Microwave assisted biocidal extraction is an alternative method to measure microbial biomass of carbon from cultivated and non-cultivated soils.

Developing simple and cost-effective methods for soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) measurement eases routine laboratory analysis and enables large numbers of soil samples to be measured in a relatively short period of time. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a microwave-assisted biocidal-extraction (MWE) method which does not employ CHCl as biocide and KSO as C-extractor, to estimate MBC. First, the microorganisms of soil samples are killed using microwave (MW) irradiation at energy level of 800 J g soil as biocide followed by microwave irradiation extraction (MWE) at 562 W (120 J g soil for 1 min), using deionized water as solvent.

The ideal frequency of temperature data collection in compostability experiments on domestic organic residues.

One of the main analytical variable to indicate the evolution and the phases of the composting process is temperature, whose constant monitoring is fundamental for decision making. However, studies usually perform collection of temperature data with a daily frequency due to the operational difficulty in obtaining this information from manually collected samples. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the ideal frequency of temperature data collection in composting layers.

Determination of trans-resveratrol in Solanum americanum Mill. by HPLC.

Solanum americanum Mill. is a plant that belongs to the Solanaceae family, its respective ripe fruit is dark purple. Ripe S.

Evaluation of the C1-C2 articulation on MDCT in healthy children and young adults.

Objective: We aimed to establish normal values on MDCT images for the atlantoaxial relationships including the atlantoaxial interval and lateral atlantodens interval (ADI) that could be used to detect atlantoaxial ligamentous injuries in adults and children.

Materials And Methods: One hundred seventy-eight healthy adult patients between 20 and 40 years old and 112 pediatric patients between 2 months and 10 years old underwent cervical spine MDCT with multiplanar reconstructions. The width of the joint space between the lateral mass of C1 and the lateral mass of C2 was measured at three equidistant points on both the left and right sides on coronal reformatted images to determine the atlantoaxial interval.

Evaluation of the pediatric craniocervical junction on MDCT.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to establish normal values on MDCT images for the measurement of various craniocervical junction relationships in children and to address discrepancies in the literature based on radiographic values.

Materials And Methods: Accepted methods of evaluating the craniocervical junction were used to calculate normal values in 117 normal children on MDCT images with multiplanar reconstructions. The basion-axial interval, basion-dens interval, Powers ratio, atlantodental interval, and atlantooccipital interval were measured in each patient and compared with accepted data based on radiographs.

Normal thickness and appearance of the prevertebral soft tissues on multidetector CT.

Background And Purpose: Analysis of the prevertebral soft tissue (PVST) is helpful in detecting osseous and ligamentous injuries of the cervical spine. Because the standard of care has shifted from radiographs to multidetector CT (MDCT), a re-examination of the PVST on MDCT images is needed to establish normal values for thickness appropriate for this imaging technique.

Materials And Methods: Thickness of the PVST was measured in 192 patients undergoing screening cervical spine MDCT with multiplanar reconstructions as part of a trauma protocol.

Reassessment of the craniocervical junction: normal values on CT.

Background And Purpose: As the standard of care for the evaluation of the cervical spine shifts from plain radiographs to multidetector row CT (MDCT), a re-examination of the normal anatomic relationships of the occipitovertebral articulations is needed. We aimed to define the normal anatomic relationships of craniocervical articulations on MDCT and address any discrepancies with currently accepted ranges of normal on plain radiographs.

Materials And Methods: A total of 200 patients underwent an MDCT scan of the cervical spine with multiplanar reconstructions (MPR).