Evaluation of Microorganisms with Sulfidogenic Metabolic Potential under Anaerobic Conditions

The aim of this work was to identify groups of microorganisms that are capable of degrading organic matter utilizing sulfate as an electron acceptor. The assay applied for this purpose consisted of running batch reactors and monitoring lactate consumption, sulfate reduction and sulfide production. A portion of the lactate added to the batch reactors was consumed, and the remainder was converted into acetic, propionic and butyric acid after 111 hours of operation These results indicate the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) catalyzing both complete and incomplete oxidation of organic substrates. The sulfate removal efficiency was 49.5% after 1335 hours of operation under an initial sulfate concentration of 1123 mg/L. The SRB concentrations determined by the most probable number (MPN) method were 9.0x10(7) cells/mL at the beginning of the assay and 8.0x10(5) cells/mL after 738 hours of operation.

Science and Society: The Case of Acceptance of Newtonian Optics in the Eighteenth Century

The present paper presents a historical study on the acceptance of Newton's corpuscular theory of light in the early eighteenth century. Isaac Newton first published his famous book Opticks in 1704. After its publication, it became quite popular and was an almost mandatory presence in cultural life of Enlightenment societies. However, Newton's optics did not become popular only via his own words and hands, but also via public lectures and short books with scientific contents devoted to general public (including women) that emerged in the period as a sort of entertainment business. Lectures and writers stressed the inductivist approach to the study of nature and presented Newton's ideas about optics as they were consensual among natural philosophers in the period. The historical case study presented in this paper illustrates relevant aspects of nature of science, which can be explored by students of physics on undergraduate level or in physics teacher training programs.

Growth, body composition and hematology of juvenile pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) fed increasing levels of ractopamine

The effects of four levels of dietary ractopamine (RAC) on growth, body composition and hematology of pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus juveniles (103.6+/-3.3g) were studied. Fish were housed into 12 circular tanks of 1 m(3) - 15 fish per tank - and fed for 60 days with practical diets supplemented with 0; 10; 20 or 40mg RAC per kg of diet, in a totally randomized design trial (n=3). Fish fed diets containing up to 40mg RAC/kg diet for 60 days did not have improved growth or body composition parameters. There were no significant differences in hematocrit, hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. Plasma glucose and triglycerides were significantly smaller in fish fed with RAC; however no significant differences between RAC levels were detected. The inclusion of up to 40mg RAC/kg of diet did not improve growth and body composition, but influenced some hematological and biochemical parameters of juvenile pacu.

Evaluation of microorganisms with sulfidogenic metabolic potential under anaerobic conditions

The aim of this work was to identify groups of microorganisms that are capable of degrading organic matter utilizing sulfate as an electron acceptor. The assay applied for this purpose consisted of running batch reactors and monitoring lactate consumption, sulfate reduction and sulfide production. A portion of the lactate added to the batch reactors was consumed, and the remainder was converted into acetic, propionic and butyric acid after 111 hours of operation These results indicate the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) catalyzing both complete and incomplete oxidation of organic substrates. The sulfate removal efficiency was 49.5% after 1335 hours of operation under an initial sulfate concentration of 1123 mg/L. The SRB concentrations determined by the most probable number (MPN) method were 9.0x10(7) cells/mL at the beginning of the assay and 8.0x10(5) cells/mL after 738 hours of operation.

Airway disease: similarities and differences between asthma, COPD and bronchiectasis

Airway diseases are highly prevalent worldwide; however, the prevalence of these diseases is underestimated. Although these diseases present several common characteristics, they have different clinical outcomes. The differentiation between asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis in the early stage of disease is extremely important for the adoption of appropriate therapeutic measures. However, because of the high prevalence of these diseases and the common pathophysiological pathways, some patients with different diseases may present with similar symptoms. The objective of this review is to highlight the similarities and differences between these diseases in terms of the risk factors, pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Musica come Scienza dell'uomo. I caratteri del sapere musicale nel Settecento britannico

The departure point of the present work is the idea that in order to understand what music meant to British society in the Eighteenth-Century an interdisciplinary approach is necessary. Natural philosophy, moral philosophy, musical treatises and histories of music: all these sources concur both to the creation of a new idea about what music and its ‘science’ are, and to question the place which music ought to have in the realm of the Science of Man. The dissertation is divided into two sections. In the first one we will take into account philosophical sources (from John Locke, Joseph Addison and Lord Shaftesbury, to Lord Kames and Adam Smith), and we will examine their thoughts on music. In the second one we will deal with musical sources (from the Treatise of Musick of Alexander Malcom, to the Histories of Music of Charles Burney and John Hawkins) in order to show their connection with the philosophical literature before mentioned. The main aim of the work it to show that the development of specific philosophies of the human mind, such as the ones of John Locke and David Hume, did influence the way in which music was thought. Particularly we will point out the case of Adam Smith’s interpretation of instrumental music, which is heavily indebted to the humeian model of the human mind.

Einfluss einer klinisch-pharmazeutischen Betreuung auf klinische, soziale und ökonomische Ergebnisse bei elektiven herzchirurgischen Patienten

Die Pharmazeutische Betreuung erfolgt mit dem Ziel der Identifikation, Vermeidung und Lösung von Arzneimittelbezogenen Problemen (AbP). In einer prospektiven, randomisierten Studie sollte geprüft werden, ob durch klinisch-pharmazeutische Betreuung bei multimorbiden Patienten mit Polymedikation die Dauer eines AbP verkürzt und ob durch einen individuellen, bebilderten Medikationsplan das Patientenwissen zur aktuellen stationären Medikation verbessert werden kann. In die Studie wurden 244 herzchirurgische Patienten eingeschlossen (≥65 Jahre, ≥5 Arzneimittel). Die Patienten wurden in vier Gruppen randomisiert. Es gab keine statistischen Unterschiede bezüglich der Patientenmerkmale Alter, Geschlecht, Aufnahmediagnose, Anzahl an Arzneimitteln bei der Aufnahme oder stationäre Verweildauer. Das Patientenwissen zur stationären Medikation wurde mittels Fragebogen bei 188 Patienten ermittelt (Rücklaufquote 78%). Zur objektiven Evaluation des Patientenwissens wurden die Patientenangaben zu Einnahmegründen, Arzneimittelbezeichnung, Stärke und Dosierung und zur Therapiedauer gerinnungshemmender Arzneimittel mit der tatsächlichen Medikation verglichen. Insgesamt wurden 1335 AbP bei 235 Patienten detektiert. Durch klinisch-pharmazeutische Betreuung konnten mehr AbP erkannt, frühzeitig gelöst und deren Dauer im Median von 4 auf 2 Tage signifikant (p-Wert<0,001) reduziert werden. Ein bebilderter Medikationsplan verbessert das Patientenwissen über die stationäre Medikation subjektiv und objektiv und erhöht die Motivation der Patienten, die Arzneimittel entsprechend den Einnahmehinweisen auf dem Medikationsplan einzunehmen.

Targeted alpha-radionuclide therapy of functionally critically located gliomas with 213Bi-DOTA-[Thi8,Met(O2)11]-substance P: a pilot trial

Functionally critically located gliomas represent a challenging subgroup of intrinsic brain neoplasms. Standard therapeutic recommendations often cannot be applied, because radical treatment and preservation of neurological function are contrary goals. The successful targeting of gliomas with locally injected beta radiation-emitting (90)Y-DOTAGA-substance P has been shown previously. However, in critically located tumours, the mean tissue range of 5 mm of (90)Y may seriously damage adjacent brain areas. In contrast, the alpha radiation-emitting radionuclide (213)Bi with a mean tissue range of 81 microm may have a more favourable toxicity profile. Therefore, we evaluated locally injected (213)Bi-DOTA-substance P in patients with critically located gliomas as the primary therapeutic modality.

A Minimally Invasive Technique for the Detection and Analysis of Pulmonary Fat Embolism: A Feasibility Study*

We investigated the feasibility of postmortem percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) for obtaining pulmonary samples adequate for the study of pulmonary fat embolism (PFE). Samples of both lungs were obtained from 26 cadavers via two different methods: (i) PNB and (ii) the double-edged knife technique, the gold standard at our institute. After water storage and Sudan III staining, six forensic pathologists independently examined all samples for the presence and severity of PFE. The results were compared and analyzed in each case regarding the vitality of the PFE and its relationship to the cause of death. The results showed that PFE was almost identically diagnosed and graded on the samples obtained via both methods. The discrepancies between the two techniques did not affect the diagnoses of vitality or cause of death related to PFE. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the PNB sampling method for the diagnosis and interpretation of PFE in the postmortem setting.

Effect of acceleration forces during transport through a pneumatic tube system on ROTEM® analysis

ROTEM® is considered a helpful point-of-care device to monitor blood coagulation in emergency situations. Centrally performed analysis is desirable but rapid transport of blood samples is an important prerequisite. The effect of acceleration forces on sample transport through a pneumatic tube system on ROTEM® should be tested at each institution to exclude a pre-analytical influence. The aims of the present work were: (i) to investigate the effect of pneumatic tube transport on ROTEM® parameters; (ii) to compare blood sample transport via pneumatic tube vs. manual transportation; and (iii) to determine the effect of acceleration forces on ROTEM® parameters.