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Fostering the performance and stability of the high-rate activated sludge process: Biomass dynamics, oxygen consumption and clarifier operation
No full textThe optimization of performance and long-term stability of a demonstration-scale High-Rate Activated Sludge (HRAS) pilot plant for treating urban wastewater treatment (35 m3 d−1) was evaluated over 497 days. Maintaining the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration between 1800 and 2100 mg L−1 through waste sludge adjustment stabilizes the operation, preventing biomass washout and sludge bulking. Despite significant fluctuations in influent chemical oxygen demand (COD), ranging from 340 to 1580 mg L−1, the system consistently achieved an organic removal ratio of 58 %, even under elevated loading conditions, with a low oxidation rate of only 6.9 % ± 3.6 %. Oxygen management was crucial for a high system's performance. The oxygen uptake rate (OUR) ranged from 31 to 54 mgO2 L−1 h−1, and the specific oxygen consumption (SOC) averaged 0.9 kgO2 kgCODrem−1. The study highlighted the potential of using soluble COD SOC as an effective parameter for optimizing oxygen supply. The study also evaluated solids removal efficiency using clarifiers of different diameters. The influent suspended solids (SS) removal efficiency increased from 71 % in a 1.0 m diameter clarifier to 85 % in a 1.4 m. The HRAS efficiently acted as a filter for the SS influent's peak loads, buffering the load to the CAS process. A detailed sludge stratification analysis revealed a balanced biomass distribution between the reactor and clarifier, with 50 % of the total biomass retained in the clarifier. Solids flux analysis confirmed that the system was not limited by solids loading but rather by hydraulic loading, with potential improvements achievable through optimization of the overflow rate (OFR)Hèctor Monclús and Alba Cabrera-Codony acknowledge Agencia Estatal de Investigación of the MCIU for partially funding this research through the Ramon y Cajal Research Fellowship (RYC2019-026434-I) and Juan de la Cierva Fellowship (IJC2019-038874-I). LEQUIA has been recognised as a “consolidated research group” (Ref 2021 SGR1352) by the Catalan Ministry of Research and UniversitiesOpen Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Elsevier
Memòria BIBEC 2024
No full textMemòria anual del Servei de Biblioteca, edicions i continguts de la Universitat de Giron
El Model PIO (Principis, Indicadors i Observables) Salut: un enfocament d'autoavaluació per al compliment dels estàndards ètics i normatius aplicables als sistemes d'intel·ligència artificial en l'àmbit de la salut
No full textInforme sobre el Model PIO Salut. El present document està estructurat amb una primera secció sobre la necessitat d’un Model PIO específic en l’àmbit de la Salut, seguida per la presentació dels objectius del Model PIO Salut. A continuació, es fa èmfasi en l’existència de diversos dilemes ètics i de com s’han afrontar. Tot seguit, s’exposa la importància de posar en el centre de tota decisió i acció relacionada amb la intel·ligència artificial a la persona pacient, abordant els possibles impactes sobre el seu benestar i els seus drets (especialment aquells reconeguts al Conveni d’Oviedo). En la següent secció s’explica quins són els subjectes als quals està dirigit el Model PIO Salut. Més endavant s’enumeren les anomenades “preguntes 0”, això és, un recull de 10 interrogacions inicials i prèvies a l’autoavaluació. Seguidament, després d’aquestes explicacions es mostren les preguntes que comprenen el qüestionari del Model PIO Salut. Per finalitzar, es presenta una guia per a contractes relacionats amb sistemes d’IA en l’àmbit de la salut, basada en les consideracions ètic-legals que conformen el Model PIO Salu
Feasibility of vnotes as an alternative for the surgical management of benign endometriomas in fertile ages: a stage 2 clinical trial
No full textBACKGROUND: Endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting 2% to 10% of people with uterus and ovaries (PWUO), commonly involves endometriomas. It is associated with dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia, and infertility and recent 2022 ESHRE Guidelines removed the need for laparoscopy in diagnosis, which has led to new surgical approaches for managing endometriomas. Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopy Surgery (vNOTES), as a novel surgical procedure, offers several benefits, such as shorter operative time, less blood loss, reduced hospitalization, improved cosmetic results, and quicker recovery. However, its application in ovarian endometriosis remains unproven.
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of vNOTES in treating symptomatic benign endometriomas in fertile PWUO, comparing it to laparoscopic surgery. The main objective is to evaluate the complete cyst excision without conversion to laparotomy. Other key outcomes include fertility impact, blood loss, surgery duration, perioperative complications, hospitalization until discharge, surgical site infection, endometrioma recurrences, and psychological outcomes like pain perception, recovery quality, and achieving of basic activities of daily life and labour independence.
STUDY DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicentric, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial will be led by the Hospital Universitari Doctor Josep Trueta, in Girona.
A total of 172 participants, aged 18 to 50 with symptomatic benign endometriomas, will be recruited in a period of 1 year and 2 months.
METHODS: Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (vNOTES) or the control group (laparoscopy). The study will assess surgical conversion rates, psychological impact, fertility outcomes, and surgical results throughout a one-year follow-up to determine if vNOTES is a at least as good as laparoscopic surgery for benign endometrioma treatment
CD200 glycoprotein genotype’s role in the immune response to HLA-identical sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplant: a multicenter retrospective cohort study
No full text7
BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the preferred therapeutic approach with curative potential for several hematological and non-hematological pathologies. CD200 is a glycoprotein part of the immunoglobulin supergene family (IgSF) and its binding to its receptor results in a downregulation of the immune system. There is very little information regarding CD200 polymorphisms, and their biological implications remain unclear. It has been suggested that rs1131199 polymorphism could influence the extent of regulation of the CD200 protein’s function. CD200 polymorphisms association with complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations for any cause has not been addressed.
HYPOTHESIS AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association of donor’s CD200 genotype with overall survival in receptors of HLA-identical sibling donor allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation during the years 1991-2015 in hospitals where the “Grupo Español de Trasplante Hematopoyético (GETH)” works.
Secondary objectives include analyzing the association of donor’s CD200 genotype with acute GVHD development, relapse, transplant-related mortality (TRM) and disease-free survival (DFS) in receptors of HLA-identical sibling donor allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation during the same years in the same hospitals.
METHODS: For this aim, multicenter retrospective cohort study is designed in which 1091 will be included. Their donors’ CD200 polymorphism rs1131199 (C or G) will be determined via Allelic discrimination. Overall survival and other clinical outcomes will be compared in a group of patients whose donor was homozygous for allele G against a group of patients whose donor was homozygous for the allele C or heterozygous C/G
Validation protocol of the ONCO-RADS guidelines for whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in the retrospective cohort: The Aging Imageomics Study”
No full textBACKGROUND: Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) has emerged as a valuable tool for the detection of cancerous lesions. Considering the absence of a standardized approach for the acquisition and reporting of WB-MRI results, an international multidisciplinary expert panel of radiologists and a geneticist with subject expertise in cancer screening proposed the Oncologically Relevant Findings Reporting and Data System (ONCO-RADS) guidelines in 2021. The ONCO-RADS guidelines employ a five-category scoring system to assess the probability of malignancy in various body regions based on imaging findings. However, the diagnostic accuracy of ONCO-RADS remains to be empirically validated.
OBJECTIVE: The main objective is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of the ONCO-RADS classification system in determining the malignant potential of incidental findings identified on WB-MRI in adults aged 50 years and older.
STUDY DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: This is a diagnostic accuracy study with an observational, descriptive, and retrospective design. A total of 1.030 asymptomatic individuals from Girona’s province, enrolled in the population-based study "The Aging Imageomics" (2017-2019) conducted at Hospital Doctor Josep Trueta, will be retrospectively analyzed. WB-MRIs were acquired using a 1,5-T scanner applying a variety of sequences designed to study different anatomical regions (thoracoabdominal, brain, heart, aortic flow, abdominal aorta, iliac segments, and abdomen).
METHODS: Two radiologists from Institut de Diagnòstic per la Imatge (IDI), blinded and previously trained, will independently analyze and classify the WB-MRI images according to the ONCO-RADS scoring system. The categories are as follows: 1 (normal), 2 (benign finding highly likely), 3 (benign finding likely), 4 (malignant finding likely), and 5 (malignant finding highly likely). Further retrospective examinations (histopathological tests, clinical evolution and/or imaging follow-up) will be used to validate the WB-MRI findings. The ONCO-RADS score will be dichotomized as non-malignant (ONCO-RADS 1-3) and potentially malignant (ONCO-RADS 4-5) for calculating the diagnostic accuracy parameters (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value, likelihood ratio, and area under the ROC curve)Premi COMG
Impact and control of fertilization on emitter clogging behaviors in drip irrigation systems using high-sediment water
No full textHigh-sediment water drip irrigation (HSWDI) has the potential to alleviate agricultural water shortage, but it is hampered by emitter clogging. Controlling sediment concentration can alleviate emitter clogging, but optimal sediment concentration under fertilization remains unknown. This 400-h study evaluated the effects of three sediment concentrations (0.5 g L⁻1, 1.0 g L⁻1, and 1.5 g L⁻1) and two fertilization strategies (no-fertilization and ammonium polyphosphate application) on emitter clogging. Results showed that fertilization promoted sediment flocculation, reduced the sediment discharge capacity of the emitter, reduced the sediment discharge rate by 6.2% on average, and increased the median diameter of inner sediment by 14.3%, thereby increasing emitter clogging. Specifically, at a sediment concentration of 0.5 g L−1, the relative flow rate (Dra) of the emitters following fertilization decreased by only 7.1% compared with no-fertilization group, while at 1.0 g L−1 and 1.5 g L−1, the Dra decreased by 27.3% and 43.9%, respectively. This was mainly due to sediment flocculation, which was promoted under fertilization by increasing sediment concentration. Under no-fertilization treatments, the Dra at the maximum concentration studied was 33.0% lower than the Dra at 0.5 g L−1, compared to a 59.5% reduction under fertilization. These findings show that sediment concentration and fertilization have a strong coupling effect on emitter clogging. Therefore, the sediment concentration needs to be reduced under fertilization in HSWDI. It should be less than 1.0 g L−1 under the application of ammonium polyphosphate. These results contribute to the control of HSWDI emitter clogging, with implications for the application and promotion of HSWDI technolog
Anàlisi de projectes sobre regionalisme crític
No full textDisseny: M. Batchellí, C. Castilla, C. Figueras, E. Salavedra, I. VidalEl present treball, és un exercici proposat als estudiants de l'assignatura ‘Història de l'art i l'arquitectura 3’, que s'imparteix en el quart curs del grau en Estudis d'Arquitectura a la UdG (any acadèmic 2024-2025). El document ofereix una anàlisi de diversos projectes arquitectònics realitzats entre 1953 i 1980, centrats en el regionalisme crític. Aquest moviment va qüestionar les formes dominants de l'arquitectura moderna i va buscar una integració més estreta amb els contextos locals, culturals i ambientals. A través d'una selecció de 14 obres d'aquest període, s'explora com els arquitectes de diferents parts del món van desafiar les normes internacionals per proposar solucions que respectessin i responguessin les particularitats autòctones i tradicionals de cada regió. Aquesta anàlisi mostra les estratègies formals i tècniques utilitzades, així com els principis filosòfics i socials subjacents a aquest corrent. El treball ofereix una mirada accessible sobre com l'arquitectura pot ser el reflex del context geogràfic i cultural, mantenint la seva rellevància i identitat en un món globalitza
Statistical simplex centroid experimental design and formulation maps to predict the stability in cosmetic emulsions containing commercial emulsifiers
No full textFormulating cosmetic products to meet consumer expectations poses significant challenges in terms of stability and shelf life. This work evaluates cosmetic emulsions formulated with three commercial emulsifiers: Polyglyceryl-3 distearate (Dermofeel®, a biobased surfactant), Glyceryl stearate (50%)/PEG-100 stearate (50%) (Lipomulse®, a nonionic mixture of glyceryl and ethoxylated surfactants), and Potassium cetyl phosphate (Amphisol K®, an anionic surfactant). Additionally, three emollients, namely Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isoamyl Cocoate, and Jojoba Oil, were incorporated into the formulations. The effect of emulsion composition on stability, droplet size, rheology, and texture was systematically assessed via experiments and multivariate regression modeling, thereby providing an objective tool for cosmetic emulsions formulation. The lifetime of emulsions showed that emulsions containing Potassium cetyl phosphate exhibited separation velocities larger than 60 μm/s, whereas those with the other emulsifiers showed separation velocities below 40 μm/s, indicating larger lifetimes. A predictive model based on a statistical simplex centroid experimental design was developed to evaluate the separation velocity of emulsions based on the composition of the system, enabling the assessment of important variables that influence emulsion stability. The results indicate that composition variables (such as oil concentration) and formulation variables (such as surfactant nature and oil type) are important in determining emulsion stability, but also secondary effects such as surfactant-emollient interactions are crucial to predict the lifetime of cosmetic emulsionsOpen Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Wiley
Influencers del aprendizaje: la educomunicación en la sociedad postdigital
No full textRessenya del llibre "Educación y comunicación en una sociedad post-digital" de Javier Gil Quintana