OPTIMIZATION OF SOLID-LIQUID EXTRACTION OF ETHANOL OBTAINED BY SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION OF SURGARCANE BAGASSE

ABSTRACT -Solid-state fermentation has arrived as an alternative to reduce the amount of waste water in ethanol fermentation. However, the recovery of ethanol from solid medium should be investigated, since depending of experimental condition used in the extraction, significant difference in the results can be obtained. In this work was investigated the influence of temperature (30-50°C), solid to liquid ratio (0.1-0.4 wt%) and orbital agitation (50-180 rpm) in the recovery of ethanol from sugarcane bagasse at different fermentation conditions of moisture content (50-80%) and ethanol amount (5-20 wt%). The highest recovering efficiency was 99,8% at 30°C, initial ethanol amount of 10 wt%, orbital agitation of 100 rpm and moisture content of 60%. The main contribution of this work was to demonstrate that the amount of water used in the extraction is lesser than that used in traditional liquid fermentation, making possible to obtain a more concentrated broth, saving with water treatment and energy

The PRIAMO study: age- and sex-related relationship between prodromal constipation and disease phenotype in early Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the impact of sex and age on relationship between prodromal constipation and disease phenotype in Parkinson's disease at early stages. METHODS: A total of 385 Parkinson's disease patients from the PRIAMO study were classified according to the presence of prodromal constipation and followed for 24 months. Multivariable mixed-effect models were applied. All analyses were performed separately for sex (64.1% men) and median age (different by sex: 67 years-old in men and 68 years-old in women). RESULTS: As for sex, prodromal constipation was associated with greater odds of attention/memory complaints and apathy symptoms in women only. As for age, prodromal constipation was associated with lower cognitive and higher apathy scores in older patients only. CONCLUSIONS: Prodromal constipation anticipates lower cognitive performances and more severe apathy since the earliest stages in women and older patients. Sex- and age-related heterogeneity of prodromal markers of Parkinson's disease may impact disease phenotype

Cell behaviour on chemically microstructured surfaces

Micropatterned surfaces with different chemical topographies were synthesised in order to investigate the influence of surface chemistry and topography on cell behaviour. The microstructured materials were synthesised by photoimmobilising natural Hyaluronan (Hyal) and its sulphated derivative (HyalS), both adequately functionalised with a photorective moiety, on glass substrates. Four different grating patterns (10, 25, 50 and 100 Am) were used to pattern the hyaluronan. The micropatterned samples were analysed by Secondary Ions Mass Spectrometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy to investigate the chemistry and the topography of the surfaces. The spectroscopic and microscopic analysis of the microstructured surfaces revealed that the photoimmobilisation process was successful, demonstrating that the photomask patterns were well reproduced on the sample surface. The influence of chemical topographies on the cell behaviour was then analysed. Human and 3T3 fibroblasts, bovine aortic and human (HGTFN line) endothelial cells were used and their behaviour on the micropatterned surfaces was analysed in terms of adhesion, proliferation, locomotion and orientation. Both chemical and topographical controls were found to be important for cell guidance. By decreasing the stripe dimensions, a more fusiform shape of cell was observed. At the same time, the cell locomotion and orientation parallel to the structure increased. However, differences in cell behaviour were detected according to both cell type and micropattern dimensions

Posterior fossa neurenteric cysts can expand rapidly: case report.

Neurenteric cysts are considered congenital lesions that may slowly expand over time. Although more commonly found in the spinal canal, they may be found intracranially, particularly in the posterior fossa. Here, we present an unusual case of a large, rapidly expanding histologically confirmed posterior fossa neurenteric cyst in a 53-year-old woman, who presented with quadriparesis. Computed tomography imaging done ~1.5 years before admission failed to demonstrate any obvious abnormality; however, the lesion had grown to 4 cm in maximal dimension at presentation with significant mass effect. The lesion was resected microsurgically using a retrosigmoid approach. The patient improved postoperatively and was neurologically intact at last follow-up. We could find no other documented case of marked, rapid expansion of a neurenteric cyst in the literature. We conclude that, although neurenteric cysts are thought to be congenital, they can undergo rapid expansion even in adults. The mechanism of expansion is unknown but may involve increased secretion, hemorrhage, or inflammation. We discuss the surgical management and review the literature in view of this surprising finding