Aluminium fouling and its impact on activated carbon based dioxin and furan removal in a wet scrubber at a co-incineration plant

Dioxins and furans, PCDD/Fs, are highly toxic substances formed in post combustion zones in furnaces. PCDD/F emissions are regulated by a waste incineration directive which relates also to co-incineration plants. Several observations of dioxin and furan enhancements in wet scrub- bers have been reported previously. This is thought to be due to the so-called "memory effect" which occurs when dioxins and furans absorb into plastic material in scrubbers and desorb when ambient circumstances alter significantly. At the co-incineration plant involved, dioxins and furans are controlled with a wet scrubber, the tower packing of which is made of plastic in which activated carbon particles are dispersed. This should avoid the memory effect and act as a dioxin and furan sink since dioxins and furans are absorbed irreversibly into the packing ma- terial. In this case, the tower packing in the scrubber is covered with a white layer that has been found to be mainly aluminium. The aim of this thesis was to determine the aluminium balance and the dioxin and furan behaviour in the scrubber and, thus, the impacts that the foul- ing has on dioxin and furan removal. The source of aluminium, reasons for fouling and further actions to minimize its impacts on dioxin and furan removal were also to be discovered. Measurements in various media around the scrubber and in fuels were made and a profile analysis of PCDD/F and mass balance calculations were carried out. PCDD/F content de- creased in the scrubber. The reduced PCDD/F was not discharged into scrubbing water. The removal mechanism seems to work in spite of the fouling, at least with low PCDD/F loads. Most of the PCDD/F in excess water originates from the Kymijoki River which is used as feeding water in the scrubber. Fouling turned out to consist mainly of aluminium hydroxides. Sludge combusted in the furnace was found to be a significant source of aluminium. Ways to minimize the fouling would be adjustment of pH to a proper lever, installation of a mechanical filter to catch the loose material from the scrubbing water and affecting the aluminium content of the sludge.

Single centre experience of the application of self navigated 3D whole heart cardiovascular magnetic resonance for the assessment of cardiac anatomy in congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: For free-breathing cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), the self-navigation technique recently emerged, which is expected to deliver high-quality data with a high success rate. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that self-navigated 3D-CMR enables the reliable assessment of cardiovascular anatomy in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and to define factors that affect image quality. METHODS: CHD patients ≥2 years-old and referred for CMR for initial assessment or for a follow-up study were included to undergo a free-breathing self-navigated 3D CMR at 1.5T. Performance criteria were: correct description of cardiac segmental anatomy, overall image quality, coronary artery visibility, and reproducibility of great vessels diameter measurements. Factors associated with insufficient image quality were identified using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Self-navigated CMR was performed in 105 patients (55% male, 23 ± 12y). Correct segmental description was achieved in 93% and 96% for observer 1 and 2, respectively. Diagnostic quality was obtained in 90% of examinations, and it increased to 94% if contrast-enhanced. Left anterior descending, circumflex, and right coronary arteries were visualized in 93%, 87% and 98%, respectively. Younger age, higher heart rate, lower ejection fraction, and lack of contrast medium were independently associated with reduced image quality. However, a similar rate of diagnostic image quality was obtained in children and adults. CONCLUSION: In patients with CHD, self-navigated free-breathing CMR provides high-resolution 3D visualization of the heart and great vessels with excellent robustness.

Centre I+R+D en l’àmbit agroalimentari

Recuperació d’una antiga bòbila de rajols del segle XX a Vilafant per a la implantació d’un centre d’investigació, recerca i desenvolupament en el sector agroalimentari. La fàbrica , abandonada des dels anys 60, presenta esfondraments parcials de bona part de l’edifici. La proposta arquitectònica es basa en tres eixos principals: recuperació del patrimoni industrial, preservant l’essència de l’espai primitiu, compatible amb els nous usos de la proposta arquitectònica ; proposta de tractament de l’entorn immediat per a la integració paisatgística de la proposta ; implantació d’un nou pol de coneixement que millori la situació de les explotacions agrícoles del territori i del país.L’abast del projecte té dues vessants: local i territorial per la recuperació del patrimoni i creixement de les empreses locals que puguin col•laborar amb aquests centres d’investigació i estatal i mundial ja que els programes d’investigació, recerca i desenvolupament generen avenços i coneixement aplicables a d’altres territoris

L'Institut Català d'Arqueologia Clàssica (ICAC): un centre de recerca i formació

L’Institut Català d’Arqueologia Clàssica (ICAC) és un consorci públic creat l’any 2000 pel Departament d’Universitats, Recerca i Societat de la Informació de la Generalitat de Catalunya i la Universitat Rovira i Virgili. La seva seu, inaugurada el setembre del 2003, està ubicada en ple centre històric de Tarragona. L’objectiu de l’Institut és la recerca i la formació avançada en el camp de l’arqueologia clàssica. Una recerca que parteix de l’arqueologia, és a dir, de l’estudi dels vestigis materials que encara ens queden de la civilització grecoromana, però treballant en col·laboració, i integrant-ne els resultats amb les altres ciències de l’antiguitat, com la filologia clàssica, la numismàtica i l’epigrafia, la història de l’art i del pensament. L’ICAC és un institut encara jove que ha començat a desplegar una activitat notable, engegant nombrosos programes i projectes de recerca, i liderant un programa oficial de postgrau interuniversitari. Aquesta presentació exposa els aspectes més rellevants de la seva organització i activitat, posant l’èmfasi, a tall d’exemple, en alguns dels projectes de recerca que s’estan portant a terme.

Grande fréquence des prescriptions médicamenteuses à visée cardiovasculaire potentiellement inappropriées dans la population âgée [Potentially inappropriate prescribing cardiovascular medications in the aged population: prospective study in a district hospital centre (France)].

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. We evaluated the adequacy of prescribing (miss and under used) with respect to STOPP-START criteria. METHODS: A sample of 100 patients hospitalized in cardiovascular specialty divisions (medicine or surgery) or in the different sectors making up the geriatric network (day-care hospital, short or rehabilitation ward, nursing home) has been considered. Drug prescriptions at the admission time were analysed. RESULTS: Eight hundred and seventy-four prescriptions were analysed. In 65% of patients, from 5 to 10 medications were prescribed and in 28% over 10. Fifty-four percent of patients had, at least, one potentially inappropriate prescription (PIP) by STOPP. Among them, 48% of PIP prescriptions contained 1, 41% 2 and 11% 3 or more. The omission of one medication according to START criteria concerned 57% of the sample. Among them, 46% had one omission, 44% 2 to 3 and 10% 4 omissions or over. The cardiovascular system is the one most concerned by the PIP. Whether 28.1% of the PIP by STOPP criteria concerned cardiovascular drugs, the omission of prescription, according to START criteria, was 41.8%. There was no significant difference between the different settings studied. There was no effect of age or sex on the impact of PIP (P>0.20) or being polymédiqué (P=0.44). According to the criteria STOPP-A, the prescription of antiplatelet (indication and dose) was highlighted. Prescribing omission also concerned antiplatelet agents but also statins in patients with atherosclerosis as well as antiplatelet and anticoagulant in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) after myocardial infarction or with chronic heart failure. CONCLUSION: Potentially inappropriate prescribing medications were very common in elderly patients with cardiovascular conditions. They concerned as much as underusing of important drugs with potential benefits and prescribing commission of treatment that did not fit with patients' comorbidities and/or characteristics.

Consultations infectiologiques ambutatoires non VIH: analyse d'un centre universitaire sur cinq ans [Non-HIV infectious disease outpatient consultations: a 5-year study in a Swiss University Hospital].

Few studies have examined the workload or clinical spectrum of non-HIV infectious diseases outpatient consultations (IDOC). This retrospective study aims to describe IDOC referrals over the past 5 years. In total, 483 patients were referred (with an increase of 63% between 2009 and 2013). Most referrals were received from primary care clinicians (45%). Median patient age was 47 years, 57% of patients were men and 17% were immunosuppressed. Of the diagnoses retained, 74% were infectious, 20% were non-infectious and 6% were of unknown aetiology. Two community outbreaks were identified (tattoo-related mycobacterial infection and Q fever). In conclusion, the infectious diseases outpatient clinic, which has expanded progressively in the past 5 years, provides a specialised service for primary health clinicians and for public health.