Combined iron and sulfate reduction biostimulation as a novel approach to enhance BTEX and PAH source-zone biodegradation in biodiesel blend-contaminated groundwater.

The use of biodiesel as a transportation fuel and its growing mandatory blending percentage in diesel increase the likelihood of contaminating groundwater with diesel/biodiesel blends. A 100L-field experiment with B20 (20% biodiesel and 80% diesel, v/v) was conducted to assess the potential for the combined biostimulation of iron and sulfate reducing bacteria to enhance BTEX and PAH biodegradation in a diesel/biodiesel blend-contaminated groundwater. A B20 field experiment under monitored natural attenuation (MNA) was used as a baseline control.

The Antisense Transcript SMN-AS1 Regulates SMN Expression and Is a Novel Therapeutic Target for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

The neuromuscular disorder spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the most common inherited killer of infants, is caused by insufficient expression of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. SMA therapeutics development efforts have focused on identifying strategies to increase SMN expression. We identified a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that arises from the antisense strand of SMN, SMN-AS1, which is enriched in neurons and transcriptionally represses SMN expression by recruiting the epigenetic Polycomb repressive complex-2.

A Modified Approach for in Situ Chemical Oxidation Coupled to Biodegradation Enhances Light Nonaqueous Phase Liquid Source-Zone Remediation.

Field and batch experiments were conducted to assess whether a modified approach for in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) (with MgO and FeO particles recovered from acid mine drainage treatment) can enhance LNAPL (light nonaqueous phase liquid) dissolution and produce bioavailable soluble compounds. This modified ISCO approach was coupled to biodegradation to further remove residual compounds by microbially mediated processes. Pure palm biodiesel (B100) was chosen to represent a poorly water-soluble compound that behaves like LNAPLs, and 100 L was released to a 2 m area excavated down to the water table.

Breathalyzer test: results and refusals to take the test of drivers intercepted under the DUI Spot-Check Campaign in Rio de Janeiro.

Abstract This paper involved a cross-sectional study that evaluated the results and refusals to take the breathalyzer test among drivers intercepted by the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Spot-Check Campaign (Operação Lei Seca) in the capital of Rio de Janeiro and Baixada Fluminense. It was conducted using data provided by the State Government which were collected from drivers intercepted in the months of December 2013 and January 2014. Descriptive analysis was conducted of the sample and of the association between gender, age and location variables with the result of the breathalyzer test and refusal to take the test using a logistic regression model.

Multicellular Spheroids as a Model for Hypoxia-induced EMT.

Oral cancer is aggressive and invasive. The 5-year survival rate is around 50% and has not improved in over 50 years. One-third of oral cancer patients develop local and/or regional tumor recurrence following treatment.

Symbiosis with AMF and leaf P supply increases water deficit tolerance of woody species from seasonal dry tropical forest.

In seasonal dry tropical forests, plants are subjected to severe water deficit, and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or inorganic phosphorus supply (P) can mitigate the effects of water deficit. This study aimed to assess the physiological performance of Poincianella pyramidalis subjected to water deficit in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and leaf inorganic phosphorus (P) supply. The experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement of 2 water levels (+HO and -HO), 2 AMF levels (+AMF and -AMF) and 2P levels (+P and -P).

Increased Expression Profile and Functionality of TLR6 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Hepatocytes of Morbidly Obese Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Current evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis drives obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR6 specifically recognize components of Gram-positive bacteria. Despite the potential implications of TLR2 in NAFLD pathogenesis, the role of TLR6 has not been addressed.

Biodiesel presence in the source zone hinders aromatic hydrocarbons attenuation in a B20-contaminated groundwater.

The behavior of biodiesel blend spills have received limited attention in spite of the increasing and widespread introduction of biodiesel to the transportation fuel matrix. In this work, a controlled field release of biodiesel B20 (100L of 20:80 v/v soybean biodiesel and diesel) was monitored over 6.2years to assess the behavior and natural attenuation of constituents of major concern (e.

A RET-ER81-NRG1 Signaling Pathway Drives the Development of Pacinian Corpuscles.

Unlabelled: Axon-Schwann cell interactions are crucial for the development, function, and repair of the peripheral nervous system, but mechanisms underlying communication between axons and nonmyelinating Schwann cells are unclear. Here, we show that ER81 is functionally required in a subset of mouse RET mechanosensory neurons for formation of Pacinian corpuscles, which are composed of a single myelinated axon and multiple layers of nonmyelinating Schwann cells, and Ret is required for the maintenance of Er81 expression. Interestingly, Er81 mutants have normal myelination but exhibit deficient interactions between axons and corpuscle-forming nonmyelinating Schwann cells.

DRUG RESISTANCE IN HELICOBACTER PYLORI.

Background: Helicobacter pylori has a worldwide distribution and is associated with the pathogenesis of various diseases of the digestive system. Treatment to eradicate this microorganism involves the use of a combination of antimicrobials, such as amoxicillin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, and levofloxacin, combined with proton pump inhibitors. Although the current therapy is effective, a high rate of treatment failure has been observed, mainly because of the acquisition of point mutations, one of the major resistance mechanisms developed by H.

The Medical Duty Officer: An Attempt to Mitigate the Ambulance At-Hospital Interval.

Introduction: A lack of coordination between emergency medical services (EMS), emergency departments (ED) and systemwide management has contributed to extended ambulance at-hospital times at local EDs. In an effort to improve communication within the local EMS system, the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) placed a medical duty officer (MDO) in the fire communications bureau. It was hypothesized that any real-time intervention suggested by the MDO would be manifested in a decrease in the EMS at-hospital time.

Prior swimming exercise favors muscle recovery in adult female rats after joint immobilization.

[Purpose] To evaluate the efficacy of pre-exercise on immobilization and subsequent recovery of white gastrocnemius (WG) and soleus (SOL) muscles of female rats. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty, 8-month-old, female Wistar rats were randomly and evenly allocated to six groups: sedentary (S); immobilized sedentary (IS); immobilized/rehabilitated sedentary (IRS); trained (T); immobilized trained (IT); and immobilized/rehabilitated trained (IRT). For four months, T, IT and IRT group animals performed swimming exercise (three sessions per week, 60 minutes per session), while S, IS and IRS groups animals remained housed in cages.

Measurement of anti-DFS70 antibodies in patients with ANA-associated autoimmune rheumatic diseases suspicion is cost-effective.

The presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is associated with a wide range of ANA-associated autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AARD). The most commonly method used for the detection of ANA is indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on HEp-2 cells. This method is very sensitive but unspecific.

Regulation of Multicellular Spheroids by MAPK and FYN Kinase.

Understanding of the biology of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has not progressed significantly in the past 60 years, with 5-year survival remaining at approximately 50%. The epidemic of Human Papilloma Virus and its associated SCC warrants a renewed emphasis on fully understanding this disease. We previously used the 3-dimensional multicellular spheroid (MCS) model system to evaluate SCC behavior more accurately.

Partial Fat Replacement by Boiled Quinoa on the Quality Characteristics of a Dry-Cured Sausage.

Different approaches have been previously studied in order to reduce the fat content of dry-cured sausages. Among them, the use of polysaccharides, such as fiber, gums, or starch, have been proposed for fat replacing. Although scarcely studied, it is likely that starchy grains and vegetables might also be used as potential fat replacers in those sausages.

Evaluation of skeletal muscle regeneration in experimental model after malnutrition.

The aim of this study was to analyze muscle regeneration after cryoinjury in the tibialis anterior muscle of young rats that were malnourished and then recovered. Forty Wistar rats were divided into a nourished group that received a normal protein diet (14% casein) for 90 days and a malnourished and recovered rats group (MR) that was submitted to 45 days of malnutrition with a hypoproteic diet (6% casein) followed by 45 days of a normal protein diet (14% casein). After the recovery period, all of the animals underwent cryoinjury in the right tibialis anterior muscle and euthanasia after 7, 14 and 21 days.

A guideline for the validation of likelihood ratio methods used for forensic evidence evaluation.

This Guideline proposes a protocol for the validation of forensic evaluation methods at the source level, using the Likelihood Ratio framework as defined within the Bayes' inference model. In the context of the inference of identity of source, the Likelihood Ratio is used to evaluate the strength of the evidence for a trace specimen, e.g.

The BACTEC MGIT(tm) 320 system as a laboratory tool to diagnose tuberculosis in a Brazilian hospital with a high prevalence of HIV infection.

Introduction: The World Health Organization endorses the BACTEC Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT)(tm) system as a rapid, sensitive, and specific method to diagnostic of tuberculosis. Here, we compared the performance of this system against Ogawa-Kudoh cultures and microscopy.

Methods: A total of 927 samples were obtained between December 2011 and December 2013 from 652 cases of suspected tuberculosis at the School Hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande in Brazil.

Influence of Smoking Consumption and Nicotine Dependence Degree in Cardiac Autonomic Modulation.

Background: Smoking consumption alters cardiac autonomic function.

Objective: Assess the influence of the intensity of smoking and the nicotine dependence degree in cardiac autonomic modulation evaluated through index of heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods: 83 smokers, of both genders, between 50 and 70 years of age and with normal lung function were divided according to the intensity of smoking consumption (moderate and severe) and the nicotine dependency degree (mild, moderate and severe).

Mineral metabolism disorders, vertebral fractures and aortic calcifications in stable kidney transplant recipients: The role of gender (EMITRAL study).

Background And Objectives: The relationship between mineral metabolism disorders, bone fractures and vascular calcifications in kidney transplant recipients has not been established.

Method: We performed a cross-sectional study in 727 stable recipients from 28 Spanish transplant clinics. Mineral metabolism parameters, the semi-quantification of vertebral fractures and abdominal aortic calcifications were determined centrally.

Factors Associated With Errors in Visual Estimation of the Functional Significance of Coronary Lesions.

Unlabelled: INTRODUCTION AND 

Objectives: Visual angiographic assessment continues to be used when decisions are made on whether to revascularize ambiguous coronary lesions. Multiple factors, other than the degree of stenosis, have been associated with the functional significance of a coronary lesion. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of interventionists to visually predict the functional significance of a coronary lesion and the clinical and angiographic characteristics associated with errors in prediction.

Evaluation of a 'color coding' system for the assessment of patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aims: The reduction of delay times as well as the rate of false alarms (FA) have become some of the main points of the different infarction networks. We propose a simple way of classifying patients derived for primary PCI (pPCI) into well-defined simple groups by colors, where we can assess real delays of each clinical presentation, define the FA and, furthermore, establish their immediate and short term prognosis.

Methods And Results: Prospective study of STEMI consecutive patients derived for pPCI during 2014.