Managing the Next Wave of Influenza and/or SARS-CoV-2 in the ICU-Practical Recommendations from an Expert Group for CAPA/IAPA Patients.

The aim of this study was to establish practical recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of influenza-associated invasive aspergillosis (IAPA) based on the available evidence and experience acquired in the management of patients with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). The CAPA/IAPA expert group defined 14 areas in which recommendations would be made. To search for evidence, the PICO strategy was used for both CAPA and IAPA in PubMed, using MeSH terms in combination with free text.

Invasive fungal infection in crtically ill patients: hurdles and next challenges.

A narrative review from a multidisciplinary task force of experts in critical care medicine and clinical mycology was carried out. The multi drug-resistant species Candida auris has emerged simultaneously on several continents, causing hospital outbreaks, especially in critically ill patients. Although there are not enough data to support the routine use of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis in patients subjected to extracorporeal membrane oxygenator, a clear increase of invasive fungal infection (IFI) has been described with the use of this device.

A comparison of the environmental impact of different AOPs: risk indexes.

Today, environmental impact associated with pollution treatment is a matter of great concern. A method is proposed for evaluating environmental risk associated with Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) applied to wastewater treatment. The method is based on the type of pollution (wastewater, solids, air or soil) and on materials and energy consumption.

Catalytic role of TiO(2) terminal oxygen atoms in liquid-phase photocatalytic reactions: oxidation of aromatic compounds in anhydrous acetonitrile.

On the basis of experiments carried out with controlled amounts of residual oxygen and water, or by using oxygen-isotope-labeled Ti(18) O2 as the photocatalyst, we demonstrate that (18) Os atoms behave as real catalytic species in the photo-oxidation of acetonitrile-dissolved aromatic compounds such as benzene, phenol, and benzaldehyde with TiO2 . The experimental evidence allows a terminal-oxygen indirect electron-transfer (TOIET) mechanism to be proposed, which is a new pathway that involves the trapping of free photogenerated valence-band holes at Os species and their incorporation into the reaction products, with simultaneous generation of oxygen vacancies at the TiO2 surface and their subsequent healing with oxygen atoms from either O2 or H2 O molecules that are dissolved in the liquid phase. According to the TOIET mechanism, the TiO2 surface is not considered to remain stable, but is continuously changing in the course of the photocatalytic reaction, challenging earlier interpretations of TiO2 photocatalytic phenomena.

Maternal-fetal thyroid function at the time of birth and its relation with iodine intake.

Background: The effects of moderate variations in dietary iodine intake on maternal and fetal thyroid function are poorly understood. Recent studies question the usefulness of neonatal screening of congenital hypothyroidism as a tool for monitoring iodine deficiency. We proposed to test the hypothesis of an association between iodine intake during the last trimester of pregnancy and fetal thyroid function at the time of birth.

Incidence and costs of multifetal pregnancies in Andalusia (2000-2010).

In the past 50 years the incidence of multiple pregnancies has increased dramatically due almost exclusively to two factors: delayed childbearing and assisted reproductive techniques. In this paper we analyze the variations in the incidence of multiple gestations in Andalusia, one of the biggest administrative regions in Spain, over the last decade. Assisted reproduction techniques are very often evaluated only in terms of implantation and pregnancy rates per cycle, ignoring everything related to complications of multiple births, prematurity or economic overload.

Surface chemistry and interfacial charge-transfer mechanisms in photoinduced oxygen exchange at O2-TiO2 interfaces.

Experimental results obtained over the last three decades on photoinduced oxygen isotopic exchange (POIE) of TiO₂ oxygen atoms with those of adsorbed water molecules and gaseous O₂ are analyzed in the light of recent information from the literature on the interaction of water and O₂ species with the TiO₂ surface (obtained by application of surface spectroscopy techniques in combination with high-resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy). The analysis emphasizes the singular role that bridging oxygen ions and bridging oxygen vacancies play in TiO₂ surface chemistry and interfacial electron transfer at the gas phase-TiO₂ interface in the absence and presence of water. The observed competition between POIE and the photo-oxidation (PO) of organic compounds is analyzed in terms of the recently developed direct-indirect (D-I) kinetic model for heterogeneous photocatalysis (D.

Life cycle assessment of solar photo-Fenton and solar photoelectro-Fenton processes used for the degradation of aqueous α-methylphenylglycine.

A comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of solar photo-Fenton and solar photoelectro-Fenton, two solar-driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) devoted to the removal of non-biodegradable pollutants in water, is performed. The study is based on the removal, at laboratory scale, of the amino acid α-methylphenylglycine, a good example of soluble and non-biodegradable target pollutant. The system under study includes chemicals, electricity, transport of all raw materials to the plant site, and the generation of emissions, but it does not take into account the impact of the infrastructure needed to build a hypothetical solar plant.

Predicted environmental concentrations of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in a model environmental system.

A Mackay-type level II fugacity model has been used to predict the behaviour and final concentrations of cocaine (COC) and its main metabolite benzoylecgonine (BE) in a regional environmental system defined according to the European guidelines on Risk Assessment. The model takes into account the initial COC intake, partial degradation of the parent compound to BE, treatment of wastewater and environmental fate of these substances. Predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) lie in the ngL(-1) level, with the exception of the air compartment, where the concentrations are negligible.

Degradation pathways of the commercial reactive azo dye Procion Red H-E7B under solar-assisted photo-Fenton reaction.

Reactive azo dye Procion Red H-E7B solutions have been submitted to solar-assisted photo-Fenton degradation. The solution color quickly disappears, indicating a fast degradation of the azo group. Nevertheless, complete DOC removal was not accomplished, in accordance with the presence of resistant triazine rings at the end of the reaction.

Coupled solar photo-Fenton and biological treatment for the degradation of diuron and linuron herbicides at pilot scale.

A coupled solar photo-Fenton (chemical) and biological treatment has been used to remove biorecalcitrant diuron (42 mg l(-1)) and linuron (75 mg l(-1)) herbicides from water at pilot plant scale. The chemical process has been carried out in a 82 l solar pilot plant made up by four compound parabolic collector units, and it was followed by a biological treatment performed in a 40 l sequencing batch reactor. Two Fe(II) doses (2 and 5 mg l(-1)) and sequential additions of H2O2 (20 mg l(-1)) have been used to chemically degrade the initially polluted effluent.

The testing of several biological and chemical coupled treatments for Cibacron Red FN-R azo dye removal.

Several biological and chemical coupled treatments for Cibacron Red FN-R reactive azo dye degradation have been evaluated. Initially, a two-stage anaerobic-aerobic biotreatment has been assessed for different dye concentrations (250, 1250 and 3135 mg l(-1)). 92-97% decolourisation was attained during the anaerobic digestion operating in batch mode.

Combined photo-Fenton and biological treatment for Diuron and Linuron removal from water containing humic acid.

A combined chemical (photo-Fenton) and biological treatment has been proposed for Diuron and Linuron degradation in water containing natural dissolved organic matter (DOM). Humic acid (HA) was used to simulate the DOM. During the photo-Fenton process ([Fe(II)]=15.

Life cycle assessment of a coupled solar photocatalytic-biological process for wastewater treatment.

A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of two solar-driven advanced oxidation processes, namely heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalysis and homogeneous photo-Fenton, both coupled to biological treatment, is carried out in order to identify the environmentally preferable alternative to treat industrial wastewaters containing non-biodegradable priority hazardous substances. The study is based on solar pilot plant tests using alpha-methyl-phenylglycine as a target substance. The LCA study is based on the experimental results obtained, along with data from an industrial-scale plant.

Partial degradation of five pesticides and an industrial pollutant by ozonation in a pilot-plant scale reactor.

Aqueous solutions of a mixture of several pesticides (alachlor, atrazine, chlorfenvinphos, diuron and isoproturon), considered PS (priority substances) by the European Commission, and an intermediate product of the pharmaceutical industry (alpha-methylphenylglycine, MPG) chosen as a model industrial pollutant, have been degraded at pilot-plant scale using ozonation. This study is part of a large research project [CADOX Project, A Coupled Advanced Oxidation-Biological Process for Recycling of Industrial Wastewater Containing Persistent Organic Contaminants, Contract No.: EVK1-CT-2002-00122, European Commission, http://www.

Environmental assessment of different photo-Fenton approaches for commercial reactive dye removal.

An environmental study using life cycle assessment (LCA) has been applied to three bench-scale wastewater treatments for Cibacron Red FN-R hetero-bireactive dye removal: artificial light photo-Fenton process, solar driven photo-Fenton process and artificial light photo-Fenton process coupled to a biological treatment. The study is focused on electricity and chemicals consumption, transports and atmosphere and water emissions generated by the different processes involved. Results show that the artificial light photo-Fenton process is the worst treatment in terms of environmental impact.

Assessment of photo-Fenton and biological treatment coupling for Diuron and Linuron removal from water.

The coupling of photo-Fenton (chemical) and biological treatments has been used for the removal of Diuron and Linuron herbicides from water. The chemical reaction was employed as a pre-treatment step for the conversion of the toxic and non-biodegradable herbicides into biodegradable intermediates that were subsequently removed by means of a biological sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Multivariate experimental design was used to select four photo-Fenton reagent dose combinations for the coupling experiments.

Degradation of Procion Red H-E7B reactive dye by coupling a photo-Fenton system with a sequencing batch reactor.

A bench-scale study combining photo-Fenton reaction with an aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) to degrade a commercial homo-bireactive dye (Procion Red H-E7B, 250mgl(-1)) was investigated. The photo-Fenton process was applied as a pre-treatment, avoiding complete mineralisation, just to obtain a bio-compatible water able to be treated by means of the SBR in a second step. In this sense, different Fenton reagent concentrations were assessed by following dye solution biodegradability enhancement (BOD(5)/COD), as well as the toxicity (EC(50)), DOC, colour (Abs(543.

Environmental assessment of different advanced oxidation processes applied to a bleaching Kraft mill effluent.

Different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been applied to remove the organic carbon content of a paper mill effluent originating from the Kraft pulp bleaching process. The considered AOPs were: TiO(2)-mediated heterogeneous photocatalysis, TiO(2)-mediated heterogeneous photocatalysis assisted with H(2)O(2), TiO(2)-mediated heterogeneous photocatalysis coupled with Fenton, photo-Fenton, ozonation and ozonation with UV-A light irradiation. The application of the selected AOPs all resulted in a considerable decrease in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content with variable treatment efficiencies depending upon the nature/type of the applied AOP.

Aluminium(III) adsorption: a soft and simple method to prevent TiO2 deactivation during salicylic acid photodegradation.

Deposition of poisoning species on TiO2 during salicylic acid photodegradation can be halted when Al(III) has been previously adsorbed on the catalyst surface; this widens the application of photocatalysis to more concentrated solutions.

[Department of anesthesia, resuscitation and critical care].

The present study describes the impact on the Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Critical Care of treating the victims of the 11 March terrorist attack, both on the day of the attack and on subsequent days. Of the 182 victims who were hospitalized, 61 had a poor prognosis, 24 had a very poor prognosis, 2 were already dead, and a further 2 died that day. Twenty-seven patients were admitted to the critical care unit.

Degradation of some biorecalcitrant pesticides by homogeneous and heterogeneous photocatalytic ozonation.

Photo-Fenton/ozone (PhFO) and TiO2-photocatalysis/ozone (PhCO) coupled systems are used as advanced oxidation processes for the degradation of the following biorecalcitrant pesticides: alachlor, atrazine, chlorfenvinfos, diuron, isoproturon and pentachlorophenol. These organic compounds are considered Priority Hazardous Substances by the Water Framework Directive of the European Commission. The degradation process of the different pesticides, that occurs through oxidation of the organic molecules by means of their reaction with generated OH radical, follows a first and zero-order kinetics, when PhFO and PhCO are applied, respectively.

Experimental design of Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions for the treatment of cellulose bleaching effluents.

Multivariate experimental design was applied to the treatment of a cellulose conventional bleaching effluent in order to evaluate the use of the Fenton reagent under solar light irradiation. The effluent was characterised by the general parameters total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand and color, and it was analysed for chlorinated low molecular weight compounds using GC-MS. The main parameters that govern the complex reactive system: Fe(II) and H(2)O(2) initial concentration, and temperature were simultaneously studied.

Solar activated ozonation of phenol and malic acid.

The effect that sunlight has on the degradation rate of two model organic compounds, phenol and malic acid, by ozone is studied. The effect seems to be due to both direct light absorption (300-320 nm photons) by ozone, which produces the pollutant degradation, and light absorption by reaction intermediates. The presence of such a light notably improves the reactivity of ozone toward the organic species, leading to a faster and complete mineralization even at large initial total organic carbon values.