Importance of Species Sorting and Immigration on the Bacterial Assembly of Different-Sized Aggregates in a Full-Scale Aerobic Granular Sludge Plant.

In aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems, different-sized microbial aggregates having different solids retention time (SRT) coexist in the same reactor compartment and are subjected to the same influent wastewater. Thus, the AGS system provides a unique ecosystem to study the importance of local (species sorting) and regional (immigration) processes in bacterial community assembly. The microbial communities of different-sized aggregates (flocs <0.

Left atrial and left atrial appendage functional recovery after cardioversion in patients with recent atrial fibrillation: Serial echocardiographic study.

Background: The aim of this study is to point out timing of left atrium and its appendage functional recovery after cardioversion (CV) in recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Fifty patients; 27 within 48-h (group I) and 23 after 48-h (group II), of AF onset, who had successful CV underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), before and immediately after CV, then 15, 30 and 90 days later. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed for group II before and for all patients immediately after CV and 1 month later.

Recruitment of HIV-Positive Women in Research: Discussing Barriers, Facilitators, and Research Personnel's Knowledge.

Background: Women have historically been under-represented in HIV research, partly due to ineffective recruitment strategies.

Objective: To improve the existing understanding of recruitment for HIV-positive women based on a province-wide cross-sectional study.

Methods: A survey was emailed to all site coordinators who recruited participants in a study involving 490 HIV-positive women living in Ontario, Canada.

A propidium monoazide-quantitative PCR method for the detection and quantification of viable Enterococcus faecalis in large-volume samples of marine waters.

The development of rapid detection assays of cell viability is essential for monitoring the microbiological quality of water systems. Coupling propidium monoazide with quantitative PCR (PMA-qPCR) has been successfully applied in different studies for the detection and quantification of viable cells in small-volume samples (0.25-1.

"Speaking the dialect": understanding public discourse in the aftermath of an HIV vaccine trial shutdown.

Objectives: We investigated how persons from key populations at higher risk of HIV exposure interpreted the process and outcomes of the Step Study HIV-1 vaccine trial, which was terminated early, and implications for willingness to participate in and community support for HIV vaccine research.

Methods: We used qualitative methods and a community-based approach in 9 focus groups (n = 72) among ethnically and sexually diverse populations and 6 semistructured key informant interviews in Ontario, Canada, in 2007 to 2008.

Results: Participants construed social meaning from complex clinical and biomedical phenomena.

Coronary artery bypass grafting on beating heart. Does it provide superior myocardial preservation than conventional technique?

Objective: To compare myocardial injury caused by 3 commonly used methods for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: A prospective randomized study conducted at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study started in February 2003 and concluded in April 2004 after including 45 patients (15 patients in each of 3 sub-groups) who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria.