Pilot Unit Research Articles

Redefining the approach to rare diseases: the experience of "Casa dos Raros" in Brazil.

Rare diseases include 6,000-8,000 different conditions, over 70% of them having a genetic cause. Most cases have early manifestations (in childhood and adolescence), and just a small fraction (around 5%) has specific therapies available. Nevertheless, appropriate management measures contribute to improve the quality of life of patients and families. They affect up to 3.5-5.9% of the world's population and are recently attracting attention from international agencies such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization. In Brazil, a condition is considered rare when there are no more than 65 people affected in each 100,000 inhabitants and it is estimated that around 12million people in the country may present one of these conditions, which represents a significant burden to the family and to the health care system. Despite concrete advances observed in the last decades, there are still significant unmet needs for persons living with rare diseases in Brazil. With the main aim of shortening the journey of patients with rare diseases in Brazil, we envisioned a model that involves comprehensive clinical and laboratorial multiprofessional evaluations, with intensive use of telemedicine and genomics. The model includes a strong activity in education, training and research, and has several parallel initiatives (biobank, registry, undiagnosed disease program, information services, extramural diagnostic support), in addition to strategic partnerships, that make the overall project stronger. This report describes the system in place at the pilot unit of Casa dos Raros (that started activities in 2023, in Porto Alegre, Brazil) and the stimulating preliminary results, which indicate a significant reduction in the diagnostic journey. This model, that operates as a charity and does not charge any fees to patients and families, will be replicated in other regions of Brazil, with the opening of a second unit planned to occur in the near future in Sao Paulo.

P-1876. Implementing a Transitions-of-Care Pilot for Patient Discharge on Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT): Feasibility and Impact with Focus on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

Abstract Background Complex care coordination and requirement for rapid acquisition of advanced clinical skills at transition from inpatient settings to OPAT may lead to negative experiences and adverse outcomes for patients, with disproportionate impact on historically minoritized groups.Figure 1:Implementation of a Novel Transitions of Care Pilot Workflow for Patient Discharges on OPATComparison of steps in previous discharge workflow to new process implemented for patient discharges on two pilot floors at URMC Methods A novel workflow was implemented on two pilot units (Fig 1), using the OPAT Advanced Practice Practitioner (APP) to facilitate transition from inpatient to outpatient settings. Discrete OPAT APP practice changes included inpatient follow-up prior to discharge, completion of OPAT-relevant discharge orders, and telemedicine follow-up within one week post discharge. OPAT patients discharged 7/15-10/31/2023 from pilot units were included, with OPAT panel unaffected by pilot as comparator group. Patient records were reviewed for race and other socioeconomic parameters, comorbidities, OPAT-related discharge order errors, emergency department (ED) utilization, access complications, adverse events, and outcomes. A composite Undesirable OPAT Outcome measure was derived. Statistical analysis used chi-square, t-test in Microsoft Excel and Graphpad and logistic regression with R v4.3.3, rstatix v0.7.2, and sjPlotv2.8.15.Table 1.Comparison of Discharge Error Rates, ED utilization, Adverse Events and Treatment Outcomes between Pilot and Standard of Care GroupP values with statistical significance are marked in bold Results Pilot and comparator groups of 23 and 116 patients were similar in demographics, SDOH parameters, comorbidity, OPAT type, and antibiotic selection. Although rates of discharge order errors, adverse events, treatment outcomes were similarly high, pilot patients had lower rates of ED utilization (2.67 vs. 12.87/1000 OPAT days, p=0.02, OR 0.219) (Table 1), and shorter time to ID follow up (mean 5.1 vs. 23.8 days, p < 0.001), completing more follow-up appointments per course (2.25 vs. 0.9, p < 0.001). Despite variable penetration of the full intervention (48% of pilot group), 34 billable encounters were completed. In logistic regression and time-to-event analysis, pilot intervention may moderate effects of SDOH parameters on likelihood of order errors (Fig 2) and time to ID follow up (Fig 3).Figure 2.Odds Ratios of Laboratory Order Errors in Pilot and Standard of Care Subgroups by SDOH Variables Univariate regression analysis of discharge order error outcome by SDOH parameters, odds ratios with statistical significance are marked with an asterisk Conclusion Utilizing the OPAT APP in a boundary-spanning role focusing on transitions of care at discharge promotes improved follow up, ED utilization, and billing in OPAT-related care coordination, and may moderate impact of SDOH for minoritized patient populations receiving OPAT.Figure 3:Time-to-event probability analysis for timing of post-discharge ID clinic follow up among OPAT patientsTime-to-event curves for time (days) to ID follow up by Insurance Type (3A), Race (3B), Pilot and Standard of Care Status (3C), and All Patients (3D) Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Advancements and Challenges in Direct Air Capture Technologies: Energy Intensity, Novel Methods, Economics, and Location Strategies

Direct air capture (DAC) technology is increasingly recognized as a key tool in the pursuit of climate neutrality, enabling the removal of carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. Despite its potential, DAC remains in the early stages of development, with most installations limited to pilot or demonstration units. The main barriers to its widespread implementation include high energy demands and significant capture costs. This literature review addresses the most critical research directions related to the development of this technology, focusing on its challenges and prospects for deployment. Particular attention is given to studies aimed at developing new, cost-effective, and efficient sorbents that could significantly reduce the energy intensity and costs of the process. Alternative technologies, such as electrochemical and membrane-based processes, show promise but require further research to overcome limitations, such as sensitivity to oxygen presence or insufficient membrane selectivity. The economic feasibility of DAC remains uncertain, with current estimates subject to significant uncertainty. Governmental and regulatory support will be crucial for the technology’s success. Furthermore, the location of DAC installations should consider factors such as energy availability, options for carbon dioxide storage or utilization, and climatic conditions, which significantly affect process efficiency. This review highlights the necessity for continued research to overcome existing barriers and fully harness the potential of DAC technology.

Simulation à l’aide de PRO-II de la pyrolyse des huiles de palme et de coprah sur unité pilote à la Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR)

Overproduction of vegetable oils accounts for around 10% of production. In addition, there are oils that have been downgraded because of their high acidity level (> 6%). This work consisted of simulation tests using PRO-II on the pyrolysis of these vegetable oils for use as fuel in existing combustion engines. According to the results obtained, the bio-gasoline cut is extracted between 40 °C and 216 °C, and 40 °C and 180 °C, respectively for palm and copra; whereas the biodiesel cut is extracted between 216 °C and 263 °C, and between 180 °C and 196 °C, in the same order. For these two types of cut, the average molar weights are close to those of petroleum-based fuel. The palm-diesel cut shows more pronounced peaks in n-pentadecane (49.87%), while with copra-diesel oil, the chromatogram shows a more pronounced peak for n-undecane at 62.07%. This distribution of weight percentages is inherent to each oil, and shows that the biodiesel obtained with copra is lighter than that obtained with palm oil, even though overall they are both close to paraffin. In addition, the density of the distillation residue from palm oil is close to that of its diesel. In short, the simulation produced cuts close to those of conventional fuels, and could therefore be a decisive tool for the efficient implementation of a pilot unit. Keywords: Palm oil; Copra oil; Biofuels; Simulation; Pyrolysis.

The Operational Performance of an Ultrafiltration Pilot Unit for the Treatment of Ultra-Concentrated Brines.

The valorization of ultra-concentrated seawater brines, named bitterns, requires preliminary purification processes, such as membrane filtration, before they can be fully exploited. This study investigates the performance of an ultrafiltration pilot plant aimed at separating organic matter and large particles from real bitterns. An empirical model for the bittern viscosity was developed to better characterize the membrane. Distinct variations in permeability, fouling resistance and rejection coefficient were observed under operational pressures ranging from 2 to 4 bar. Working at low pressure (2 bar), the pilot plant achieves permeability and rejection coefficient values of 17 L/m2hbar and 95%, respectively. Foulant behavior was characterized by determining a "fouling resistance", obtaining an average value of 1013 m-1. Tests with three distinct bittern samples were conducted to assess the influence of chemical composition and organic matter content on membrane permeability and fouling characteristics. The collected data enabled a comprehensive characterization of the ultrafiltration pilot unit working with this particular saline feed solution, which has very high technical-economic potential.

Integrated System of Reverse Osmosis and Forward Pressure-Assisted Osmosis from ZrO2 Base Polymer Membranes for Desalination Technology

In this work, reverse osmosis and forward osmosis membranes were prepared using base cellulosic polymers with ZrO2. The prepared membranes were rolled on the spiral-wound configuration module. The modules were tested on a pilot unit to investigate the efficiency of the RO membrane and the hydraulic pressure effect on both sides of the FO membranes. The RO membrane provided a rejection of 99% for the seawater desalination, and the brine was used as a draw solution for the FO system. First, seawater was used as a draw solution to indicate the best hydraulic pressure, where the best one was 3 bar for the draw solution side, and 2 bar for the feed side, where the water flux reached 48.89 L/m2·h (LMH) with a dilution percentage of 80% and a low salt reverse flux of 0.128 g/m2·h (gMH) after 5 h of operation time. The integrated system of RO and forward-assisted osmosis (PAO) was investigated using river water as a feed and RO brine as a draw solute, where the results of PAO indicate a high-water flux of 68.6 LMH with a dilution of 93.2% and a salt reverse flux of 0.18 gMH. Therefore, using PAO improves the performance of the system.

Rehabilitation after intercurrent morbid event of patients suffering from neurocognitive disorders in a pilot unit: management and outcomes

People suffering from a neurodegenerative disease, at a stage still allowing physical activity, encounter more difficulties to access to re-education and rehabilitation care. A trial unit specialized in medical care and rehabilitation (SMR) was created to handle these patients, who suffered a morbid intercurrent event not related to the neurocognitive disorder. The trial unit was created thanks to a dedicated funding from the Brittany Health Regional Agency (ARS) following-up a call for projects in October 2021. A retrospective monocentric descriptive study focusing on the overall evolution of the patient. To describe the social and medical characteristics of admitted patients and access the benefits regarding the patients regain of independence. Results: One hundred forty-nine patients (55men, 94women) were included, average age 85 ±6.5 years. The average length of stay was 24 ±11days and the rehabilitative load was high (scores RR 275,2 ±175,2). A significant improvement in the autonomy of patients was noted, of their physical dependence scores (p <0,001) and cognitive dependence scores (p <0,001), of their overall physical condition at SPPB (p<0,001) as well as a decrease in the use of psychotropic drugs (p <0,001); their nutritional status was unchanged (p =0.2). One in two patients went home. Our work seems to confirm the importance of specialized units in the care of patients suffering from neurodegenerative disease in SMR.

Operation and Modeling of a Process for 1,1-Diethoxybutane Synthesis in a Simulated Moving Bed Reactor Pilot Unit

Operation and Modeling of a Process for 1,1-Diethoxybutane Synthesis in a Simulated Moving Bed Reactor Pilot Unit

Review of Power-to-Liquid (PtL) Technology for Renewable Methanol (e-MeOH): Recent Developments, Emerging Trends and Prospects for the Cement Plant Industry

The cement industry is a significant contributor (around 8%) to CO2 global emissions. About 60% of the industry’s emissions come from limestone calcination, which is essential for clinker production, while 40% are the result of fuel combustion. Reducing these emissions is challenging due to limestone’s role as the primary raw material for cement. Cement plants are required to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, as outlined in the 13th United Nations Sustainable Goals. One strategy to achieve this goal, involves Carbon Capture and utilization (CCU). Among the options for CO2 utilization, the Power-to-Liquid (PtL) strategy offers a means to mitigate CO2 emissions. In PtL, the CO2 captured from cement industrial flue gas is combined with the hydrogen generated by renewable electrolysis (green hydrogen) and is catalytically converted into renewable methanol (e-MeOH). In this sense, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the worldwide existing pilot and demonstration units and projects funded by the EU across several industries. It specifically focuses on PtL technology worldwide within cement plants. This work covers 18 locations worldwide, detailing technology existent at plants of different capacities, location, and project partners. Finally, the review analyses techno-economic assessments related to e-MeOH production processes, highlighting the potential impact on achieving carbon neutrality in the cement industry.

Improving Maintenance of Central Line Dressing to Reduce Risk of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in an Acute-Care Setting.

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) increase morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Central venous access device (CVAD) dressing integrity is critical to prevent CLABSI. From the First Quarter to the Third Quarter of 2023, CLABSI rates related to disruption in CVAD dressing integrity increased significantly at our facility. Despite the delivery of education, competency validation, and checklist implementation, CLABSI rates remained high, making this our top strategic priority.The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to determine if gum mastic adhesive and hemostatic powder would improve dressing integrity and decrease CLABSI rates related to disruption of central line dressings. With pre- and post-CVAD dressing data, utilizing rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology to drive improvement, this quality improvement initiative was conducted in a 603-bed, tertiary level I trauma center. A multidisciplinary team was formed consisting of infection prevention, quality, nursing, and vascular access personnel, with the goal of improving central line dressing integrity and increasing dressing life. In-depth training included standardized CLABSI prevention bundles and central line dressing change guidelines to include the application of gum mastic adhesive and topical hemostatic product, and was tested on pilot units before implementation. Bleeding at the central line insertion site reduced by 23.6% with the use of a hemostatic powder. Central line dressing integrity was improved by 33.5% with the use of a liquid gum mastic adhesive and dressing life improved by 140.7%. Additionally, there was only 1 CLASBI and no medical adhesive-related skin injuries reported since the implementation of the bundle (October 2023). Topical hemostatic powder and liquid gum mastic adhesive paired with the adhesive remover for safe removal were shown to be effective in improving integrity in central line dressings for the prevention of CLABSIs. In October 2023, the dressing change integrity bundle was scaled to all units within the facility.

Development and workflow of a separation process for optimum design: A case of phenylenediamine

AbstractAn industrial project based upon the multi‐scale objective‐oriented process development (MOPD) method for developing an optimum process for separating phenylenediamine (PDA) isomers was executed. This article reports the first four (4) steps of that project. In the first step, the solution for this separation problem was conceptualized. It is a distillation‐crystallization‐hybrid process. The second step is to validate the concept experimentally from the thermodynamic point of view followed by kinetic considerations. It was found that a 2‐stage crystallization is required to purify the main product isomers to the desirable specification that is higher than 99.5 mol%. A heat and material balance model was then constructed for analyzing and optimizing various design variables, also used to understand the operability of the process. Finally, with proper HAZOP analysis and detailed engineering, the pilot unit was designed. Throughout the project, all exercises and efforts are well focused with clear objectives, hence there are minimum detours on the execution; furthermore, the clear objectives enhanced the communications among various disciplines tremendously. It is a valuable asset for senior management in the allocation of resources and budgets.

Enhancing Ultradeep Hydrodesulfurization of Coker Diesel through Adsorptive Predenitrogenation.

The petroleum refining industry places significant challenge in the production of ultralow-sulfur diesel (ULSD) from various middle distillates with high nitrogen concentration in an energy-efficient and cost-effective way to meet strict environmental regulations as coexisting nitrogen compounds significantly inhibit the ultradeep hydrodesulfurization (HDS). Among all of the approaches reported in the literature for this challenge, a combination of adsorptive denitrogenation (ADN) and HDS has attracted great attention. This study focuses on ultradeep HDS of coker diesel (CD) through a synergistic approach combining ADN over a carbon-based adsorbent and the current HDS process. The study found that the predenitrogenation significantly enhanced the HDS reactivity of CD and greatly reduced the start of run temperature for producing ULSD by even 20 °C, depending on the denitrogenation depth. It results in dominantly decreasing energy and H2 consumption in the HDS process, and increasing the lifetime of the catalyst. Furthermore, the predenitrogenation prior to HDS significantly improved the quality of the hydrodesulfurized product by decreasing aromatic content and density, increasing the cetane index, and improving the color and stability of the product as the HDS process for producing ULSD can be conducted at a much lower temperature. The study demonstrated the combination of ADN and HDS for producing ULSD from CD on a pilot unit scale, and the advantages and disadvantages of this combination were discussed in comparison with the conventional HDS process. In addition, it was found that there is a good linear relationship between the logarithm of the product sulfur concentration and the HDS reaction temperature, which can be used conveniently to predict the start-of-run temperature to achieve different sulfur levels.

Manoeuvring in shallow and confined water with model predictive track controllers

Abstract Autonomous and computer-assisted navigation, for example through portable pilot units and data-driven decision supportive systems, is in full development. Remote-controlled vessels (manned but without a captain steering continuously on board) are used in Belgium (by Seafar in inland shipping) but also in other countries. A model predictive controller has been used to investigate environmental and operational parameters for the passage of the river Seine in Paris by different ship types. These fast-time simulations have been compared with simulations in real time executed by skippers on a ship manoeuvring simulator or measured real life tracks. A good predictability of the real situation requires accurate manoeuvring models. But what if this accuracy cannot be guaranteed? An illustration is made by comparing the tracks if, in the prescience prediction phase for the controller, wind or bank effects are neglected or doubled. The development of model predictive deep reinforcement learning control algorithms for navigation will be one of the challenges of the Data-driven Smart Shipping project that started May 2024.

Training Nurses in Trauma-Informed Care to Address Workplace Violence in Inpatient Settings.

Frontline workers in psychiatric facilities are exposed to considerable risks of verbal and physical assaults, with 40% to 65% of mental health nurses experiencing violence in the workplace. The goal of this pilot study was to assess the readiness and motivation for adopting trauma-informed care (TIC) to address workplace violence in an acute care psychiatric hospital. A pre-post quality improvement study was conducted in two pilot units of a 274-bed acute care psychiatric hospital, involving a discussion-based seminar and a practical exercise. Surveys assessed participants' readiness and motivation posttraining. Sixty-eight staff members completed part 1 training, with 63 (92.6%) reporting being prepared to use TIC principles afterward. All 14 staff members (100%) who completed part 1 and part 2 training reported being motivated to apply the TIC model after the intervention. The results show that TIC training may impact self-reported strategies for reducing workplace violence. Education in trauma-informed care may prove to be beneficial in providing nurses with the necessary skills to effectively implement TIC principles in their daily practices. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(10):472-478.].

Demonstration of ultra-high-water recovery and brine concentration in a prototype evaporation unit: Towards zero liquid discharge desalination

The availability of water is still one of the most important factors affecting the sustainable growth of a country. Although many countries have free access to an inexhaustible source of water, the sea, this source cannot be used for human purposes as it is. To face this problem, desalination has been proposed for freshwater production but the generation of a waste brine effluent poses some issues of actual sustainability. In this work, the operation results of a Multiple Effect Distillation (MED) demo plant, designed for stable operation at high brine concentrations and operated as a brine concentrator, are presented. To this purpose, the integration with NanoFiltration (NF) has been implemented to minimize scaling risks, by removing bivalent ions from the feed stream. The 2-effects MED pilot unit, with a capacity of 1.7 m3/h, has been installed as part of the treatment chain of the WATER-MINING project, within the premises of the power station of the island of Lampedusa (Sicily, Italy) and is fully powered by waste heat at 70–80 °C from diesel engines. A vapor temperature of 40–50 °C allowed a perfect coupling with the low temperature waste heat source, demonstrating the possibility to produce distilled water with a conductivity between 15 and 25 μs/cm. Among the several operating conditions investigated, a recovery ratio above 80 % has been achieved and an effluent brine conductivity of 240 mS/cm was produced, very close to saturation in NaCl, thus being excellent for food-grade sea salt production in evaporative ponds. For the first time, it has been demonstrated on a pilot scale how a MED unit, supplied with waste heat, can be used efficiently as a brine concentrator, obtaining a brine concentration 8 times higher than the input concentration without any scaling problem.

Evaluation of operational parameters and technology readiness for enhanced management of oilfield produced water treated by ozonation

Managing oilfield produced water (OPW) is a significant challenge for the petrochemical industry due to the high daily volumes generated and strict disposal limits for oil and grease (O&G) content. O&G levels are influenced by organic compounds known as naphthenic acids (NAs). This study explored ozonation to degrade cyclohexane carboxylic acid (CHCA, a model compound for NAs) present in a synthetic OPW matrix and reduce O&G in real OPW from offshore platforms. Experiments were conducted on four ozonation prototypes with varying effluent capacities: a simplified bench-scale prototype (200 mL), an extended bench-scale prototype (400 mL to 800 mL), a hydrodynamic cavitation reactor with Venturi (5 L), and a pilot unit reactor (25 L to 80 L). CHCA degradation ranged from 91 % to 100 % under optimized conditions for each prototype. Additionally, the ozonation treatment met the Brazilian National Environment Council’s disposal requirements for OPW in oceanic regions, achieving an O&G content below 29 mg/L within 30 min at natural pH. The energy required for degradation (ERC) decreased from 729.2 kWh/m3 to 30.3 kWh/m3 as ozonation scaled up from the simplified bench-scale system (200 mL) to the pilot scale (80 L). For real OPW, the ERC was even lower at 34.5 kWh/m3. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of ozonation in treating OPW and underscore the importance of multi-scale studies to evaluate the technical and economic viability of this treatment technology. This contributes to the sustainable management of industrial waste even in space-restricted installations such as offshore oil production facilities.

Evaluation of three granular activated carbon filters for the treatment of collections foul air entering a water resource recovery facility.

The treatment of raw foul air that could escape to the atmosphere from the head space of the incoming wastewater sewer lines into a Southern California Water Resource Recovery Facility was evaluated by using a 1/20th scale pilot unit consisting of three different granular activated carbon filter technologies, operating side by side, under similar operating conditions, each having an average 3.8-s contact time. The three activated carbon filters contained each 0.07 m3 of coconut, coal, and coconut mixed with permanganate media. The foul air entering the granular activated carbon filters contained 82% to 83% relative humidity. No moisture removal mechanism was used prior to treatment. The removal of six different odor characters from eight chemical odorants present in the foul air were assessed. These were rotten egg (hydrogen sulfide), rotten vegetables (methyl mercaptan), canned corn (dimethyl sulfide), rotten garlic (dimethyl disulfide), earthy/musty (2-methyl isoborneol and 2-isopropyl 3-methoxy pyrazine), and fecal (skatole and indole). This is the first time a study evaluates the removal of specific odors by simultaneously employing sensory analyses using the odor profile method, which defines the different odor characters and intensities, together with chemical analyses of the odorants causing these odors. The results show that the three granular activated carbon filters, before hydrogen sulfide breakthrough, provided significant improvement in odor intensity and odorant removal. Breakthrough was reached after 57 days for the coconut mixed with permanganate, 107 days for the coconut, and 129 days for the coal granular activated carbon filter. Breakthrough (the critical saturation point of the activated carbon media) was considered reached when the hydrogen sulfide percentage removal diminished to 90% and continued downward. The coconut mixed with permanganate granular activated carbon filter provided the best treatment among the media tested, achieving very good reduction of odorants, as measured by chemical analyses, and reasonable removal of odor intensities, as measured by the odor profile method. The coconut mixed with permanganate granular activated carbon is recommended for short-term odor control systems at sewer networks or emergency plant maintenance situations given its shorter time to breakthrough compared with the other granular activated carbons. The coal and coconut granular activated carbon filters are generally used as the last stage of an odor treatment system. Because of the observed poor to average performance in removing odorants other than hydrogen sulfide, the treatment stage(s) prior to the use of these granulated activated carbons should provide a good methyl mercaptan removal of at least 90% in order to avoid the formation of dimethyl disulfide, which, in the presence of moisture in the carbon filter, emit the characteristic rotten garlic odor. The differences observed between the performances based on odorant removal by chemical analysis compared with those based on sensorial analyses by the odor profile method indicate that both analyses are required to understand more fully the odor dynamics. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Three virgin granulated activated carbon media were evaluated in a field pilot unit using raw collections foul air. Coal, coconut, and coconut mixed with permanganate were tested until breakthrough. Samples were analyzed both chemically (odorants) and sensorially (odors). Coconut mixed with permanganate proved to be the media that better reduced odorants and odors.

Modular Housing Using Fibre-Reinforced Plastic Polymers (FRPs)

In the era of the climate emergency and different pandemics, systems that can provide an immediate response to housing needs are required. This paper aims to evaluate the use of fibre-reinforced plastic polymers (FRPs) to satisfy this need. In particular, a modular emergency housing system that utilises FRPs for structures and cladding is proposed, which proves adaptable to both different uses and different kinds of temporary or permanent buildings. By adapting modular emergency housing to different contexts, developing an integrated design process (IDP) and building information modelling (BIM) methodology, this research aims to provide innovations for the the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector, including FRPs, through a digitised approach, applied also to an experimental case study. A pilot unit of the modular emergency housing system, a nearly zero-energy building (nZEB), is described in detail, while laboratory tests are reported. Construction considerations confirm the sustainability and highlight the adaptability of the modular system to different housing needs conditions, justifying the possible future development of supply chain industrialisation supported by the presented methodology.

Implementing magnetically-active Sn-based nanocomposites in hexavalent chromium removal from drinking water

A novel nanocomposite consisting of Fe3O4-loaded tin oxyhydroxy-chloride is demonstrated as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of hexavalent chromium in compliance to the new drinking water regulation. This study introduces a continuous-flow production of the nanocomposite through the separate synthesis of (i) 40 nm Fe3O4 nanoparticles and (ii) multilayered spherical arrangements of a tin hydroxy-chloride identified as abhurite, before the application of a wet-blending process. The homogeneous distribution of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the abhurite's morphology, features nanocomposite with magnetic response whereas the 10 % loaded nanocomposite preserves a Cr(VI) uptake capacity of 7.2 mg/g for residual concentrations below 25 μg/L. Kinetic and thermodynamic examination of the uptake evolution indicates a relative rapid Cr(VI) capture dominated by interparticle diffusion and a spontaneous endothermic process mediated by reduction to Cr(III). The efficiency of the optimized nanocomposite was validated in a pilot unit operating in a sequence of a stirring reactor and a rotary magnetic separator showing an alternative and competitive application path than typical fixed-bed filtration, which is supported by the absence of any acute cellular toxicity according to human kidney cell viability tests.

How to improve smart emergency preparedness for natural disasters? ---- Evidence from the experience of ten pilot provinces in China for smart emergency

The natural disasters faced by modern urban systems are complex, with multiple disaster-causing factors coexisting and secondary disasters occurring concurrently. With emergency management moving towards smart, natural disaster response has shifted from emergency-centered response to pre-disaster prevention. How to improve the government's natural disaster emergency preparedness has become an important issue that needs to be addressed. Based on the TOE (Technology-Organization-Environment) framework, the fsQCA method was used to explore the improvement path of emergency preparedness capacity of 10 pilot units in China to deal with natural disasters in 2020. Analyze the group effects and interrelationships of technology level, simultaneous supporting facilities, organizational construction, financial investment, external pressure, and social repercussions. The results show that: there exist four conditional groupings of high emergency preparedness in two modes. Two modes are organization-environment dual-drive and technology-organization-environment triple-drive, which have multiple concurrencies and follow the principle of consistent results. There are substitution effects in the conditional groupings of high emergency preparedness. There are causal asymmetries in the conditional groupings of high emergency preparedness and non-high emergency preparedness. This study aims to explore the smart emergency preparedness of ten pilot and to provide ideas for the overall development of “smart emergency response” and the improvement of emergency preparedness for natural disasters.