Economic Linear Parameter Varying Model Predictive Control of the Aeration System of a Wastewater Treatment Plant.

This work proposes an economic model predictive control (EMPC) strategy in the linear parameter varying (LPV) framework for the control of dissolved oxygen concentrations in the aerated reactors of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). A reduced model of the complex nonlinear plant is represented in a quasi-linear parameter varying (qLPV) form to reduce computational burden, enabling the real-time operation. To facilitate the formulation of the time-varying parameters which are functions of system states, as well as for feedback control purposes, a moving horizon estimator (MHE) that uses the qLPV WWTP model is proposed. The control strategy is investigated and evaluated based on the ASM1 simulation benchmark for performance assessment. The obtained results applying the EMPC strategy for the control of the aeration system in the WWTP of Girona (Spain) show its effectiveness.

Shoreline contour, water level elevation and volumetric dataset (1984-2020) for the Gallocanta Lake (NE Spain).

Gallocanta is the largest well-preserved saline lake in Western Europe, included in the Ramsar List. Associated with its shallow morphology, the lake undergoes strong variations in its water surface extent along time that condition the habitat distribution and the ecological functions. Data on the morphology of the lake and its hydrological variations along time may be of paramount ecological importance for the managers of this natural space. Even though its interest for research and management purposes, no accurate and robust dataset of this nature covering large periods of time is available. This dataset presents a multi-decadal mapping with a sub-weekly frequency (2-5 days) of the contour of the Gallocanta Lake (NE Iberian Peninsula) along the period 1984-2020 (1043 dates with information). The shoreline position appears continuously defined with subpixel accuracy from the freely-available images acquired by the satellites Sentinel-2 (sensor MSI) and Landsat 5 (TM), 7 (EMT+), and 8 (OLI) by applying the extraction system SHOREX. The satellite-derived shorelines allow the definition of the surface of the lake and are combined with a digital elevation model to assign elevation values to the points defining each shoreline. This allows deducing the mean elevation of the water level and the volumetric changes for those same dates. This data package constitutes a valuable source of information for carrying out robust analyses of the trends of the lake along decades, as well as its response to individual rainfall events.

Tocilizumab en la oftalmología de Graves / Tocilizumab in Graves ophthalmopathy

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Wind-induced changes in the dynamics of fluorescent organic matter in the coastal NW Mediterranean.

Marine biogeochemistry dynamics in coastal marine areas is strongly influenced by episodic events such as rain, intense winds, river discharges and anthropogenic activities. We evaluated in this study the importance of these forcing events on modulating seasonal changes in the marine biogeochemistry of the northwestern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, based on data gathered from a fixed coastal sampling station in the area. A 4-year (2011-2014) monthly sampling at four depths (0.5m, 20m, 50m and 80m) was performed to examine the time variability of several oceanographic variables: seawater temperature, salinity, inorganic nutrient concentrations (NO3-, PO43- and SiO2), chlorophyll a (Chl a), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM). FDOM dynamics was predominantly influenced by upwelling events and mixing processes, driven by strong and characteristic wind episodes. SW wind episodes favored the upwelling of deeper and denser waters into the shallower shelf, providing a surplus of autochthonous humic-like material and inorganic nutrients, whereas northerlies favored the homogenization of the whole shelf water column by cooling and evaporation. These different wind-induced processes (deep water intrusion or mixing), reported along the four sampled years, determined a high interannual environmental variability in comparison with other Mediterranean sampling sites.

Esclerosis lateral amiotrófica y disfagia en el anciano / Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and dysphagia in the elderly

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Global warming-enhanced stratification and mass mortality events in the Mediterranean.

Summer conditions in the Mediterranean Sea are characterized by high temperatures and low food availability. This leads to "summer dormancy" in many benthic suspension feeders due to energetic constraints. Analysis of the most recent 33-year temperature time series demonstrated enhanced stratification due to global warming, which produced a approximately 40% lengthening of summer conditions. Many biological processes are expected to be affected by this trend, culminating in such events as mass mortality of invertebrates. Climatic anomalies concomitant with the occurrence of these events represent prolonged exposure to warmer summer conditions coupled with reduced food resources. Simulation of the effects of these conditions on a model organism demonstrated a biomass loss of >35%. Losses of this magnitude result in mortality similar to that noted in field observations during mass mortality events. These results indicate that temperature anomalies are the underlying cause of the events, with energetic constraints serving as the main triggering mechanism.

Growth hormone in sport: beyond Beijing 2008.

Human growth hormone (hGH) is a protein endogenously produced predominantly by the anterior pituitary gland. Native hGH and, especially, its recombinant analogue (rhGH), used to treat patients with hormone deficiency, are supposed to be abused by athletes searching its anabolic and lipolytic effects. Hence, hGH use has been prohibited for a long time by the sport authorities, but until recently, hGH abuse could not be detected. Two approaches have been followed when trying to develop methods for GH abuse detection. The direct method identifies an abnormal ratio between GH isoforms--a result of hGH exogenous administration. The time window to find a cheating athlete by this approach is limited by the excretion time of the hormone. The indirect approach measures serum biomarkers directly affected by GH intake (eg, markers of released liver growth factors and of bone and collagen turnover). In this approach, the retrospective power extends further. Alternative possibilities for cheating related to hGH could be the administration of recombinant growth factors themselves, the administration of hGH metabolic precursors such as ghrelin-like GH secretagogues, or the genetic manipulation of muscle growth-related genes (gene doping). In parallel with the new types of abuse, which will surely emerge in the near future, the research and development for the improvement of the analytical detection of GH itself will continue.