Separation of Short-Chain Fatty Acids from Primary Sludge into a Particle-Free Permeate by Coupling Chamber Filter-Press and Cross-Flow Microfiltration: Optimization, Semi-Continuous Operation, and Evaluation.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are valuable metabolic intermediates that are produced during dark fermentation of sludge, which, when capitalized on, can be used as chemical precursors for biotechnological applications. However, high concentrations of solids with SCFAs in hydrolyzed sludge can be highly detrimental to downstream recovery processes. This pilot-scale study addresses this limitation and explores the recovery of SCFAs from primary sludge into a particle-free permeate through a combination of chamber filter-press (material: polyester; mesh size: 100 µm) and cross-flow microfiltration (material: α-AlO; pore size: 0.

A modified integrated physical advanced primary treatment to enhance particulate organic carbon removal in municipal wastewater treatment plants.

In the pursuit of a treatment approach that is both cost-effective and environmental-friendly, the applicability of microscreen (MS) techniques coupled with a primary sedimentation tank (PST) as a physical advanced primary treatment (APT) to enhance the removal of particulate organic carbon (POC) from municipal wastewater was investigated. A pilot unit, including a modified MS, adjustable to different meshes (including 20 and 15 μm) was operated continuously downstream to the PST at the Büsnau wastewater treatment plant in Stuttgart, Germany, and monitored for more than half a year. A strategy involving time-dependent backwashing and recirculation of MS permeate was employed to remove as much POC as possible from primarily treated wastewater, thereby extending the application of the MS.

Valorization of organic carbon in primary sludge via semi-continuous dark fermentation: First step to establish a wastewater biorefinery.

In this study, lab-scale, bench-scale, and pilot-scale experiments were carried out to optimize short-chain fatty acids production from primary sludge. Batch tests showed the requirement of short retention times and semi-continuous operation mode showed a plateau of maximum daily productivity at 36-hours hydraulic retention time with minimal methanation. Optimization from pH 5 to pH 10 at 36 h-hydraulic retention time under long-term semi-continuous operating mode revealed that production of short-chain fatty acids was pH dependent and highest yields could be achieved at pH 7 by establishing optimum redox conditions for fermentation.

An integrated physical-chemical system for concurrent carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal in municipal wastewater treatment plants.

A substantial quantity of suspended solids (SS) present in municipal wastewater leads to the swift depletion of the ion exchange (IE) capacity of natural zeolites like Clinoptilolite (CIO). This limitation has become the primary factor contributing to the limited adoption of the IE technique within municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, an extensive lab-scale and pilot-scale study conducted over approximately one year has made it possible to efficiently apply the IE system using CIO (main grain size of 0.

Activity of antimicrobial examination gloves under realistic conditions: challenge not fulfilled.

Background: Antimicrobial materials or surfaces are advertised as part of infection prevention bundles. However, the efficacy of such antimicrobial surfaces has not been sufficiently investigated in hospitals. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of examination gloves with light-activated antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive microorganisms was investigated modelling real live conditions.

Prospective Multicenter Validation of the Stockholm3 Test in a Central European Cohort.

Background: It has been shown that the Stockholm3 test decreases overdetection of prostate cancer (PCa) while retaining the ability to detect clinically significant PCa (csPCa) in a Swedish population. However, the test includes potentially population-specific testing of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and has yet not been validated outside Scandinavia.

Objective: To assess the performance of the Stockholm3 test in discriminating csPCa in a Central European cohort undergoing prostate biopsy (PBx).

VDR, SOD-2, and CYP24A1 Gene Expression in Different Genotypes of BsmI SNP of the Vitamin D Receptor Gene in Individuals with Hypovitaminosis.

Background: Hypovitaminosis D is a public health problem due to its implications for various diseases. Vitamin D has numerous functions, such as modulating the metabolism of cellular tissues, and it is expressed through the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene that may influence gene expression modulation, which plays an important role in vitamin D metabolism.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the genotypes of BsmI single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the VDR gene on VDR, SOD2, and CYP24A1 gene expression in individuals with low serum vitamin D levels.

Perceptions of media influence and performance among politicians in European democracies.

This study explores politicians' subjective views of the mediatisation of politics and the implication it has for their satisfaction with democracy. Based on previous research, we hypothesise a negative effect of their perception of media influence on their evaluation of the news media's performance as a public informant. These perceptions directly and indirectly influence politicians' satisfaction with democracy.

Superiority of manual disinfection using pre-soaked wipes over automatic UV-C radiation without prior cleaning.

Background: The efficacy of ultraviolet C (UV-C) radiation against a broad spectrum of micro-organisms has been demonstrated in several studies, but differences in the specific doses and the extent of microbial reduction were found. Furthermore, the conditions of laboratory tests differ greatly from reality, such that efficacy achieved in tests may not necessarily be assumed in reality. Consequently, it is important to investigate the effectiveness of UV-C in representative field trials.

Tolerance of clinical vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates against UV-C light from a mobile source.

Background: Admission to a room previously occupied by patients carrying environmentally robust pathogens implies an increased risk of acquiring those pathogens. Therefore, 'No-touch' automated room disinfection systems, including devices based on UV-C irradiation, are discussed to improve terminal cleaning. It is still unclear if clinical isolates of relevant pathogens behave differently under UV-C irradiation compared to laboratory strains used in the approval process of disinfection procedures.

Levitated Optomechanics with Meta-Atoms.

We propose to introduce additional control in levitated optomechanics by trapping a meta-atom, i.e., a subwavelength and high-permittivity dielectric particle supporting Mie resonances.

Phenotypic Variation in Clinical Isolates Did Not Affect Disinfection Efficacy Using Short-Term UV-C Radiation.

Pigmentation, catalase activity and biofilm formation are virulence factors that cause resistance of to environmental stress factors including disinfectants. In recent years, automatic UV-C room disinfection gained greater importance in enhanced disinfection procedures to improve disinfection success in hospitals. In this study, we evaluated the effect of naturally occurring variations in the expression of virulence factors in clinical isolates on tolerance against UV-C radiation.

Interaction between an Optically Levitated Nanoparticle and Its Thermal Image: Internal Thermometry via Displacement Sensing.

We propose and theoretically analyze an experiment where displacement sensing of an optically levitated nanoparticle in front of a surface can be used to measure the induced dipole-dipole interaction between the nanoparticle and its thermal image. This is achieved by using a surface that is transparent to the trapping light but reflective to infrared radiation, with a reflectivity that can be time modulated. This dipole-dipole interaction relies on the thermal radiation emitted by a silica nanoparticle having sufficient temporal coherence to correlate the reflected radiation with the thermal fluctuations of the dipole.

A European survey on post-mortem inspection of finishing pigs: Total condemnation criteria to declare meat unfit for human consumption.

Meat inspection (MI) is essential to verify compliance with legal requirements related to human and animal health and animal welfare protections. Judgement criteria applied during MI, resulting in condemnation data of importance, among other things, for livestock producers and for benchmarking reasons. However, although the Meat Inspection Regulation sets out judgement criteria, most are generic, favouring flexibility, but also subjectivity.

The Val16Ala MnSOD gene polymorphism is associated with hypertension in self-declared black individuals.

Hypertension is the leading contributor to cardiovascular disease worldwide; the prevalence of hypertension is higher among black adults than other racial/ethnic groups. One of the cellular defense mechanisms against reactive oxygen species are the antioxidants, such as the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the influence of the SNP Val16Ala of the SOD2 gene on oxidative stress and hypertension in a community population of self-declared black individuals in southern Brazil.

Biocompatible surface functionalization architecture for a diamond quantum sensor.

Quantum metrology enables some of the most precise measurements. In the life sciences, diamond-based quantum sensing has led to a new class of biophysical sensors and diagnostic devices that are being investigated as a platform for cancer screening and ultrasensitive immunoassays. However, a broader application in the life sciences based on nanoscale NMR spectroscopy has been hampered by the need to interface highly sensitive quantum bit (qubit) sensors with their biological targets.

Buccal periosteal inversion (BUPI) for defect closure and keratinized gingiva width preservation after tooth extraction - technique modification.

Introduction: Several techniques and methods have been proposed to cover alveolar bone after tooth extraction when soft tissue is lacking. Some authors recommend soft tissue flap techniques, and others advocate different types of materials for socket covering. In this article, the authors use a modified buccal inversion technique for adequate coverage of the alveolar ridge to ensure its preservation and to minimize soft tissue shrinkage and loss of keratinized gingiva after tooth extraction.

Remote Individual Addressing of Quantum Emitters with Chirped Pulses.

We propose to use chirped pulses propagating near a band gap to remotely address quantum emitters. We introduce a particular family of chirped pulses that dynamically self-compress to subwavelength spot sizes during their evolution in a medium with a quadratic dispersion relation. We analytically describe how the compression distance and width of the pulse can be tuned through its initial parameters.

Association between carriers of the G allele of the + 45T> G variant of the ADIPOQ gene () and the cardiometabolic profile in sickle cell trait.

Aims: investigate the association between the +45T > G variant of the ADIPOQ gene and the metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with sickle cell trait (SCT). 33 patients with SCT and 35 control group participated in the study. Lower levels of HDL and adiponectin were observed in patients with G allele and sickle cell trait.

Probing and manipulating embryogenesis via nanoscale thermometry and temperature control.

Understanding the coordination of cell-division timing is one of the outstanding questions in the field of developmental biology. One active control parameter of the cell-cycle duration is temperature, as it can accelerate or decelerate the rate of biochemical reactions. However, controlled experiments at the cellular scale are challenging, due to the limited availability of biocompatible temperature sensors, as well as the lack of practical methods to systematically control local temperatures and cellular dynamics.

Employing Nanostructured Scaffolds to Investigate the Mechanical Properties of Adult Mammalian Retinae Under Tension.

Numerous eye diseases are linked to biomechanical dysfunction of the retina. However, the underlying forces are almost impossible to quantify experimentally. Here, we show how biomechanical properties of adult neuronal tissues such as porcine retinae can be investigated under tension in a home-built tissue stretcher composed of nanostructured TiO scaffolds coupled to a self-designed force sensor.

Lead Toxicity From Intradiscal Retained Bullet Fragment: Management Considerations and Recommendations.

Background: Lead toxicity (plumbism) secondary to retained lead missiles in synovial joint spaces is a rare complication after gunshot injuries. Management of lead missiles in the intradiscal space regarding potential lead toxicity is less certain.

Case Description: We reviewed the literature regarding lead toxicity secondary to intradiscal bullets particularly concerning incidence, management, and outcomes.

Particulated wisdom teeth as an autologous bone substitute for grafting/filling material in bone defects: Case Report.

Introduction: Bone augmentation material using permanent teeth are confirmed in many articles to provide good histological and clinical results. Advances in osteoconduction and osteoinduction, low cost of material, no risk of disease transmission and elimination of foreign body reaction are important aspects not only to the clinician but to patient as well. Many techniques and devices to obtain graft material for bone augmentation out of teeth are found in the literature.

A New Microengineered Platform for 4D Tracking of Single Cells in a Stem-Cell-Based In Vitro Morphogenesis Model.

Recently developed stem-cell-based in vitro models of morphogenesis can help shed light on the mechanisms involved in embryonic patterning. These models are showcased using traditional cell culture platforms and materials, which allow limited control over the biological system and usually do not support high-content imaging. In contrast, using advanced microengineered tools can help in microscale control, long-term culture, and real-time data acquisition from such biological models and aid in elucidating the underlying mechanisms.