Examining Clinical Presentation and Workup of Veterans with Irritable Bowel Syndrome in a Single Medical Centre: A Case Series.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) that affects about 10% of the adult population in the United States. IBS pathoetiology understanding has evolved and clinical management improved despite the underdevelopment of diagnostics. Within the Veterans Affairs (VA) system, the prevalence and impact of DGBIs are high.

Managing Complications Following Endoscopic Myotomy as a Treatment for Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) Achalasia: A Case Report.

Achalasia is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by increased esophageal sphincter tone and dysmotility that causes worsening dysphagia. While this condition usually affects the lower esophageal sphincter, we present a rare case of upper esophageal sphincter (UES) achalasia of unknown etiology in a female in her sixth decade of life. This was managed via UES myotomy but was complicated by esophageal perforation and severe post-operative stenosis.

"In situ" removal of isopropanol, butanol and ethanol from fermentation broth by gas stripping.

In this study, the removal of IBE from aqueous solutions by gas stripping has been characterized. The effect of one or more components in the solution on the kinetics of the separation has been studied, both at 37°C and at 70°C. Gas stripping has been applied to batch, repeated batch and continuous cultures of Clostridium beijerinckii grown on a glucose/xylose mixed sugar substrate mimicking lignocellulosic hydrolysates, with the aim of finding optimal conditions for a stable IBE-producing culture with high productivity.

Biodiesel and biohydrogen production from cotton-seed cake in a biorefinery concept.

Biodiesel production from cotton-seed cake (CSC) and the pretreatment of the remaining biomass for dark fermentative hydrogen production was investigated. The direct conversion to biodiesel with alkali free fatty acids neutralization pretreatment and alkali transesterification resulted in a biodiesel with high esters content and physicochemical properties fulfilling the EN-standards. Blends of cotton-seed oil methyl esters (CME) and diesel showed an improvement in lubricity and cetane number.

Integration of first and second generation biofuels: fermentative hydrogen production from wheat grain and straw.

Integrating of lignocellulose-based and starch-rich biomass-based hydrogen production was investigated by mixing wheat straw hydrolysate with a wheat grain hydrolysate for improved fermentation. Enzymatic pretreatment and hydrolysis of wheat grains led to a hydrolysate with a sugar concentration of 93.4 g/L, while dilute-acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of wheat straw led to a hydrolysate with sugar concentration 23.