Decolorization of synthetic melanoidins-containing wastewater by a bacterial consortium

The presence of melanoidins in molasses wastewater leads to water pollution both due to its dark brown color and its COD contents. In this study, a bacterial consortium isolated from waterfall sediment was tested for its decolorization. The identification of culturable bacteria by 16S rDNA based approach showed that the consortium composed of Klebsiella oxytoca, Serratia mercescens, Citrobacter sp. and unknown bacterium. In the context of academic study, prevention on the difficulties of providing effluent as well as its variations in compositions, several synthetic media prepared with respect to color and COD contents based on analysis of molasses wastewater, i.e., Viandox sauce (13.5% v/v), caramel (30% w/v), beet molasses wastewater (41.5% v/v) and sugarcane molasses wastewater (20% v/v) were used for decolorization using consortium with color removal 9.5, 1.13, 8.02 and 17.5%, respectively, within 2 days. However, Viandox sauce was retained for further study. The effect of initial pH and Viandox concentration on decolorization and growth of bacterial consortium were further determined. The highest decolorization of 18.3% was achieved at pH 4 after 2 day of incubation. Experiments on fresh or used medium and used or fresh bacterial cells, led to conclusion that the limitation of decolorization was due to nutritional deficiency. The effect of aeration on decolorization was also carried out in 2 L laboratory-scale suspended cell bioreactor. The maximum decolorization was 19.3% with aeration at KLa = 2.5836 h-1 (0.1 vvm)

Timescales of Massive Human Entrainment

The past two decades have seen an upsurge of interest in the collective behaviors of complex systems composed of many agents entrained to each other and to external events. In this paper, we extend concepts of entrainment to the dynamics of human collective attention. We conducted a detailed investigation of the unfolding of human entrainment - as expressed by the content and patterns of hundreds of thousands of messages on Twitter - during the 2012 US presidential debates. By time locking these data sources, we quantify the impact of the unfolding debate on human attention. We show that collective social behavior covaries second-by-second to the interactional dynamics of the debates: A candidate speaking induces rapid increases in mentions of his name on social media and decreases in mentions of the other candidate. Moreover, interruptions by an interlocutor increase the attention received. We also highlight a distinct time scale for the impact of salient moments in the debate: Mentions in social media start within 5-10 seconds after the moment; peak at approximately one minute; and slowly decay in a consistent fashion across well-known events during the debates. Finally, we show that public attention after an initial burst slowly decays through the course of the debates. Thus we demonstrate that large-scale human entrainment may hold across a number of distinct scales, in an exquisitely time-locked fashion. The methods and results pave the way for careful study of the dynamics and mechanisms of large-scale human entrainment.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, 6 tables, 4 supplementary figures. 2nd version revised according to peer reviewers' comments: more detailed explanation of the methods, and grounding of the hypothese

Magnitude, precision, and realism of depth perception in stereoscopic vision

Our perception of depth is substantially enhanced by the fact that we have binocular vision. This provides us with more precise and accurate estimates of depth and an improved qualitative appreciation of the three-dimensional (3D) shapes and positions of objects. We assessed the link between these quantitative and qualitative aspects of 3D vision. Specifically, we wished to determine whether the realism of apparent depth from binocular cues is associated with the magnitude or precision of perceived depth and the degree of binocular fusion. We presented participants with stereograms containing randomly positioned circles and measured how the magnitude, realism, and precision of depth perception varied with the size of the disparities presented. We found that as the size of the disparity increased, the magnitude of perceived depth increased, while the precision with which observers could make depth discrimination judgments decreased. Beyond an initial increase, depth realism decreased with increasing disparity magnitude. This decrease occurred well below the disparity limit required to ensure comfortable viewing

Tratamiento quirúrgico de las enfermedades de transición cervicotorácica

OBJETIVO: avaliar o resultado do tratamento cirúrgico de pacientes portadores de doenças na transição cervicotorácica da coluna vertebral. MÉTODOS: foram avaliados, retrospectivamente, 20 pacientes: nove (45%) apresentavam lesões traumáticas, sete (35%) lesões neoplásicas e quatro (20%) doenças degenerativas. No grupo de pacientes com lesões traumáticas, foi realizada fixação posterior em cinco deles (55,5%), fixação anterior em um (11,1%) e abordagem combinada (anterior e posterior) em três (33,3%). Dos sete pacientes com lesões tumorais, quatro (57,1%) foram submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico pela abordagem combinada e três (42,8%) pela abordagem posterior isolada. No grupo de pacientes com doenças degenerativas da coluna vertebral, três (75%) foram tratados pela abordagem posterior e um (25%) de forma combinada. Todos os pacientes foram avaliados por meio de parâmetros clínicos (dor e déficit neurológico), radiológicos (manutenção da redução, soltura ou quebra dos implantes) e funcionais (SF-36, escala de dor e trabalho de Denis). RESULTADOS: os 20 pacientes foram seguidos por um período que variou de seis meses a 11 anos (média de 44,6 meses ± 29,02). Dos 13 pacientes que apresentavam déficit neurológico, oito apresentaram melhora do nível na escala de Frankel (61,5%) e cinco pacientes (38,4%) permaneceram com o quadro inalterado. Como complicações um paciente (5%) apresentou soltura do implante e quatro pacientes evoluíram com infecção pós-operatória (20%). Segundo as escalas de dor e trabalho de Denis, 80% dos pacientes apresentavam pouca ou nenhuma dor (P1 e P2) e 70% dos pacientes tinham retornado ao trabalho (W1, W2 e W3). Os pacientes que não apresentavam déficit neurológico (Frankel E) obtiveram escores mais altos de qualidade de vida pelo questionário SF-36, quando comparados aos escores dos pacientes que mantinham alterações neurológicas (Frankel A-D). CONCLUSÃO: o tratamento das doenças da transição cervicotorácica da coluna vertebral apresenta detalhes adicionais aos demais segmentos da coluna vertebral. Na vigência de tratamento cirúrgico, existem pontos a serem respeitados como a anatomia relacionada ao acesso cirúrgico, as características anatômicas peculiares das vértebras e a biomecânica singular desse segmento da coluna vertebral.OBJECTIVE: to assess the results of the surgical treatment of patients with disease in the cervicothoracic junction of the spine. METHODS: twenty patients were retrospectively evaluated. Nine patients (45%) had traumatic lesions, seven (35%) neoplasic lesions and four (20%) degenerative arthropathies. In the group of patients with traumatic lesions it has been accomplished the posterior fixation in five patients (55.5%), anterior fixation in one patient (11.1%) and the combined approach (anterior and posterior) in three patients (33.3%). In the seven patients with neoplasic lesions, four (57.1%) underwent to the surgical treatment through the combined approach and 3 (42.8%) through the posterior approach. In the group of patients with spinal degenerative disease, three (75%) were treated through the posterior approach and one (25%) in a combined way. The patients were evaluated on the basis of clinical (pain and neurological deficit), radiological (reduction maintenance and implant loosening or break) and functional parameters (SF-36, Denis scale of work and pain). RESULTS: twenty patients were followed-up for a period of time ranging from six months to 11 years (44.6 months ± 29.02). From 13 patients which presented neurological deficit, eight patients presented improvement in Frankel scale level (61.5%) and five patients (38.5%) remained with the same level. As complications, one patient (5%) presented implant loosening and four patients presented postoperative infection (20%). In pain and work assessment, 80% of the patients presented few or no pain (P1 and P2) through Denis scale of pain, and 70% of the patients had returned to work (W1, W2 and W3) through Denis scale of work. The patients without neurological deficit (Frankel E) presented higher scores of life quality through the SF-36 questionnaire compared to the patients who had neurological deficit (Frankel A-D). CONCLUSION: the treatment of the diseases of the cervicothoracic junction of the spine presents additional details compared to the others segments of the spine. The surgical treatment has aspects to be respected as the anatomy related to the surgical access, the peculiar anatomic characteristics of the vertebrae and the unique biomechanics of this spinal segment.OBJETIVO: evaluar el resultado del tratamiento quirúrgico de pacientes portadores de enfermedades de transición cervicotorácica de la columna vertebral. MÉTODOS: fueron retrospectivamente evaluados veinte pacientes. Nueve pacientes (45%) presentaron lesiones traumáticas, 7 (35%) lesiones neoplásicas y 4 enfermedades degenerativas (20%). En el grupo de pacientes con lesiones traumáticas fue realizada una fijación posterior en 5 pacientes (55.5%), una fijación anterior en 1 paciente (11,1%) y abordaje combinado (anterior y posterior) en 3 pacientes (33.3%). De los 7 pacientes con lesiones tumorales, cuatro (57.1%) fueron sometidos al tratamiento quirúrgico por abordaje combinado y 3 (42.8%) por abordaje posterior aislado. En el grupo de pacientes con enfermedades degenerativas de la columna vertebral, tres (75%) fueron tratados por abordaje posterior y uno de forma combinada (25%). Todos los pacientes fueron evaluados por medio de parámetros clínicos (dolor y déficit neurológico), radiológicos (mantenimiento de la reducción, soltura o quiebra de los implantes) y funcionales (SF-36, escala de dolor y trabajo de Denis). RESULTADOS: los veinte pacientes fueron seguidos por um periodo que varió de 6 meses a 11 años (promedio de 44.6 meses ± 29.02). De los 13 pacientes que presentaron déficit neurológico, ocho presentaron una mejora en el nivel de la escala de Frankel (61.5%) y cinco pacientes (38.4%) permanecieron con un cuadro inalterado. Como complicaciones un paciente (5%) presentó soltura del implante y cuatro pacientes evolucionaron con infección postoperatoria (20%). Según las escalas de dolor y el trabajo de Denis, el 80% de los pacientes presentaron poco o nada de dolor (P1 y P2) y el 70% de los pacientes regresaron al trabajo (W1, W2 y W3). Los pacientes que no presentaron déficit neurológico (Frankel E) tuvieron escores mas altos de calidad de vida por el cuestionario SF-36, cuando comparados con los pacientes con alteraciones neurológicas (Frankel A-D). CONCLUSIÓN: el tratamiento de las enfermedades de la transición cervicotorácica de la columna vertebral presenta detalles adicionales a los demás segmentos de la columna vertebral. En la vigencia al acceso quirúrgico existen puntos a ser respetados como la anatomía relacionada al acceso quirúrgico, las características anatómicas peculiares de las vértebras y biomecánica singular de ese segmento de la columna vertebral

Parameter estimation of the kinetic α-Pinene isomerization model using the MCSfilter algorithm

This paper aims to illustrate the application of a derivative-free multistart algorithm with coordinate search filter, designated as the MCSFilter algorithm. The problem used in this study is the parameter estimation problem of the kinetic α -pinene isomerization model. This is a well known nonlinear optimization problem (NLP) that has been investigated as a case study for performance testing of most derivative based methods proposed in the literature. Since the MCSFilter algorithm features a stochastic component, it was run ten times to solve the NLP problem. The optimization problem was successfully solved in all the runs and the optimal solution demonstrates that the MCSFilter provides a good quality solution.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Epidemiologic evidence for asthma and exposure to air toxics: linkages between occupational, indoor, and community air pollution research.

Outdoor ambient air pollutant exposures in communities are relevant to the acute exacerbation and possibly the onset of asthma. However, the complexity of pollutant mixtures and etiologic heterogeneity of asthma has made it difficult to identify causal components in those mixtures. Occupational exposures associated with asthma may yield clues to causal components in ambient air pollution because such exposures are often identifiable as single-chemical agents (e.g., metal compounds). However, translating occupational to community exposure-response relationships is limited. Of the air toxics found to cause occupational asthma, only formaldehyde has been frequently investigated in epidemiologic studies of allergic respiratory responses to indoor air, where general consistency can be shown despite lower ambient exposures. The specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) identified in association with occupational asthma are generally not the same as those in studies showing respiratory effects of VOC mixtures on nonoccupational adult and pediatric asthma. In addition, experimental evidence indicates that airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposures linked to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) have proinflammatory effects on airways, but there is insufficient supporting evidence from the occupational literature of effects of DEPs on asthma or lung function. In contrast, nonoccupational epidemiologic studies have frequently shown associations between allergic responses or asthma with exposures to ambient air pollutant mixtures with PAH components, including black smoke, high home or school traffic density (particularly truck traffic), and environmental tobacco smoke. Other particle-phase and gaseous co-pollutants are likely causal in these associations as well. Epidemiologic research on the relationship of both asthma onset and exacerbation to air pollution is needed to disentangle effects of air toxics from monitored criteria air pollutants such as particle mass. Community studies should focus on air toxics expected to have adverse respiratory effects based on biological mechanisms, particularly irritant and immunological pathways to asthma onset and exacerbation

A role for antibiotic biosynthesis monooxygenase domain proteins in fidelity control during aromatic polyketide biosynthesis

We report the formicapyridines which are structurally and biosynthetically related to the pentacyclic fasamycin and formicamycin aromatic polyketides but comprise a rare pyridine moiety. These new compounds are trace level metabolites formed by derailment of the major biosynthetic pathway. Inspired by evolutionary logic we show that rational mutation of a single gene in the biosynthetic gene cluster leads to a significant increase both in total formicapyridine production and their enrichment relative to the fasamycins/formicamycins. Our observations broaden the polyketide biosynthetic landscape and identify a non-catalytic role for ABM superfamily proteins in type II polyketide synthase assemblages for maintaining biosynthetic pathway fidelity

Protocol: Personality assessment as a support for referral and case-work in treatment for substance use disorders (PASRC-study)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Assessment of co-morbid personality disorders in substance use disorders may lead to important insights concerning individual patients. However, little is known about the potential value of routine personality disorder assessment in a clinical context.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients are adults with past-year substance dependence seeking treatment at a centralized intake unit for substance abusers in the City of Copenhagen. A randomized controlled trial of assessment of personality disorders and individual feedback vs. a general life situation interview. Patients are followed at 3 and 6 months post-treatment</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>If routine personality assessment improves outcomes of substance abuse treatment, the clinical implication is to increase the use of personality disorder assessment in substance abuse treatment settings.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current controlled trials ISRCTN39851689</p

Adherent Monomer-Misfolded SOD1

Background: Multiple cellular functions are compromised in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In familial ALS (FALS) with Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutations, the mechanisms by which the mutation in SOD1 leads to such a wide range of abnormalities remains elusive. Methodology/Principal Findings: To investigate underlying cellular conditions caused by the SOD1 mutation, we explored mutant SOD1-interacting proteins in the spinal cord of symptomatic transgenic mice expressing a mutant SOD1, SOD1 Leu126delTT with a FLAG sequence (DF mice). This gene product is structurally unable to form a functional homodimer. Tissues were obtained from both DF mice and disease-free mice expressing wild-type with FLAG SOD1 (WF mice). Both FLAG-tagged SOD1 and cross-linking proteins were enriched and subjected to a shotgun proteomic analysis. We identified 34 proteins (or protein subunits) in DF preparations, while in WF preparations, interactions were detected with only 4 proteins. Conclusions/Significance: These results indicate that disease-causing mutant SOD1 likely leads to inadequate proteinprotein interactions. This could be an early and crucial process in the pathogenesis of FALS