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Pharmaceuticals are therapeutic drugs used to treat or prevent human or animal diseases. The incomplete breakdown of these drugs in the body can lead to their release into the environment through excretion, where they may bioaccumulation, and their toxicity may have negative impacts on aquatic and terrestrial organisms, ecosystems and human health. Conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not designed to effectively remove specific pharmaceutical waste. Other technologies such as membrane filtration, activated carbon adsorption, and hybrid processes can more efficiently remove pharmaceutical wastes. However, they are expensive, and their large-scale applications are currently not economical or sustainable. Therefore, the search for sustainable and low-cost technologies has been accelerating. Microalgae have attracted attention as a means of removing pharmaceutical waste in water. In this chapter, we describe and discuss the use of various low-cost methods of cultivating and applying microalgae to treat pharmaceutical products in wastewater.

Hydrides based on magnesium and intermetallic compounds provide a viable solution to the challenge of energy storage from renewable sources, thanks to their ability to absorb and desorb hydrogen in a reversible way with a proper tuning of pressure and temperature conditions. Therefore, they are expected to play an important role in the clean energy transition and in the deployment of hydrogen as an efficient energy vector. This review, by experts of Task 40 'Energy Storage and Conversion based on Hydrogen' of the Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programme of the International Energy Agency, reports on the latest activities of the working group 'Magnesium- and Intermetallic alloys-based Hydrides for Energy Storage'. The following topics are covered by the review: multiscale modelling of hydrides and hydrogen sorption mechanisms; synthesis and processing techniques; catalysts for hydrogen sorption in Mg; Mg-based nanostructures and new compounds; hydrides based on intermetallic TiFe alloys, high entropy alloys, Laves phases, and Pd-containing alloys. Finally, an outlook is presented on current worldwide investments and future research directions for hydrogen-based energy storage.

Contains fulltext : 244253.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access), BACKGROUND: Brain structure abnormalities throughout the course of Parkinson's disease have yet to be fully elucidated. OBJECTIVE: Using a multicenter approach and harmonized analysis methods, we aimed to shed light on Parkinson's disease stage-specific profiles of pathology, as suggested by in vivo neuroimaging. METHODS: Individual brain MRI and clinical data from 2357 Parkinson's disease patients and 1182 healthy controls were collected from 19 sources. We analyzed regional cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and subcortical volume using mixed-effects models. Patients grouped according to Hoehn and Yahr stage were compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Within the patient sample, we investigated associations with Montreal Cognitive Assessment score. RESULTS: Overall, patients showed a thinner cortex in 38 of 68 regions compared with controls (d(max) = -0.20, d(min) = -0.09). The bilateral putamen (d(left) = -0.14, d(right) = -0.14) and left amygdala (d = -0.13) were smaller in patients, whereas the left thalamus was larger (d = 0.13). Analysis of staging demonstrated an initial presentation of thinner occipital, parietal, and temporal cortices, extending toward rostrally located cortical regions with increased disease severity. From stage 2 and onward, the bilateral putamen and amygdala were consistently smaller with larger differences denoting each increment. Poorer cognition was associated with widespread cortical thinning and lower volumes of core limbic structures. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings offer robust and novel imaging signatures that are generally incremental across but in certain regions specific to disease stages. Our findings highlight the importance of adequately powered multicenter collaborations. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

This edited volume provides a comprehensive, fact-based account of migration from and within West and North Africa and across the Mediterranean over the past two years, with the aim of promoting more coherent, forward-looking and sustainable policy approaches, in line with the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. It equips policymakers and practitioners in Africa and Europe with an up-to-date, consolidated picture of key aspects of migration in these regions – recent trends and data issues, development implications, risks and vulnerabilities, as well as national, regional and cross-regional governance elements. The volume features contributions from several IOM offices, as well as other international organisations, research institutes and civil society organisations from Africa and Europe.

This review deals with the destabilization methods for improvement of storage properties of metal hydrides. Both theoretical and experimental approaches were used to point out the influence of various types of defects on structure and stability of hydrides. As a case study, Mg, and Ni based hydrides has been investigated. Theoretical studies, mainly carried out within various implementations of DFT, are a powerful tool to study mostly MgH 2 based materials. By providing an insight on metal-hydrogen bonding that governs both thermodynamics and hydrogen kinetics, they allow us to describe phenomena to which experimental methods have a limited access or do not have it at all: to follow the hydrogen sorption reaction on a specific metal surface and hydrogen induced phase transformations, to describe structure of phase boundaries or to explain the impact of defects or various additives on MgH 2 stability and hydrogen sorption kinetics. In several cases theoretical calculations reveal themselves as being able to predict new properties of materials, including the ways to modify Mg or MgH 2 that would lead to better characteristics in terms of hydrogen storage. The influence of ion irradiation and mechanical milling with and without additives has been discussed. Ion irradiation is the way to introduce a well-defined concentration of defects (Frankel pairs) at the surface and sub-surface layers of a material. Defects at the surface play the main role in sorption reaction since they enhance the dissociation of hydrogen. On the other hand, ball-milling introduce defects through the entire sample volume, refine the structure and thus decrease the path for hydrogen diffusion. Two Severe Plastic Deformation techniques were used to better understand the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation kinetics of Mg- and Mg 2 Ni-based alloys: Equal-Angular-Channel-Pressing and Fast-Forging. Successive ECAP passes leads to refinement of the microstructure of AZ31 ingots and to instalment therein of h

Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and other ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in multidrug resistant (MDR) cancer cells is responsible for the reduction of intracellular drug accumulation, thus decreasing the efficacy of chemotherapeutics. P-gp is also found at endothelial cells' membrane of the blood-brain barrier, where it limits drug delivery to central nervous system (CNS) tumors. We have previously developed a set of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines and their prodrugs as novel Src tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), showing a significant activity against CNS tumors in in vivo. Here we investigated the interaction of the most promising pair of drug/prodrug with P-gp at the cellular level. The tested compounds were found to increase the intracellular accumulation of Rho 123, and to enhance the efficacy of paclitaxel in P-gp overexpressing cells. Encouraging pharmacokinetics properties and tolerability in vivo were also observed. Our findings revealed a novel role of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines which may be useful for developing a new effective therapy in MDR cancer treatment, particularly against glioblastoma.

This work addresses the coordination problem of multiple robots with the goal of finding specific hazardous targets in an unknown area and dealing with them cooperatively. The desired behaviour for the robotic system entails multiple requirements, which may also be conflicting. The paper presents the problem as a constrained bi-objective optimization problem in which mobile robots must perform two specific tasks of exploration and at same time cooperation and coordination for disarming the hazardous targets. These objectives are opposed goals, in which one may be favored, but only at the expense of the other. Therefore, a good trade-off must be found. For this purpose, a nature-inspired approach and an analytical mathematical model to solve this problem considering a single equivalent weighted objective function are presented. The results of proposed coordination model, simulated in a two dimensional terrain, are showed in order to assess the behaviour of the proposed solution to tackle this problem. We have analyzed the performance of the approach and the influence of the weights of the objective function under different conditions: static and dynamic. In this latter situation, the robots may fail under the stringent limited budget of energy or for hazardous events. The paper concludes with a critical discussion of the experimental results., Comment: 40 pages

The most recent antenna array technologies such as smart antenna systems (SAS) and massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems are giving a strong increasing impact relative to 5G wireless communication systems due to benefits that they could introduce in terms of performance improvements with respect to omnidirectional antennas. Although a considerable number of theoretical proposals already exist in this field, the most common used network simulators do not implement the latest wireless network standards and, consequently, they do not offer the possibility to emulate scenarios in which SAS or massive MIMO systems are employed. This aspect heavily affects the quality of the network performance analysis with regard to the next generation wireless communication systems. To overcome this issue, it is possible, for example, to extend the default features offered by one of the most used network simulators such as Omnet++ which provides a very complete suite of network protocols and patterns that can be adapted in order to support the latest antenna array systems. The main goal of the present chapter is to illustrate the improvements accomplished in this field allowing to enhance the basic functionalities of the Omnet++ simulator by implementing the most modern antenna array technologies.

The mine detection in an unexplored area is an optimization problem where multiple mines, randomly distributed throughout an area, need to be discovered and disarmed in a minimum amount of time. We propose a strategy to explore an unknown area, using a stigmergy approach based on ants behavior, and a novel swarm based protocol to recruit and coordinate robots for disarming the mines cooperatively. Simulation tests are presented to show the effectiveness of our proposed Ant-based Task Robot Coordination (ATRC) with only the exploration task and with both exploration and recruiting strategies. Multiple minimization objectives have been considered: the robots' recruiting time and the overall area exploration time. We discuss, through simulation, different cases under different network and field conditions, performed by the robots. The results have shown that the proposed decentralized approaches enable the swarm of robots to perform cooperative tasks intelligently without any central control., Comment: Soft Computing, 2017

La mirada del sector político y los medios de comunicación se centra en el número de llegadas y muertes de migrantes. Existen problemas con los datos en ambas categorías.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate outcomes of patients treated with endovascular repair (ER) with the use of fenestrated and branched stent grafts or open surgery (OS) for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) in a current series of patients. Methods All TAAA patients undergoing repair at three centers between January 2007 and December 2014 were included in a prospective database. Patients were stratified according to treatment by ER or OS, and outcomes were compared using propensity score matching (1:1). Covariates included age, sex, aneurysm extent, hypertension, coronary disease, chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, and renal function. The primary end points were mortality and paraplegia. Secondary end points included any spinal cord ischemia (SCI), renal and respiratory insufficiency, and a composite of these complications or death at 30 days. All-cause survival and freedom from reintervention were compared in the two groups. Results Of 341 patients, 84 (25%) underwent ER and 257 underwent OS (75%). After propensity score matching (65 patients per group), no significant differences were observed in rates of 30-day mortality (7.7% in ER and 6.2% in OS; P = 1) and paraplegia (9.2% and 10.8%; P = 1). Any SCI, renal insufficiency, and respiratory insufficiency were 12.3% and 20% (P =.34), 9.2% and 12.3% (P =.78), and 0% and 12.3% (P =.006) in ER and OS, respectively. The incidence of the composite end point was significantly lower in ER patients (18.5% in ER vs 36.0% in OS; P =.03). According to Kaplan-Meier estimates, all-cause survival at 24 months was 82.8% in ER and 84.9% in OS, with rates unchanged at 42 months (P =.9). Rates of freedom from reintervention were 91.0% vs 89.7% at 24 months and 80.0% vs 79.9% at 42 months in ER vs OS, respectively (P =.3). Conclusions A propensity score analysis in patients with TAAA undergoing repair suggests an early benefit from ER compared with OS with regard to the composite end point because of reduced 30

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of endovascular surgery (ES) with the use of fenestrated and branched stentgrafts and open surgery (OS) for the treatment of aneurysms of the thoraco-abdominal aorta (TAA) in a current series of the patients. Materials and Methods: All the patients treated for TAA repair in three centers between January 2007 and December 2014 were included in a prospective database. The patients were stratified according to treatment by ES or OS and the results were compared using the propensity score (1:1). The covariables were age, gender, extension of the aneurysm, hypertension, coronary disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, and renal function. The principal criteria of evaluation were mortality and paraplegia. The secondary criteria included spinal cord ischemia (SCI), respiratory or renal impaired function and a composite of these complications or the death at 30 days. Survival and reinterventions were compared in the two groups. Results: Among 341 patients, 84 (25%) underwent ES and 257 OS (75%). After the correspondences of the propensity score (65 patients by group), no significant difference was observed for death rates at 30 days (7.7% in ES and 6.2% in OS; p 1⁄41) or for paraplegia (9.2% and 10.8%; p1⁄41). SCI, impaired renal and respiratory function were 12.3% and 20% (p1⁄40.34), 9.2% and 12.3% (p1⁄40.78), and 0% and 12.3% (p1⁄40.006), after ES and OS, respectively. The incidence of the composite criterion of evaluation was significantly lower in ES patients (18.5% in ES vs. 36.0% in OS, p1⁄40.03). According to the Kaplan Meier method, survival at 24 months was 82.8% for ES and 84.9% for OS with unchanged rates at 42 months (p1⁄40.9). When comparing ES and OS, the absence of reintervention rates were 91.0% vs. 89.7% at 24 months, and 80.0% vs. 79.9% at 42 months, respectively (p 1⁄4 0.3). Conclusion: The analysis of the propensity scores in patients who underwent a repair for TAA suggests an early benefit o

This article presents the formulation of an enriched macro finite element based on the trigonometric shear deformation theory for the static analysis of symmetrically laminated composite plates. Shear correction factor is not required because this theory accounts for tangential stress-free boundary conditions on the plate boundary surfaces. The macro element is obtained using the principle of virtual work and Gram-Schmidt orthogonal polynomials as enrichment functions. The implementation of the obtained algorithm is simple and efficient, and allows studying general quadrilateral plates with a single macro element. Several examples are presented to show the capability and applicability of the developed formulation., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

This special issue provides recent studies of protocols and applications for vehicular delay tolerant and sensor networks, thus featuring current and future research waypoints and milestones in the field of vehicular communications.

This special issue provides recent routing and data dissemination schemes in vehicular environments, thus featuring current and future research waypoints in the field of VANET

This special issue presents recent schemes for underwater networks, especially featuring current and future research waypoints in the field of underwater wireless sensor networks.

En este trabajo se incorpora la cinemática correspondiente a una Teoría Trigonométrica de Deformación por Corte (TSDT) a macro-elementos enriquecidos, los cuales fueron formulados originalmente por los autores para el análisis de placas delgadas. En esta teoría se emplean funciones trigonométricas, definidas en la variable del espesor y dependientes del mismo, que incorporan una variación sinusoidal de los desplazamientos a lo largo del espesor y verifican la condición de tensiones de corte nulas en las superficies superior e inferior del laminado y la compatibilidad de desplazamientos en el plano en las superficies interlaminares. Por otro lado, se evita el bloqueo por cortante y no se requiere de un factor de corrección por corte. Las relaciones constitutivas entre tensiones y deformaciones cortantes se satisfacen en cada lámina o capa. El macro-elemento formulado constituye un elemento finito jerárquicamente enriquecido con polinomios de Gram-Schmidt que, a su vez, es mapeado utilizando el concepto de isoparametría en coordenadas naturales. Así, la superficie de una placa se discretizaría con una malla de macro-elementos que a diferencia de elementos finitos clásicos, no requieren densificar el mallado. La formulación obtenida se emplea en este trabajo para el análisis dinámico de placas gruesas laminadas, considerando diferentes condiciones de contorno. Los resultados numéricos obtenidos con la presente formulación muestran una buena correlación con resultados publicados por otros autores. Además, se pueden realizar con facilidad estudios paramétricos y llevar a cabo procesos de optimización., Postprint (published version)

We present IRAC and MIPS observations of NGC 205, the dwarf elliptical companion of M31, obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope. The extended dust emission is spatially concentrated in three main emission regions. Based on our mid-to-far infrared flux density measurements alone, we derive a total dust mass estimate of the order of 3.2 × 10^4 M_⊙, at a temperature of ~20K. The gas mass associated with this component matches the predicted mass returned by the dying stars from the last burst of star formation in NGC 205 (~0.5 Gyr ago). Analysis of the Spitzer data combined with previous 1.1mm observations over a small central region or “Core” (18" diameter), suggest the presence of very cold (T ~ 12K) dust and a dust mass 16 times higher than is estimated from the Spitzer measurements alone. Assuming a gas to dust mass ratio of 100, these two datasets, i.e. with and without the millimeter observations, suggest a total gas mass range of 3.2 × 10^6 to 5 × 10^7 M_⊙.

This paper presents an application of Microsoft Robotics Studio (MSRS) in which a team of six four wheel drive, ground based robots explore and map simulated terrain. The user has the ability to modify the terrain and assign destination objectives to the team while the simulation is running. The terrain is initially generated using a gray scale image, in which the intensity of each pixel in the image gives an altitude datum. The robots start with no knowledge of their surroundings, and map the terrain as they attempt to reach user-defined target objectives. The mapping process simulates the use of common sensory hardware to determine datum points, including provision for field of view, detection range, and measurement accuracy. If traversal of a mapped area is indicated by the users’ targeting commands, path planning heuristics developed for MSRS by the author in earlier work are used to determine an efficient series of waypoints to reach the objective. Mutability of terrain is also explored- the user is able to modify the terrain without stopping the simulation. This forces the robots to adapt to changing environmental conditions, and permits analysis of the robustness of mapping algorithms used when faced with a changing world.

Network scalability is one of the critical challenges and requirements in routing protocols for ad hoc networks. This paper presents a novel scalable routing protocol called Geo-LANMAR. The proposed protocol inherits the group motion support of landmark routing (LANMAR) and applies the geo-routing concept to deliver packets efficiently. In this framework, the integration between geo-coordinates and table-driven IP addressing is introduced. There is also an integration of group management with geo-forwarding and IP group management. Geo-LANMAR uses link-state propagation over a virtual topology built on landmarks, and a fisheye like scheme makes this propagation very efficient. The virtual topology helps recover from voids. For extra efficiency, a novel metric called effective traveled distance (ETD) allows us to predict voids or obstacles. With respect to LANMAR, Geo-LANMAR reduces advertisement update overhead (O/H) and features robust forwarding. Consequently, Geo-LANMAR is more scalable to large ad hoc networks with group motion. The performance evaluation of Geo-LANMAR shows that Geo-LANMAR gives high scalability for large networks in terms of control O/H, end-to-end delay, and packet delivery ratio as compared with other routing protocols such as AODV, LANMAR, and GPSR. Copyright (C) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Earth Observing System (EOS) instrument teams must validate the operational products they produce from the Terra spacecraft data. As a pilot for future validation activities, four EOS teams (MODIS, MISR, ASTER, and Landsat-7) and community experts conducted an 11-day field campaign in May 1997 near Las Cruces, NM. The goals of the Prototype Validation Exercise (PROVE) included (1) gaining experience in the collection and use of field data for EOS product validation; (2) developing coordination, measurement, and data-archiving protocols; and (3) compiling a synoptic land and atmospheric data set for testing algorithms. PROVE was held at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Jornada Experimental Range, an expansive desert plateau hosting a complex mosaic of grasses and shrubs. Most macroscopic variables affecting the radiation environment were measured with ground, air-borne (including AVIRIS and laser altimeter), and space-borne sensors (including AVHRR, Landsat TM, SPOT, POLDER, and GOES). The Oak Ridge Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) then used campaign data sets to prototype Mercury, its Internet-based data harvesting and distribution system. This article provides general information about PROVE and assesses the progress made toward the campaign goals. Primary successes included the rapid campaign formulation and execution, measurement protocol development, and the significant collection, reduction, and sharing of data among participants. However, the PROVE data were used primarily for arid-land research and model validation rather than for validating satellite products, and the data were slow to reach the DAAC and hence public domain. The lessons learned included: (1) validation campaigns can be rapidly organized and implemented if there are focused objectives and on-site facilities and expertise; (2) data needs, organization, storage, and access issues must be addressed at the onset of campaign planning; and (3) the end-to-end data collectio

A site was established by the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service on the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed in southwest Idaho in the fall of 1987 and operated through the spring of 1994, to compare precipitation catch between nine precipitation-measuring systems. This site was established as a part of the World Meteorological Organization’s program to compare current national methods of measuring solid precipitation (snow), so the primary emphasis of this study was the measurement of snowfall. Over seven seasons, four of the systems measured snowfall and total catch, which included snow, mixed snow and rain, and rain events, within 4% of the Wyoming shielded gauge, which had the greatest total catch. These measuring systems were the Alter shielded gauge and the dual-gauge system from the United States, the double-fence shielded gauge from Russia, and the Nipher shielded gauge from Canada. The unshielded universal recording gauge that was mounted with its orifice at 3.05 m had the least catch in all precipitation categories, which amounted to 24% less snow, 18% less mixed snow and rain, and 10% less rain than was measured by the Wyoming shielded gauge.

Ex Speciali Concessione In Auditorio ICtorum Praeside M. Cunrado Tiburtio Respondente. Laurentio Rangonibus. Fratribus Germanis, Colbergensibus Ex Pomerania. Anno Salutis MDCLXI. Die XI. Mens. Mai. In Electorali Viadrina Ad Disputandum Proposita, Schlüsselseiten aus dem Exemplar der ULB Halle: Frankfurt a.d.O., Diss., 1657-62 (22), Signaturformel: A - E4

Ex Speciali Concessione In Auditorio ICtorum Praeside M. Cunrado Tiburtio Respondente. Laurentio Rangonibus. Fratribus Germanis, Colbergensibus Ex Pomerania. Anno Salutis MDCLXI. Die XI. Mens. Mai. In Electorali Viadrina Ad Disputandum Proposita, Schlüsselseiten aus dem Exemplar der ULB Halle: Frankfurt a.d.O., Diss., 1657-62 (22), Signaturformel: A - E4

Hartigan comments on her experience as a juror for this show of work by 31 women artists. Artist's statements. Biographical notes.

We studied brain cortical radioactive tracer activity in a consecutive series of nine patients with acute hemispheric ischemic stroke at their first cerebral ischemic episode. Results from N,N,N'-trimethyl-N'- (2-hydroxy-3-methyl-5-[123-I]-iodobenzyl)-1,3 propanediamine-2HCl (four patients) and technetium Tc 99m hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (five patients) single photon emission computed tomographic studies were compared with x-ray computed tomography (CT) and clinical findings within the first 48 hours, on day 10, and on day 30 after the clinical ictus. Cortical hypoactivity agreeing with the clinical findings was found on all initial scans but not in the follow-up studies. Cortical activity on the affected side in patients with stroke was significantly lower when compared with cortical activity in sex- and age-matched controls (n = 21). Computed tomography (with contrast) was less sensitive in detecting the ischemic lesions. These studies demonstrate that in the acute phase of stroke there is a single photon emission computed tomographic cortical disturbance that agrees with clinical findings, even when computed tomography scan infarction is limited to subcortical structures