The increasing cost of vegetable oils is turning the use of microbial lipids into a competitive alternative for the production of biodiesel fuel. The oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula graminis is able to ...use a broad range of carbon sources for lipid production, and is able to resist some of the inhibitors commonly released during hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. Using undetoxified corn stover hydrolysate as substrate, the yeast achieved a lipid productivity and lipid content of 0.21 g/L/h and 34%w/w, respectively. The corresponding results with crude glycerol as carbon source were 0.15 g/L/h and 54%w/w, respectively. Therefore, R. graminis appears to be a suitable candidate for fermentation processes involving renewable resources.
In the present work different prototypes of floating MFCs have been tested in anoxic water environments of wastewater plants in Italy, over a period of 3 years. Several configurations of horizontal ...(flat) and vertical (tubular) MFCs were assembled, using low-cost and light-weight materials, such as plastic lunch boxes, polystyrene or wood to keep the systems afloat, and ceramics for the MFCs. Untreated carbon cloth or veil was used for both anode and cathode electrodes. Felt (flat MFCs) or clay (tubular MFCs) was used as the cation-exchange separator. Single flat MFCs generated power up to 12 mW/m2 while a 32 cylindrical MFC stack generated up to 18 mW/m2. The testing lasted for more than 2 years and there was no inoculation other than exposing the MFCs to the denitrification environment. The cathodes of the flat MFCs were spontaneously colonized by algae and plants, and this did not affect the stability of the systems. Natural light increased the power output of the flat MFCs which were smaller than 50 × 50 cm. Diurnal oscillation of temperature and periodic water flow did not significantly affect the performance of the MFCs. The largest flat MFC produced the highest absolute power, although in a disrupted way. A new, simple low-energy remote monitoring system, based on LoRa technology was used for data transmission over distances of >500 m. This is a piece of hardware that could potentially be suitable for remote monitoring as part of a network, as it can be directly powered by the deployed MFCs.
Feeding and swallowing disorders (FSD) are common during childhood, with a prevalence of 85% in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. A comprehensive screening is essential to identify FSD and ...improve health outcomes in a clinical setting. This study aims to develop a new Pediatric Screening tool capable of identifying FSD. This screening tool was developed in three steps: selecting variables based on clinical experience, searching the literature and finding agreement between experts with a two-round Delphi study. This process, which reached 97% of agreement between experts, led to the development of the Pediatric Screening-Priority Evaluation Dysphagia (PS-PED). PS-PED comprises 14 items divided into three main domains: clinical history, health status and feeding condition. We also carried out a pilot test for measuring internal consistency, as measured with Cronbach Coefficient alpha. Concurrent validity, as measured with Pearson correlation coefficient, was tested using a videofluoroscopy swallow study (VFSS) classified with the Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS). The pilot test was conducted on 59 children with different health conditions. Our findings showed good internal consistency (alpha = 0.731), and a strong linear correlation with PAS (Pearson 0.824). Furthermore, comparing PS-PED and PAS scores, we find preliminary strong discriminant validity to identify children with FSD (
< 0.01). Our results provide evidence on using the 14-item PS-PED as a screening tool for FSD in a clinical sample of children with heterogeneous disease.
The present investigation aims to explore the efficacy of Global Intensive Feeding Therapy (GIFT) on feeding and swallowing abilities in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). GIFT was ...developed as an intensive rehabilitation approach, divided into 30 sessions for 2 weeks, three times a day. GIFT focused on (a) encouraging desensitization; (b) widening the food repertoire (in terms of both variety and quantity); (c) reducing inappropriate mealtime behaviors; and (d) encouraging the development of appropriate chewing and swallowing abilities. GIFT was preliminarily implemented among 11 children with a diagnosis of ASD. To measure the efficacy of GIFT, the Karaduman Chewing Performance Scale (KCPS), the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI), and food repertoire were investigated using Wilcoxon signed-rank test in three different times: baseline (T1), after treatment (T2), and one month after treatment (T3). Using Bonferroni correction, statistically significant differences were found between T1 and T2 for behavioral issues, as measured with BAMBI (
= 0.007), as well as for chewing abilities as measured with KCPS (
= 0.005) and for food acceptance (
= 0.005). These improvements were maintained after a month of follow-up, thanks to the collaboration of families and/or primary caregivers. In conclusion, GIFT seems to be an effective approach to improving behavioral issues, food acceptance, and chewing abilities in children with ASD.
Industrial fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysates to ethanol requires microorganisms able to utilise a broad range of carbon sources and generate ethanol at high yield and productivity. ...D. bruxellensis has recently been reported to contaminate commercial ethanol processes, where it competes with Saccharomyces cerevisiae 4, 26. In this work Brettanomyces/Dekkera yeasts were studied to explore their potential to produce ethanol from renewable sources under conditions suitable for industrial processes, such as oxygen-limited and low-pH conditions. Over 50 strains were analysed for their ability to utilise a variety of carbon sources, and some strains grew on cellobiose and pentoses. Two strains of D. bruxellensis were able to produce ethanol at high yield (0.44 g g−1 glucose), comparable to those reported for S. cerevisiae. B. naardenensis was shown to be able to produce ethanol from xylose. To obtain ethanol from synthetic lignocellulosic hydrolysates we developed a two-step fermentation strategy: the first step under aerobic conditions for fast production of biomass from mixtures of hexoses and pentoses, followed by a second step under oxygen limitation to promote ethanol production. Under these conditions we obtained biomass and ethanol production on synthetic lignocellulosic hydrolysates, with ethanol yields ranging from 0.2 to 0.3 g g−1 sugar. Hexoses, xylose and arabinose were consumed at the end of the process, resulting in 13 g l−1 of ethanol, even in the presence of furfural. Our studies showed that Brettanomyces/Dekkera yeasts have clear potential for further development for industrial processes aimed at production of ethanol from renewable sources.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
CEKLJ, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Enteroviruses (EVs) and Hepatitis A Viruses (HAVs) are human pathogens with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. The monitoring of sewage samples enables to monitor the EVs and HAVs in ...circulation among the general population and recognize possible outbreaks. This study focused on the molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the EVs and HAVs identified in 33 sewage samples collected every 15 days at the influent of a wastewater treatment plant located in Northern Italy from March to October 2016. According to the results of the molecular characterization, the most frequently identified viruses were Echovirus 6 (E-6), E-11 and HAV-IA. The phylogenetic analyses indicated the rapid genetic evolution of E-6 and E-1; noteworthy, most E-11 strains clustered with a strain isolated from a clinical sample collected in the same geographical area over the same period by our laboratory. Most of the HAV strains detected clustered with epidemic HAV-IA strains identified during the European hepatitis A outbreak that occurred in 2016–2017 affecting men who have sex with men (MSM). The detection of environmental HAV strains before and at the beginning of its spread amongst humans demonstrated that this outbreak could have been predicted by monitoring sewage samples. Moreover, conducting a genetic comparison between the HAV and EV strains identified in sewage and clinical samples may improve knowledge of viral epidemiology. EV and HAV molecular environmental surveillance may prove useful for identifying viral circulation and for issuing early warning alerts on possible outbreaks among the human population.
In the present study, we report different prototypes of floating MFCs that have been tested in anoxic wastewater environments of an Italian wastewater treatment plant, over a period of 3 years. ...Several configurations of horizontal (flat) and vertical (tubular) MFCs were assembled and tested, using low-cost and light-weight materials, such as plastic lunch boxes, polystyrene or wood to keep the systems afloat and ceramics. Untreated carbon cloth/veil was used for both the anode and cathode electrodes, and felt (flat MFCs) or clay (tubular MFCs) was used as the cation-exchange separator. Flat MFCs generated up to 15 mW/m
2
of power, depending on nutrient availability in the water, whereas the cylindrical MFCs generated up to 18 mW/m
2
. The long-term operation did not affect the electrodes of the tested MFC systems. The cathode was the limiting electrode, sensitive to light, for the flat MFCs smaller than 50x50cm. In addition, a new and simple low-energy remote monitoring system, based on LoRa technology, was used for data transmission over distances of > 500 m. This is a piece of hardware that can potentially be used remotely in the field to create a sensing/monitoring network, as it can be directly powered by the deployed MFCs.
Figure 1
Abdominal hernias:Radiological features Lassandro, Francesco; Iasiello, Francesca; Pizza, Nunzia Luisa ...
World journal of gastrointestinal endoscopy,
06/2011, Letnik:
3, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
Abdominal wall hernias are common diseases of the abdomen with a global incidence approximately 4%-5%. They are distinguished in external,diaphragmatic and internal hernias on the basis of their ...localisation.Groin hernias are the most common with a prevalence of 75%, followed by femoral(15%)and umbilical(8%).There is a higher prevalence in males(M:F,8:1).Diagnosis is usually made on physical examination.However,clinical diagnosis may be difficult,especially in patients with obesity,pain or abdominal wall scarring.In these cases, abdominal imaging may be the first clue to the correct diagnosis and to confirm suspected complications. Different imaging modalities are used:conventional radiographs or barium studies,ultrasonography and Computed Tomography.Imaging modalities can aid in the differential diagnosis of palpable abdominal wall masses and can help to define hernial contents suchas fatty tissue,bowel,other organs or fluid.This work focuses on the main radiological findings of abdominal herniations.
AIM： To investigate the effectiveness of head compensatory postures to ensure safe oropharyngeal transit. METHODS： A total of 321 dysphagia patients were enrolled and assessed with ...videofluoromanometry （VFM）. The dysphagia patients were classified as follows： safe transit; penetration without aspiration; aspiration before, during or after swallowing; multiple aspirations and no transit. The patients with aspiration or no transit were tested with VFM to determine whether compensatory postures could correct their swallowing disorder. RESULTS： VFM revealed penetration without aspiration in 71 patients （22.1%）; aspiration before swallowing in 17 patients （5.3%）; aspiration during swallowing in 32 patients （10%）; aspiration after swallowing in 21 patients （6.5%）; multiple aspirations in six patients （1.9%）; no transit in five patients （1.6%）; and safe transit in 169 patients （52.6%）. Compensatory postures guaranteed a safe transit in 66/75 （88%） patients with aspiration or no transit. A chin-down posture achieved a safe swallow in 42/75 （56%） patients, a head-turned posture in 19/75 （25.3%） and a hyperextended head posture in 5/75 （6.7%）. The compensatory postures were not effective in 9/75 （12%） cases. CONCLUSION： VFM allows the speech-language therapist to choose the most effective compensatory posture without a trial-and-error process and check the effectiveness of the posture.
PDF
