Modelling anaerobic digestion during temperature and load variations

Experimental results and simulations based on the Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 (ADM1) with temperature effects on kinetics were used to evaluate rate limiting steps in sludge bed anaerobic digestion (AD) during load and temperature variations. Simulations were carried out in Aquasim. The model is compared to data from a pilot experiment in a 220 liter AD sludge bed reactor treating diary manure for 16 months of various loads; 0–13 kg COD L−1 d−1 and various temperatures; 25°C, 30°C and 35°C. Methane and CO2 production were monitored on-line while soluble and particulate organic carbon, pH and volatile fatty acids were measured on regularly collected inlet and effluent samples. Simulated overall soluble and particulate organic carbon removal, methane and CO2 production, pH and acetate are close to measured values while propionate is underestimated during some transitions. The fit is mainly sensitive to the composition of the feed in terms of relative amounts of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates especially at simultaneously high load and low temperature. During such conditions, the model predicts accumulation of long chained fatty acids (LCFA), suggesting that the degradation of LCFA is the rate-limiting step at low temperatures. This effect is not explained by reduced LCFA solubility at lower temperature. The model predicts that sludge bed AD efficiency on substrates with little or no LCFA is independent of temperature between 25°C and 35°C while LCFA degradation is favoured by higher temperature.The project was supported by the Norwegian Agricultural Agency, Innovation Norway, The Research Council of Norway, Ministry of Education and Research and Telemark University College

Early clinical experience of boron neutron capture therapy for glioblastoma multiforme

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a binary treatment modality that can selectively irradiate tumor tissue. BNCT uses drugs containing a stable isotope of boron. {sup 10}B, to sensitize tumor cells to irradiation by low energy (thermal) neutrons. The interaction of the {sup 10}B with a thermal neutron (neutron capture) causes the {sup 10}B nucleus to split, releasing an alpha particle and a lithium nucleus. These products of the {sup 10}B(n, {alpha}){sup 7}Li reaction are very damaging to cells but have a combined path length in tissue of approximately 14 {mu}m, or roughly the diameter of one or two cells. Thus, most of the ionizing energy imparted to tissue is localized to {sup 10}B-loaded cells

Helping Public Health Professionals Access Infectious Disease Trainings and Resources: The Region IV PHTC Infectious Diseases Training Database

Background: The Region IV Public Health Training Center (R-IV PHTC), located at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, has a mission that includes providing training and educational offerings to strengthen the competency of the current public health workforce in HHS Region IV (which includes GA). Additionally, the R-IV PHTC has been charged with serving as a national resource in the area of infectious disease. To fulfill this charge, the R-IV PHTC conducted an environmental scan to identify and increase access to existing infectious disease trainings and resources currently available to the public health workforce. Methods: From June 2015 – February 2016, the R-IV PHTC systematically reviewed infectious disease-related trainings developed by credible organizations between 2011-2015. We reviewed the websites and learning management systems of 73 different organizations including but not limited to the TrainFinder Real-time Affiliated Integrated Network (TRAIN), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and other PHTCs. Trainings were identified utilizing several search terms including infectious disease, vaccination, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), Ebola, measles, etc. Results: Altogether, the R-IV PHTC identified over 500 training programs and resources in our designated content area of Infectious Disease developed by other public health organizations between 2011-2015. The final trainings are available in an easy-to-use searchable database and can be filtered by sponsor, title, year, provision of continuing education credits, addressed competencies, cost, length, infectious disease category, and modality. The database will be updated at least once yearly to ensure currency. Conclusions: This poster will describe the methodology that the R-IV PHTC used to conduct an environmental scan of infectious diseases trainings. In addition, the poster will explain how to locate and access infectious disease trainings in one database on the R-IV PHTC website using a variety of search filters

Comparative population genomics of latitudinal variation in \u3ci\u3eDrosophila simulans\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eDrosophila melanogaster\u3c/i\u3e

Examples of clinal variation in phenotypes and genotypes across latitudinal transects have served as important models for understanding how spatially varying selection and demographic forces shape variation within species. Here, we examine the selective and demographic contributions to latitudinal variation through the largest comparative genomic study to date of Drosophila simulans and Drosophila melanogaster, with genomic sequence data from 382 individual fruit flies, collected across a spatial transect of 19 degrees latitude and at multiple time points over 2 years. Consistent with phenotypic studies, we find less clinal variation in D. simulans than D. melanogaster, particularly for the autosomes. Moreover, we find that clinally varying loci in D. simulans are less stable over multiple years than comparable clines in D. melanogaster. D. simulans shows a significantly weaker pattern of isolation by distance than D. melanogaster and we find evidence for a stronger contribution of migration to D. simulans population genetic structure. While population bottlenecks and migration can plausibly explain the differences in stability of clinal variation between the two species, we also observe a significant enrichment of shared clinal genes, suggesting that the selective forces associated with climate are acting on the same genes and phenotypes in D. simulans and D. melanogaster. Includes supplementary materials

Comparative population genomics of latitudinal variation in \u3ci\u3eDrosophila simulans\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eDrosophila melanogaster\u3c/i\u3e

Examples of clinal variation in phenotypes and genotypes across latitudinal transects have served as important models for understanding how spatially varying selection and demographic forces shape variation within species. Here, we examine the selective and demographic contributions to latitudinal variation through the largest comparative genomic study to date of Drosophila simulans and Drosophila melanogaster, with genomic sequence data from 382 individual fruit flies, collected across a spatial transect of 19 degrees latitude and at multiple time points over 2 years. Consistent with phenotypic studies, we find less clinal variation in D. simulans than D. melanogaster, particularly for the autosomes. Moreover, we find that clinally varying loci in D. simulans are less stable over multiple years than comparable clines in D. melanogaster. D. simulans shows a significantly weaker pattern of isolation by distance than D. melanogaster and we find evidence for a stronger contribution of migration to D. simulans population genetic structure. While population bottlenecks and migration can plausibly explain the differences in stability of clinal variation between the two species, we also observe a significant enrichment of shared clinal genes, suggesting that the selective forces associated with climate are acting on the same genes and phenotypes in D. simulans and D. melanogaster. Includes supplementary materials

A Phase 1 trial of intravenous boronophenylalanine-fructose complex in patients with glioblastoma multiforme

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of glioblastoma multiforme was initially performed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in the early 1950`s While this treatment for malignant brain tumors has continued in Japan, new worldwide interest has been stimulated by the development of new and more selective boron compounds. Boronophenylalanine (BPA) is a blood-brain barrier penetrating compound that has been used in BNCT of malignant melanomas. SPA has been employed experimentally in BNCT of rat gliosarcoma and has potential use in the treatment of human glioblastoma. As a preface to clinical BNCT trials, we studied the biodistribution of SPA in patients with glioblastoma

Orthodontic tooth movement enhancing bony apposition in alveolar bony defect: a case report

Introduction: Prevalence of complications from orthognathic surgery is relatively low but if it happens it is vital to manage the post complication bony defect appropriately. Case Presentation: This case report describes a 20-year-old gentleman who suffered from a complication from a bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. A bone grafting was carried out to repair the bony defect from the surgery but it was unsuccessful. A non-invasive technique employing the use of very light orthodontic force with a laceback stainless steel ligature is described and a successful space closure with an improvement in the periodontal condition and bone apposition has been shown. Conclusion: This technique can be considered if orthodontic tooth movement is needed across a deficient alveolar ridge. © 2009 Hibino and Wong; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.published_or_final_versio

Drosophila suzukii: the genetic footprint of a recent, world-wide invasion

Native to Asia, the soft-skinned fruit pest Drosophila suzukii has recently invaded the United States and Europe. The eastern United States represents the most recent expansion of their range, and presents an opportunity to test alternative models of colonization history. Here we investigate the genetic population structure of this invasive fruit fly, with a focus on the eastern United States. We sequenced six X-linked gene fragments from 246 individuals collected from a total of 12 populations. We examine patterns of genetic diversity within and between populations and explore alternative colonization scenarios using Approximate Bayesian Computation. Our results indicate high levels of nucleotide diversity in this species and suggest that the recent invasions of Europe and the continental United States are independent demographic events. More broadly speaking, our results highlight the importance of integrating population structure into demographic models, particularly when attempting to reconstruct invasion histories. Finally, our simulation results illustrate the general challenge of reconstructing invasion histories using genetic data and suggest that genome-level data are often required to distinguish among alternative demographic scenarios

RFID Mutual Authentication Protocols based on Gene Mutation and Transfer

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that is very popular due to the simplicity in its technology and high adaptability in a variety of areas. The simplicity in the technology, however, comes with a caveat – RFID tags have severe resource restrictions, which make them vulnerable to a range of security attacks. Such vulnerability often results in the loss of privacy of the tag owner and other attacks on tags. Previous research in RFID security has mainly focused on authenticating entities such as readers / servers, which communicate with the tag. Any security mechanism is only as strong as the encryption keys used. Since RFID communication is wireless, critical messages such as key exchange messages are vulnerable to attacks. Therefore, we present a mutual authentication protocol that relies on independent generation and dynamic updates of encryption keys thereby removing the need for key exchange, which is based on the concept of gene mutation and transfer. We also present an enhanced version of this protocol, which improves the security offered by the first protocol. The novelty of the proposed protocols is in the independent generation, dynamic and continuous updates of encryption keys and the use of the concept of gene mutation / transfer to offer mutual authentication of the communicating entities. The proposed protocols are validated by simulation studies and security analysis

A falls prevention programme to improve quality of life, physical function and falls efficacy in older people receiving home help services: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Falls and fall-related injuries in older adults are associated with great burdens, both for the individuals, the health care system and the society. Previous research has shown evidence for the efficiency of exercise as falls prevention. An understudied group are older adults receiving home help services, and the effect of a falls prevention programme on health-related quality of life is unclear. The primary aim of this randomised controlled trial is to examine the effect of a falls prevention programme on quality of life, physical function and falls efficacy in older adults receiving home help services. A secondary aim is to explore the mediating factors between falls prevention and health-related quality of life. METHODS: The study is a single-blinded randomised controlled trial. Participants are older adults, aged 67 or older, receiving home help services, who are able to walk with or without walking aids, who have experienced at least one fall during the last 12 months and who have a Mini Mental State Examination of 23 or above. The intervention group receives a programme, based on the Otago Exercise Programme, lasting 12 weeks including home visits and motivational telephone calls. The control group receives usual care. The primary outcome is health-related quality of life (SF-36). Secondary outcomes are leg strength, balance, walking speed, walking habits, activities of daily living, nutritional status and falls efficacy. All measurements are performed at baseline, following intervention at 3 months and at 6 months' follow-up. Sample size, based on the primary outcome, is set to 150 participants randomised into the two arms, including an estimated 15-20% drop out. Participants are recruited from six municipalities in Norway. DISCUSSION: This trial will generate new knowledge on the effects of an exercise falls prevention programme among older fallers receiving home help services. This knowledge will be useful for clinicians, for health managers in the primary health care service and for policy makers