in primary care centers (PCC) as part of the Group for the Study of Diabetes in Primary Care (GEDAPS) ...Continuous Quality Improvement (GCQI) programme in Catalonia.
Methods: Sequential cross‐sectional studies were performed during 1993–2007. Process and outcome indicators in random samples of patients from each centre were collected. The results of each evaluation were returned to each centre to encourage the implementation of correcting interventions. Sixty‐four different educational activities were performed during the study period with the participation of 2041 professionals.
Results: Clinical records of 23,501 patients were evaluated. A significant improvement was observed in the determination of some annual process indicators: HbA1c (51.7% vs. 88.9%); total cholesterol (75.9% vs. 90.9%); albuminuria screening (33.9% vs. 59.4%) and foot examination (48.9% vs. 64.2%). The intermediate outcome indicators also showed significant improvements: glycemic control HbA1c ≤ 7% (< 57 mmol/mol); (41.5% vs. 64.2%); total cholesterol ≤ 200 mg/dl (5.17 mmol/l); (25.5% vs. 65.6%); blood pressure ≤ 140/90 mmHg; (45.4% vs. 66.1%). In addition, a significant improvement in some final outcome indicators such as prevalence of foot ulcers (7.6% vs. 2.6%); amputations (1.9% vs. 0.6%) and retinopathy (18.8% vs. 8.6%) was observed.
Conclusions: Although those changes should not be strictly attributed to the GCQI programme, significant improvements in some process indicators, parameters of control and complications were observed in a network of primary care centres in Catalonia.
Hyponeustonic species, living at the interface between the atmosphere and the oceans, comprise one of the most understudied and vast critical marine biotope, constantly exposed to high concentrations ...of anthropogenic contaminants and microplastic (MPs). Copepods of the Pontellidae family represent the primary components of this biotic assemblage worldwide, and their interaction with MPs is still unknown. We studied this interaction for the first time in Pontella mediterranea, assessing the ingestion of anthropogenic particles (APs) in 2793 individuals collected by manta trawl in the Northern Alboran Sea. We observed P. mediterranea abundances ranging from 41.67 to 1174.83 ind/m3, with a mean ingestion of 0.11 APs/ind, predominantly composed of MPs. These results confirm the low ingestion values observed for other copepod taxa. However, given its abundance, this species could retain an average of 45.15 and a maximum of 220 APs per m3 of seawater (APs/m3), mostly composed of cellulose acetate and cotton fibers. The abundances of APs were evaluated in surface (0-12 cm) and sub-surface waters (5 m depth) by combining manta trawl and Continuous Underway Fish Egg Sampler sampling. The AP abundances found (surface waters: 0.67 ± 1.04 APs/m3; subsurface waters: 3.85 ± 2.67 APs/m3) were consistent with those previously observed in the Mediterranean basin, confirming that the ingestion values observed in P. mediterranea are not due to a local accumulation of environmental MPs. Results highlight how this neustonic copepod could represent one of the largest reservoirs of APs within the upper layers of the oceans, representing an entry point for these particles within food webs. Considering the worldwide distribution and abundance of this family of copepods, the results are of environmental concern.
Background
The literature on the prognostic relevance of signet-ring cell (SRC) histology in gastric cancer (GC) is controversial which is most likely related to inconsistent SRC classification based ...on haematoxylin–eosin staining. We hypothesised that mucin stains can consistently identify SRC-GC and predict GC patient outcome.
Methods
We performed a comprehensive literature review on mucin stains in SRC-GC and characterised the mucin expression in 851 Caucasian GC and 410 Asian GC using Alcian Blue (AB)-Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS), MUC2 (intestinal-type mucin), and MUC5AC (gastric-type mucin). The relationship between mucin expression and histological phenotype poorly cohesive (PC) including proportion of SRCs, non-poorly cohesive (non-PC), or mucinous (MC), clinicopathological variables, and patient outcome was analysed.
Results
Depending on mucin expression and cut-offs, the positivity rates of SRC-GC reported in the literature varied from 6 to 100%. Patients with MUC2 positive SRC-GC or SRC-GC with (gastro)intestinal phenotype had poorest outcome.
In our cohort study, PC with ≥ 10% SRCs expressed more frequently MUC2, MUC5AC, and ABPAS (
p
< 0.001,
p
= 0.004 and
p
< 0.001, respectively). Caucasians with AB positive GC or combined ABPAS-MUC2 positive and MUC5AC negative had poorest outcome (all
p
= 0.002). This association was not seen in Asian patients.
Conclusions
This is the first study to suggest that mucin stains do not help to differentiate between SRC-GC and non-SRC-GC. However, mucin stains appear to be able to identify GC patients with different outcome. To our surprise, the relationship between outcome and mucin expression seems to differ between Caucasian and Asian GC patients which warrants further investigations.
Acute lethal and sublethal toxicity of the imidazolinone imazethapyr (IMZT)-based commercial formulation herbicide Pivot H® (10.59% IMZT) was evaluated on Hypsiboas pulchellus tadpoles. Whereas ...mortality was used as the end point for lethality, frequency of micronuclei (MNs) and other nuclear abnormalities as well as DNA single-strand breaks evaluated by the single cell gel electrophoresis assay were employed to test genotoxicity. Behavioral, growth, developmental, and morphological abnormalities were also employed as sublethal end points. Mortality studies revealed equivalent LC50 (96h) values of 1.49mg/L (confidence limit, 1.09–1.63) and 1.55mg/L (confidence limit, 1.51–1.60) IMZT for Gosner stage (GS) 25 and GS36, respectively. Behavioral changes, i.e., irregular swimming and immobility, as well as a decreased frequency of keratodonts were observed. The herbicide increased the frequency of MNs in circulating erythrocytes of tadpoles exposed for 48h to the highest concentration assayed (1.17mg/L). However, regardless of the concentration of the herbicide assayed, an enhanced frequency of MNs was observed in tadpoles exposed for 96h. The herbicide was able to induce other nuclear abnormalities, i.e., blebbed and notched nuclei, only when tadpoles were exposed for 96h. In addition, we observed that exposure to IMZT within the 0.39–1.17mg/L range increased the genetic damage index in treatments lasting for both 48 and 96h. This study represents the first evidence of acute lethal and sublethal effects exerted by IMZT on amphibians. Finally, our findings highlight the properties of this herbicide that jeopardize nontarget living species exposed to IMZT.
•Lethality and genotoxicity of imazethapyr were used as endpoints in H. pulchellus.•Imazethapyr-based formulations induced DNA primary lesions in blood cells.•First evidence of genotoxicity exerted by imazethapyr-based formulations on tadpoles.
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