Camposkuhn7172

Phosphorus (P) in wastewater has a variety of negative effects and is usually permanently lost as a non-renewable resource. To mitigate future P shortage, P must be recovered from wastewater, preferably by bio-based technologies to avoid toxic side streams. A standardized procedure for the determination of P types and P concentrations in all liquid and solid process stages was established, which is applicable to all full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Based on this, an equally universal calculation framework for P-cycle assessment based on volume flow and mass load rates was designed to identify the most promising process streams for biological P recovery. As an example, in 16 process streams of a typical WWTP, concentrations of free, bound and total P were calculated and microbial communities were analyzed by flow cytometry over 748 days. The most promising process streams for the recovery of free P were anaerobic digester sludge, centrate and the water-extracts of the biosolids with 0.510 kg P m-3, 0.075 kg P m-3 and 1.023 kg P m-3, while the best process streams for the recovery of bound P were return sludge, excess sludge, anaerobic digester sludge, and the solids of the biosolids with 0.300 kg P m-3, 0.268 kg P m-3, 0.213 kg P m-3 and 1.336 kg P m-3, respectively. Microorganisms capable of P accumulation were active in all process stages and it was observed that chemical P precipitation antagonizes biological P removal. The framework for P-cycle assessment was able to identify process streams that are economically viable to make future in-stream technologies for biological P removal feasible.In this study, porous covalent organic frameworks (COFs, named as COFs-SWMU) were synthesized for the first time via a facile approach by using 4,4',4-methylidynetri-anilin and 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzenedicarboxaldehyde as precursors under ambient temperature. The COFs-SWMU were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, etc. The COFs-SWMU exhibited a relatively high specific surface area and desirable thermal stability. The adsorption performance of COFs-SWMU towards fluoronitrobenzenes (FNBs, including 1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzene, 1-fluoro-3-nitrobenzene, 1-fluoro-4-nitrobenzene, 2,4-difluoronitrobenzene, 3,4-difluoronitrobenzene, and 3,4-dinitrofluorobenzene) was investigated on the basis of adsorption capacity and partition coefficient (PC). The adsorption kinetics and isotherm of COFs-SWMU for FNBs were studied in detail. Further, a simple, fast and sensitive method which combined COFs-SWMU based extraction with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection, was proposed for the analysis of FNBs in environmental samples. Desirable linearity (R2>0.9998) in the range of 0.1-100 μg•mL-1, low limits of detection (LODs; 0.1‒0.15 μg•mL‒1), low limits of quantitation (LOQs; 0.28‒0.40 μg•mL‒1), and desirable precision (RSDs, 0.24-2.83% for intraday and 1.13-6.92% for interday) are obtained. Finally, the COFs-SWMU were applied to the effective extraction of FNBs from environmental samples, and desirable recovery results were obtained.A combination of two chromatographic and two enzymatic methods was used for the analysis of molecular species of lipids from Gram-positive bacteria of the genus Kocuria. Gram-positive bacteria contain a majority of branched fatty acids (FAs), especially iso- and/or anteiso-FAs. Two strains K. rhizophila were cultivated at three different temperatures (20, 28, and 37°C) and the majority phospholipid, i.e., the mixture of molecular species of phosphatidylglycerols (PGs) was separated by means of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC). After selleck products of PGs by phospholipase C and derivatization of the free OH group, the sn-1,2-diacyl-3-acetyl triacylglycerols (AcTAGs) were separated by reversed phase HPLC. Molecular species such as i-150/i-150/20, ai-150/ai-150/20, and 150/150/20 (straight chains) were identified by liquid chromatography-positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The tandem mass spectra of both standards and natural compounds containing iso, anteiso and straight chain FAs with the same carbons were identical. Therefore, for identification of the ratio of two regioisomers, i.e. i-150/ai-150/20 vs. ai-150/i-150/20, they were cleavage by pancreatic lipase. The mixture of free fatty acids (FFAs) and 2-monoacylglycerols (2-MAGs) was obtained. After their separation by TLC and esterification and/or transesterification, the fatty acid methyl esters were quantified by GC-MS and thus the ratio of regioisomers was determined. It has been shown that the ratio of PG (containing as majority i-15 0 / i-15 0, i-15 0 / ai-15 0 and / or ai-15 0 / i-15 0 and ai-15 0 / ai-15 0 molecular species) significantly affected the membrane flow of bacterial cells cultured at different temperatures.Diabetes is characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose, which can result in the modification of serum proteins. The modification of a protein by glucose, or glycation, can also lead to the formation of advanced glycated end-products (AGEs). #link# One protein that can be modified through glycation and AGE formation is human serum albumin (HSA). In this study, immunoextraction based on polyclonal anti-HSA antibodies was used with high-performance affinity microcolumns to see how AGE-related modifications produced by glyoxal (Go) and methylglyoxal (MGo) affected the binding of HSA to several first- and second-generation sulfonylureas, a class of drugs used to treat type II diabetes and known to bind to HSA. With this approach, it was possible to use a single platform to examine drug interactions with several preparations of HSA. Each applied protein sample could be used over 20-50 experiments, and global affinity constants for most of the examined drugs could be obtained in less than 7.5 min. The binding constants measured for these drugs with normal HSA gave good agreement with global affinities based on the literature. Both Go- and MGo-related modifications at clinically relevant levels were found by this method to create significant changes in the binding by some sulfonylureas with HSA. The global affinities for many of the drugs increased by 1.4-fold or more; gliclazide and tolazamide had no significant change with some preparations of modified HSA, and a small-to-moderate decrease in binding strength was noted for glibenclamide and gliclazide with Go-modified HSA. This approach can be adapted for the study of other drug-protein interactions and alternative modified proteins by altering the antibodies that are employed for immunoextraction and within the affinity microcolumn.

Research productivity is a key criterion for applicant selection reported by residency program directors. link2 Research volume reported on neurosurgery residency applications has risen steadily over the past decade.

Perform retrospective bibliographic searches of successful applicants who matched into U.S. neurosurgery residency programs from 2011 to 2018, and assess the relationship between academic publishing and residency placement.

Gender, MD/PhD status, U.S. News research ranking of medical school, and international medical graduate status (IMG) were determined for 1634 successful applicants from 2011 to 2018. Indexed publications before and after the start of residency were tabulated by Scopus®. Publication counts were stratified by first author, basic/clinical science, case reports, reviews, or other research. We then compared publishing trends across demographic variables and match cohorts.

Average pre-residency publications increased from 2.6 [1.7, 3.4] in 2011 to 6.5 [5.1, 7.9] in 2018. Men, PhD-ons, attention is needed to objectively evaluate research credentials in the selection process. The impending phase out of USMLE step 1 scores may increase emphasis on academic productivity.Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a fatal human prion disease. Surveillance systems operate globally with the goals of accurate in-life case ascertainment, appropriate public health interventions to minimise secondary transmission, and monitoring trends in disease epidemiology. The UK experienced the highest incidence of variant CJD (vCJD) in the world following widespread population exposure to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). 178 cases of vCJD have been identified in the UK by the National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit (NCJDRSU), including three cases of secondary transmission via blood transfusion. The NCJDRSU performs high-fidelity surveillance, assessing all cases of suspected CJD referred to the unit. COVID-19 has caused widespread disruption to healthcare and poses a threat to services. link3 The NCJDRSU converted to telehealth-based surveillance in March 2020. We report the results of the application of telehealth for comprehensive CJD surveillance during the first four months of the pandemic. 59 cases were assessed for suspected CJD. In 52 cases the relatives were interviewed for an informant history, by video conference or telephone call. 34 patients underwent video examination; 1 case was examined in-person. MRI images were assessed in all cases and 46 underwent CSF testing. Feedback was obtained from interviewees and the NCJDRSU team on their experiences. 50 cases were diagnosed with sporadic CJD; 5 received an alternative diagnosis, and the remaining 4 remained unresolved, with further investigations underway. Telehealth significantly reduced time taken to assessment compared to in-person assessments in 2019. Telehealth is an effective way to provide comprehensive CJD surveillance at a national level.There is considerable heterogeneity in residency education around the world. The Neurology International Residents Videoconference and Exchange (NIRVE) program aims to deliver neurology educational content to residents across different resource settings and countries through a monthly videoconferencing platform. Its purpose is to fill gaps in didactic teaching, increase exposure to a variety of cases including various practices and delivery of neurology in multiple countries, as well as integrate global health content into neurology education. NIRVE also facilitates resident exchanges among participating sites. In this descriptive article, we report NIRVE's structure and its cumulative productivity. Since its creation, NIRVE has held more than 90 videoconference rounds and has connected 16 sites in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. We describe challenges encountered since the inception of the program eleven years ago. NIRVE also fosters a culture of long-term international connection and collaboration. During global disease outbreaks, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, videoconference rounds serve as a sustainable alternative means to deliver education. Future goals include increasing the number of sites involved, including a focus on Africa and Asia, and fostering resident-led advocacy projects.Premature infants with severe germinal matrix intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) are at high risk of posthemorrhagic ventricular dilation and hydrocephalus (Video 1). We report the case of a 3-month-old premature infant referred for posthemorrhagic multilocated hydrocephalus. He presented with somnolence, hypotonia, and a bulging fontanelle. His past medical history included an IVH grade III with hydrocephalus initially treated by temporary ventriculosubgaleal shunting. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed persistent hydrocephalus associated to a cyst extending anteriorly from the mesencephalon to the posterior wall of the sixth cervical vertebra, causing severe brainstem and spinal cord compression. A two-step surgery was performed, consisting of an endoscopic procedure and a ventriculo peritoneal shunt placement, to achieve hydrocephalus treatment and cyst fenestration. A right transfontanellar approach with the head flexed was chosen, using a straight 30-degree endoscope. The procedure and surgical technique are explained in a step-by-step fashion in the original conditions.