Electrochemical Disinfection of Municipal Wastewater using Alternating Current

This research focused on chlorine-free disinfection of wastewater by complying with today\u27s regulations. The equipment used was a continuous flow electrochemical reactor connected to an alternating current (AC) power supply. The electrodes used were made out of titanium coated with iridium oxide. To determine the inactivation of Escherichia Coli, a bacterial count method based on the USEPA method 1603 was used. After several experiments it was determined that electrochemical disinfection using AC was not efficient and economic enough to be classified as a viable alternative to chlorine disinfection. It was demonstrated that chlorine can be produced by electrolysis using AC and that no hydrogen could be noticed as a byproduct of the electrolysis of wastewater. When the results from this investigation were compared to the ones obtained using DC in Acosta (2014), it was determined that the belief that AC and DC are equally efficient at disinfecting wastewater is wrong

Electrochemical Disinfection of Municipal Wastewater using Alternating Current

This research focused on chlorine-free disinfection of wastewater by complying with today\u27s regulations. The equipment used was a continuous flow electrochemical reactor connected to an alternating current (AC) power supply. The electrodes used were made out of titanium coated with iridium oxide. To determine the inactivation of Escherichia Coli, a bacterial count method based on the USEPA method 1603 was used. After several experiments it was determined that electrochemical disinfection using AC was not efficient and economic enough to be classified as a viable alternative to chlorine disinfection. It was demonstrated that chlorine can be produced by electrolysis using AC and that no hydrogen could be noticed as a byproduct of the electrolysis of wastewater. When the results from this investigation were compared to the ones obtained using DC in Acosta (2014), it was determined that the belief that AC and DC are equally efficient at disinfecting wastewater is wrong

A Parametric Study of Wave Interaction With a Rotor Having Hydrofoil Blades

Our recent progress on studying wave interaction with a lift-type rotor is discussed in this paper. The particular focus is on characterization of the rotor’s unidirectional responsiveness in waves. The rotor consists of six hydrofoil blades in two sets. One blade set has three blades laid out as a vertical-axis wind turbine of the Darrieus type. The other blade set has three blades configured like a Wells turbine. In combination, the formed rotor can be driven by flows in any direction to perform unidirectional rotation about its vertically mounted shaft. This unidirectional responsiveness of the rotor also holds in waves, making the rotor a valuable device for wave energy conversion. For parametric study of the rotor, hydrofoil blades using different cross sectional profiles and chord lengths have been employed to configure the rotor. The rotor was then tested in a wave flume under various wave conditions in a freewheeling mode. Experimental results were analyzed and discussed. The yielded research findings will greatly enhance the fundamental understanding on the rotor performance in waves, and effectively guide the prototype rotor development for practical applications

Pelvic floor dysfunction in Mexican women

Background: Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a term used to describe a variety of disorders that involve moderate to severe impairment of the pelvic floor muscles. Throughout their lives, up to 46% of women will present at least one form of PFD and may even have a combination of this pathology. These afflictions have a profound influence on women’s general well-being and quality of life, as well as being an immense economic burden for global health systems. Methods: This was a populational study which used surveys made in Google Forms of different questionnaires validated in Spanish [Urinary Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ), Female Sexual Function Index (IFSF), CPPQ Questionnaire for chronic pelvic pain, Wexner anal incontinence scale and quality of life] which were taken by women with access to social networks and who agreed to carry out an anonymous survey. Results: Seven hundred and twenty-one participants were evaluated, a total of 61.4% (443) responded positively to involuntary loss of urine, 35% had presented discomfort during sexual activity or lack of sexual interest, 14% had genital pain and 16% reported involuntary loss of feces or gas. Of all the patients that answered any of these questioners positively, only 33% had sought medical attention in the past. Conclusions: We concluded that in our population PFD is underdiagnosed. Our populations prevalence of urinary incontinence and pelvic pain is within the internationally described margins; anal incontinence is above international reports, and our population presented a lower prevalence of sexual dysfunction. With this new information we must impulse awareness to guide various preventive behaviors

Puerta Interactiva para el acceso a una sala de clases

La tecnología moderna ha permitido actualmente que la sociedad como parte de una solución para sus actividades diarias, utilice equipos, aplicaciones y muchos otros dispositivos electrónicos que conjuntamente con la tecnología móvil permitan mejorar procesos y tareas, convirtiéndose en una herramienta de trabajo para la interacción hombre-máquina. En el presente trabajo se detalla el diseño y construcción de un prototipo de puerta interactiva controlada mediante módulo Arduino Uno y una aplicación de Android basada en el lenguaje de programación Eclipse permitiéndole a los docentes utilizarla como instrumento de trabajo durante sus horas laborables. Este tipo de puerta permitirá automatizar el ingreso al aula de clases, disminuyendo los inconvenientes que pueden presentarse ya sea por dejarla abierta o por no estar disponible la persona encargada de su apertura

Sneddon syndrome a case report and literature review

Sneddon’s syndrome (SS) is characterized by livedo racemosa (LR) or reticularis and recurrent ischemic strokes. At the skin and brain level a non-inflammatory thrombotic vasculopathy is observed. Almost 80% of cases are women around 40 years old. The most accepted etiological proposal is an autoimmune and inflammatory mechanism versus the presence of thrombophilia. Neurological manifestations occur in 3 phases: prodromal symptoms (headache, dizziness, and vertigo), recurrent strokes, and early-onset dementia. Livedo racemosa has been reported to precede strokes by more than 10 years. Treatment is mainly based on secondary prophylaxis preventing a stroke with antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents. The neuropsychiatric prognosis is relatively poor with deficits in concentration, attention, visual perception, and visuospatial skills

Study of the reaction e^{+}e^{-} -->J/psi\pi^{+}\pi^{-} via initial-state radiation at BaBar

We study the process $e^+e^-\to J/\psi\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ with initial-state-radiation events produced at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy collider. The data were recorded with the BaBar detector at center-of-mass energies 10.58 and 10.54 GeV, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 454 $\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$. We investigate the $J/\psi \pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ mass distribution in the region from 3.5 to 5.5 $\mathrm{GeV/c^{2}}$. Below 3.7 $\mathrm{GeV/c^{2}}$ the $\psi(2S)$ signal dominates, and above 4 $\mathrm{GeV/c^{2}}$ there is a significant peak due to the Y(4260). A fit to the data in the range 3.74 -- 5.50 $\mathrm{GeV/c^{2}}$ yields a mass value $4244 \pm 5$ (stat) $\pm 4$ (syst)$\mathrm{MeV/c^{2}}$ and a width value $114 ^{+16}_{-15}$ (stat)$\pm 7$(syst)$\mathrm{MeV}$ for this state. We do not confirm the report from the Belle collaboration of a broad structure at 4.01 $\mathrm{GeV/c^{2}}$. In addition, we investigate the $\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ system which results from Y(4260) decay

Antimicrobial activity of ProRoot MTA in contact with blood

Dental materials based on Portland cement, which is used in the construction industry have gained popularity for clinical use due to their hydraulic properties, the interaction with tooth tissue and their antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial properties are optimal in vitro. However in clinical use contact with blood may affect the antimicrobial properties. This study aims to assess whether antimicrobial properties of the Portland cement-based dental cements such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) are also affected by contact with blood present in clinical situations. ProRoot MTA, a Portland cement-based dental cement was characterized following contact with water, or heparinized blood after 1 day and 7 days aging. The antimicrobial activity under the mentioned conditions was assessed using 3 antimicrobial tests: agar diffusion test, direct contact test and intratubular infection test. MTA in contact with blood was severely discoloured, exhibited an additional phosphorus peak in elemental analysis, no calcium hydroxide peaks and no areas of bacterial inhibition growth in the agar diffusion test were demonstrated. ProRoot MTA showed limited antimicrobial activity, in both the direct contact test and intratubular infection test. When aged in water ProRoot MTA showed higher antimicrobial activity than when aged in blood. Antimicrobial activity reduced significantly after 7 days. Further assessment is required to investigate behaviour in clinical situations.ERDF (Malta) for the financing of the testing equipment through the project: “Developing an Interdisciplinary Material Testing and Rapid Prototyping R&D Facility” (Ref. no. 012)

DNA Methylation-Independent Reversion of Gemcitabine Resistance by Hydralazine in Cervical Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND: Down regulation of genes coding for nucleoside transporters and drug metabolism responsible for uptake and metabolic activation of the nucleoside gemcitabine is related with acquired tumor resistance against this agent. Hydralazine has been shown to reverse doxorubicin resistance in a model of breast cancer. Here we wanted to investigate whether epigenetic mechanisms are responsible for acquiring resistance to gemcitabine and if hydralazine could restore gemcitabine sensitivity in cervical cancer cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The cervical cancer cell line CaLo cell line was cultured in the presence of increasing concentrations of gemcitabine. Down-regulation of hENT1 & dCK genes was observed in the resistant cells (CaLoGR) which was not associated with promoter methylation. Treatment with hydralazine reversed gemcitabine resistance and led to hENT1 and dCK gene reactivation in a DNA promoter methylation-independent manner. No changes in HDAC total activity nor in H3 and H4 acetylation at these promoters were observed. ChIP analysis showed H3K9m2 at hENT1 and dCK gene promoters which correlated with hyper-expression of G9A histone methyltransferase at RNA and protein level in the resistant cells. Hydralazine inhibited G9A methyltransferase activity in vitro and depletion of the G9A gene by iRNA restored gemcitabine sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrate that acquired gemcitabine resistance is associated with DNA promoter methylation-independent hENT1 and dCK gene down-regulation and hyper-expression of G9A methyltransferase. Hydralazine reverts gemcitabine resistance in cervical cancer cells via inhibition of G9A histone methyltransferase

Identification of retinoic acid-regulated nuclear matrix-associated protein as a novel regulator of gastric cancer

Background: Retinoic acid-regulated nuclear matrix-associated protein (RAMP) is a WD40 repeat-containing protein that is involved in various biological functions, but little is known about its role in human cancer. This study aims to delineate the oncogenic role of RAMP in gastric carcinogenesis