Bacterial bioassay for rapid and accurate analysis of arsenic in highly variable groundwater samples.

In this study, we report the first ever large-scale environmental validation of a microbial reporter-based test to measure arsenic concentrations in natural water resources. A bioluminescence-producing arsenic-inducible bacterium based on Escherichia coli was used as the reporter organism. Specific protocols were developed with the goal to avoid the negative influence of iron in groundwater on arsenic availability to the bioreporter cells. A total of 194 groundwater samples were collected in the Red River and Mekong River Delta regions of Vietnam and were analyzed both by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and by the arsenic bioreporter protocol. The bacterial cells performed well at and above arsenic concentrations in groundwater of 7 microg/L, with an almost linearly proportional increase of the bioluminescence signal between 10 and 100 microg As/L (r2 = 0.997). Comparisons between AAS and arsenic bioreporter determinations gave an overall average of 8.0% false negative and 2.4% false positive identifications for the bioreporter prediction at the WHO recommended acceptable arsenic concentration of 10 microg/L, which is far betterthan the performance of chemical field test kits. Because of the ease of the measurement protocol and the low application cost, the microbiological arsenic test has a great potential in large screening campaigns in Asia and in other areas suffering from arsenic pollution in groundwater resources.

Nursery Practices and Management of Fungal Diseases in Forest Nurseries in Finland : a review

Summary

Growth decrease in Alpine whitefish: investigating the relative contribution of fishing induced selection and environmental change and its implication for conservation measures

La pression exercée par les activités humaines menace pratiquement tous les écosystèmes aquatiques du globe. Ainsi, sous l'effet de divers facteurs tels que la pollution, le réchauffement climatique ou encore la pêche industrielle, de nombreuses populations de poissons ont vu leurs effectifs chuter et divers changements morphologiques ont été observés. Dans cette étude, nous nous sommes intéressés à une menace particulière: la sélection induite par la pêche sur la croissance des poissons. En effet, la génétique des populations prédit que la soustraction régulière des individus les plus gros peut entraîner des modifications rapides de certains traits physiques comme la croissance individuelle. Cela a par ailleurs été observé dans de nombreuses populations marines ou lacustres, dont les populations de féras, bondelles et autres corégones des lacs suisses. Toutefois, malgré un nombre croissant d'études décrivant ce phénomène, peu de plans de gestion en tiennent compte, car l'importance des effets génétiques liés à la pêche est le plus souvent négligée par rapport à l'impact des changements environnementaux. Le but premier de cette étude a donc été de quantifier l'importance des facteurs génétiques et environnementaux. Dans le premier chapitre, nous avons étudié la population de palée du lac de Joux (Coregonus palaea). Nous avons déterminé les différentiels de sélection dus à la pêche, c'est-à-dire l'intensité de la sélection sur le taux de croissance, ainsi que les changements nets de croissance au cours du temps. Nous avons observé une baisse marquée de croissance et un différentiel de sélection important indiquant qu'au moins 30% de la diminution de croissance observée était due à la pression de sélection induite par la pêche. Dans le deuxième chapitre, nous avons effectué les mêmes analyses sur deux espèces proches du lac de Brienz (C. albellus et C. fatioi) et avons observé des effets similaires dont l'intensité était spécifique à chaque espèce. Dans le troisième chapitre, nous avons analysé deux autres espèces : C. palaea et C. confusus du lac de Bienne, et avons constaté que le lien entre la pression de sélection et la diminution de croissance était influencé par des facteurs environnementaux. Finalement, dans le dernier chapitre, nous avons étudié les effets potentiels de différentes modifications de la taille des mailles des filets utilisés pour la pêche à l'aide de modèles mathématiques. Nous concluons que la pêche a un effet génétique non négligeable (et donc peu réversible) sur la croissance individuelle dans les populations observée, que cet effet est lié à la compétition pour la nourriture et à la qualité de l'environnement, et que certaines modifications simples de la taille des mailles des filets de pêche pourraient nettement diminuer l'effet de sélection et ainsi ralentir, voir même renverser la diminution de croissance observée.

Report of Recommendations to Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, for the year ended June 30, 2011

Report on Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, for the year ended June 30, 2011

Prevalence and management of cardiovascular risk factors in Portuguese residents and Portuguese who migrated to Switzerland

Background: there is little information regarding the health status of migrants compared to subjects who remained in their country of origin. The aim was to compare Portuguese living in Porto (Portugal) with Portuguese migrants living in Lausanne (Switzerland). Design: cross-sectional studies conducted in Porto (EpiPorto, n=1150) and Lausanne (CoLaus, n=388) among Portuguese subjects aged between 35 and 65 years. Methods: body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels were assessed using standardized procedures. Educational level, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic and antidiabetic treatments were collected using questionnaires. Results: Portuguese living in Lausanne were younger, more frequently male and had a lower education than Portuguese living in Porto. After multivariate adjustment, Portuguese living in Porto had a higher likelihood of being obese [Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval: 1.40 (1.01-1.94)] or abdominal obese [OR: 1.40 (1.02-1.93)] than Portuguese living in Lausanne. Portuguese living in Porto had a higher likelihood of being hypertensive than Portuguese living in Lausanne [OR: 1.38 (1.01-1.90)], while no differences were found regarding hypertension management and control. Portuguese living in Porto had a higher likelihood of being hypercholesterolemic [OR: 1.40 (1.06-1.85)] and were less likely to be treated [OR: 0.47 (0.27-0.83)] and controlled [OR: 0.47 (0.27-0.83)] than Portuguese living in Lausanne. Finally, no differences were found regarding smoking, prevalence and management of diabetes. Conclusion: Portuguese living in Lausanne, Switzerland, present a better cardiovascular risk profile and tend to be better managed regarding their cardiovascular risk factors than Portuguese living in Porto, Portugal.

Duodénopancréatectomie céphalique: indications, résultats et prise en charge des complications [Pancreaticoduodenectomy: indications, results and management of complications]

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is a major procedure in visceral surgery. Post-operative mortality is around 5% in high-volume hospitals, thanks to improvement in global patients care. Morbidity remains high though. The treatment of complications most often require a multidisciplinary approach. Delayed gastric emptying, intraabdominal abscesses and pancreatic fistulas are the most frequent complications. Post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage, although more rare, is a severe and dreadful event. Despite its morbidity, duodenopancreatectomy significantly improves survival of patients with biliopancreatic cancer. Early recognition of these complications and a prompt treatment increase the safety of this procedure.

The development of a web page for lipid science and research. Main web sites of interest

En internet encontramos gran cantidad de información científico-técnica cuya validez no suele estar controlada por comités correctores. Para aprovechar estos recursos es necesario filtrar y facilitar el acceso del usuario a la información. En este artículo se expone la experiencia práctica en el desarrollo de una página WEB centrada en las actividades del grupo de investigación «Calidad Nutricional y Tecnología de los Lípidos». Los objetivos de esta página WEB fueron los siguientes: difusión de las actividades del grupo de investigación, aprovechar los recursos que ofrece internet y fomentar y facilitar su uso. Esta experiencia permitió presentar una metodología de trabajo eficaz para conseguir estos objetivos. Finalmente, se presentan un gran número de direcciones WEB agrupadas por apartados en el ámbito de los lípidos. Estas direcciones han sido rigurosamente seleccionadas, entre un gran número de referencias consultadas, siguiendo una serie de criterios que se discuten en este trabajo, para ofrecer aquellas que presentan un mayor interés práctico.

First day of an oil spill on the open sea: early mass transfers of hydrocarbons to air and water.

During the first hours after release of petroleum at sea, crude oil hydrocarbons partition rapidly into air and water. However, limited information is available about very early evaporation and dissolution processes. We report on the composition of the oil slick during the first day after a permitted, unrestrained 4.3 m(3) oil release conducted on the North Sea. Rapid mass transfers of volatile and soluble hydrocarbons were observed, with >50% of ≤C17 hydrocarbons disappearing within 25 h from this oil slick of <10 km(2) area and <10 μm thickness. For oil sheen, >50% losses of ≤C16 hydrocarbons were observed after 1 h. We developed a mass transfer model to describe the evolution of oil slick chemical composition and water column hydrocarbon concentrations. The model was parametrized based on environmental conditions and hydrocarbon partitioning properties estimated from comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) retention data. The model correctly predicted the observed fractionation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the oil slick resulting from evaporation and dissolution. This is the first report on the broad-spectrum compositional changes in oil during the first day of a spill at the sea surface. Expected outcomes under other environmental conditions are discussed, as well as comparisons to other models.

Low molecular weight carboxylic acids in oxidizing porphyry copper tailings

The distribution of low molecular weight carboxylic acids (LMWCA) was investigated in pore water profiles from two porphyry copper tailings impoundments in Chile (Piuquenes at La Andina and Cauquenes at El Teniente mine). The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the distribution of LMWCA, which are interpreted to be the metabolic byproducts of the autotroph microbial community in this low organic carbon system, and (2) to infer the potential role of these acids in cycling of Fe and other elements in the tailings impoundments. The speciation and mobility of iron, and potential for the release of H+ via hydrolysis of the ferric iron, are key factors in the formation of acid mine drainage in sulfidic mine wastes. In the low-pH oxidation zone of the Piuquenes tailings, Fe(III) is the dominant iron species and shows high mobility. LMWCA, which occur mainly between the oxidation front down to 300 cm below the tailings surface at both locations (e.g., max concentrations of 0.12 mmol/L formate, 0.17 mmol/L acetate, and 0.01 mmol/L pyruvate at Piuquenes and 0.14 mmol/L formate, 0.14 mmol/L acetate, and 0.006 mmol/L pyruvate at Cauquenes), are observed at the same location as high Fe concentrations (up to 71.2 mmol/L Fe(II) and 16.1 mmol/L Fe(III), respectively). In this zone, secondary Fe(111) hydroxides are depleted. Our data suggest that LMWCA may influence the mobility of iron in two ways. First, complexation of Fe(III), through formation of bidentate Fe(III)-LMWCA complexes (e.g., pyruvate, oxalate), may enhance the dissolution of Fe(III) (oxy)hydroxides or may prevent precipitation of Fe(III) (oxy)hydroxides. Soluble Fe(III) chelate complexes which may be mobilized downward and convert to Fe(II) by Fe(III) reducing bacteria. Second, monodentate LMWCA (e.g., acetate and formate) can be used by iron-reducing bacteria as electron donors (e.g., Acidophilum spp.), with ferric iron as the electron acceptor. These processes may, in part, explain the low abundances of secondary Fe(III) hydroxide precipitates below the oxidation front and the high concentrations of Fe(II) observed in the pore waters of some low-sulfide systems. The reduction of Fe(III) and the subsequent increase of iron mobility and potential acidity transfer (Fe(II) oxidation can result in the release of H+ in an oxic environment) should be taken in account in mine waste management strategies.

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa State University of Science and Technology Room and Board System for the period of April 9, 2012 through May 1, 2012

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa State University of Science and Technology Room and Board System for the period of April 9, 2012 through May 1, 2012

ESCMID* guideline for the diagnosis and management of Candida diseases 2012: patients with HIV infection or AIDS.

Mucosal candidiasis is frequent in immunocompromised HIV-infected highly active antiretroviral (HAART) naive patients or those who have failed therapy. Mucosal candidiasis is a marker of progressive immune deficiency. Because of the frequently marked and prompt immune reconstitution induced by HAART, there is no recommendation for primary antifungal prophylaxis of mucosal candidiasis in the HIV setting in Europe, although it has been evidenced as effective in the pre-HAART era. Fluconazole remains the first line of therapy for both oropharyngeal candidiasis and oesophageal candidiasis and should be preferred to itraconazole oral solution (or capsules when not available) due to fewer side effects. For patients who still present with fluconazole-refractory mucosal candidiasis, oral treatment with any other azole should be preferred based on precise Candida species identification and susceptibility testing results in addition to the optimization of HAART when feasible. For vaginal candidiasis, topical therapy is preferred.

Audit report of Iowa State University of Science and Technology as of and for the year ended June 30, 2012

Audit report of Iowa State University of Science and Technology as of and for the year ended June 30, 2012

Report of Recommendations to Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, for the year ended June 30, 2012

Report on Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, for the year ended June 30, 2012