44 research outputs found
Biogenic nano-magnetite and nano-zero valent iron treatment of alkaline Cr(VI) leachate and chromite ore processing residue
Highly reactive nano-scale biogenic magnetite (BnM), synthesized by the Fe(III)-reducing bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens, was tested for the potential to remediate alkaline Cr(VI) contaminated waters associated with chromite ore processing residue (COPR). The performance of this biomaterial, targeting aqueous Cr(VI) removal, was compared to a synthetic alternative, nano-scale zero valent iron (nZVI). Samples of highly contaminated alkaline groundwater and COPR solid waste were obtained from a contaminated site in Glasgow, UK. During batch reactivity tests, Cr(VI) removal from groundwater was inhibited by ~25% (BnM) and ~50% (nZVI) when compared to the treatment of less chemically complex model pH 12 Cr(VI) solutions. In both the model Cr(VI) solutions and contaminated groundwater experiments the surface of the nanoparticles became passivated, preventing complete coupling of their available electrons to Cr(VI) reduction. To investigate this process, the surfaces of the reacted samples were analyzed by TEM-EDX, XAS and XPS, confirming Cr(VI) reduction to the less soluble Cr(III) on the nanoparticle surface. In groundwater reacted samples the presence of Ca, Si and S was also noted on the surface of the nanoparticles, and is likely responsible for earlier onset of passivation. Treatment of the solid COPR material in contact with water, by addition of increasing weight % of the nanoparticles, resulted in a decrease in aqueous Cr(VI) concentrations to below detection limits, via the addition of ā„5% w/w BnM or ā„1% w/w nZVI. XANES analysis of the Cr K edge, showed that the % Cr(VI) in the COPR dropped from 26% to a minimum of 4-7% by the addition of 5% w/w BnM or 2% w/w nZVI, with higher additions unable to reduce the remaining Cr(VI). The treated materials exhibited minimal re-mobilization of soluble Cr(VI) by re-equilibration with atmospheric oxygen, with the bulk of the Cr remaining in the solid fraction. Both nanoparticles exhibited a considerable capacity for the remediation of COPR related Cr(VI) contamination, with the synthetic nZVI demonstrating greater reactivity than the BnM. However, the biosynthesized BnM was also capable of significant Cr(VI) reduction and demonstrated a greater efficiency for the coupling of its electrons towards Cr(VI) reduction than the nZVI
An observational study of once-daily modified-release methylphenidate in ADHD: effectiveness on symptoms and impairment, and safety
ADHD affects over 5% of children worldwide. It is typically treated with stimulant medications, and methylphenidate (MPH) is the most commonly prescribed. This study investigated the effectiveness, on symptoms and impairment, and safety of Equasym XLĀ®, a combination of 30% immediate-release and 70% modified-release MPH, in the treatment of ADHD in daily clinical practice. This open-label, observational, post-marketing surveillance study was conducted in 169 centres in Germany. Eligible patients, aged 6ā17Ā years, were diagnosed with ADHD and about to begin treatment with Equasym XLĀ®. Effectiveness was assessed by physicians using the clinical global impression (CGI) severity and improvement scales; teachers and parents completed questionnaires evaluating ADHD symptoms and behavioural problems (DAYAS, FBB-ADHD and SDQ-P). Assessments were carried out at baseline, after 1ā3 and 6ā12Ā weeks of treatment. Of 852 enrolled patients, 822 were evaluable; 25.30% were treatment naĆÆve, 69.84% had previously received different MPH formulations, and 4.87% had received other medications. ADHD symptoms improved from baseline to last visit for the majority of patients for all outcome measures. According to physician ratings of core ADHD symptoms, 75.73% of patients showed improvements on the CGI-Improvement scale, 17.77% had no change, and 6.50% worsened. In teacher and parent ratings, the effectiveness of Equasym XLĀ® was rated better than prior therapy at all measured time points across the day, particularly late morning (teachers) and early afternoon (parents). Equasym XLĀ® was generally well tolerated; only 3.16% of patients permanently discontinued treatment due to adverse events. Equasym XLĀ® is effective and well tolerated in daily clinical practice
Intelligent Document Processing - Methods and Tools in the real world
The originality of this publication is to look at the subject of IDP (Intelligent Document Processing) from the perspective of an end-user and industrialist and not that of a Computer Science researcher. This domain is one part of the challenge of information digitalisation that constitutes the Industrial Revolution of the twenty first century (Industry 4.0) and this paper looks specifically at the difficult areas of classifying, extracting information and subsequent integration into business processes with respect to forms and invoices. Since the focus is on practical implementation a brief review is carried out of the market in commercial tools for OCR, document classification and data extraction in so far as this is publicly available together with pricing (if known). Brief definitions of the main terms encountered in Computer Science publications and commercial prospectuses are provided in order to de-mystify the language for the layman. A small number of practical tests are carried out on a few real documents in order to illustrate the capabilities of tools that are commonly available at a reasonable price. The unsolved (so far) issue of tables contained in invoices is raised. The case of a typical large industrial company is evoked where the requirement is to extract 100 per cent of the information with 100 per cent reliability in order to integrate into the back-end Enterprise Resource Planning system. Finally a brief description is given of the state-of-the-art research by the huge corporations who are pushing the boundaries of deep learning techniques further and further with massive computing and financial power - progress that will undoubtedly trickle down into the real world at some later date. The paper finishes by asking the question whether the objectives and timing of the commercial world and the progress of Computer Science are fully aligned
trans-4-Amino-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid (2-MeTACA) and (Ā±)-trans-2-aminomethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid ((Ā±)-TAMP) can differentiate rat Ļ3 from human Ļ1 and Ļ2 recombinant GABA(C) receptors
1. This study investigated the effects of a number of GABA analogues on rat Ļ3 GABA(C) receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes using 2-electrode voltage clamp methods. 2. The potency order of agonists was muscimol (EC(50)=1.9Ā±0.1āĪ¼M) (+)-trans-3-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acids ((+)-TACP; EC(50)=2.7Ā±0.9āĪ¼M) trans-4-aminocrotonic acid (TACA; EC(50)=3.8Ā±0.3āĪ¼M) GABA (EC(50)=4.0Ā±0.3āĪ¼M) > thiomuscimol (EC(50)=24.8Ā±2.6āĪ¼M) > (Ā±)-cis-2-aminomethylcyclopropane-carboxylic acid ((Ā±)-CAMP; EC(50)=52.6Ā±8.7āĪ¼M) > cis-4-aminocrotonic acid (CACA; EC(50)=139.4Ā±5.2āĪ¼M). 3. The potency order of antagonists was (Ā±)-trans-2-aminomethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid ((Ā±)-TAMP; K(B)=4.8Ā±1.8āĪ¼M) (1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid (TPMPA; K(B)=4.8Ā±0.8āĪ¼M) > (piperidin-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid (P4MPA; K(B)=10.2Ā±2.3āĪ¼M) 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol (THIP; K(B)=10.2Ā±0.3 āĪ¼M) imidazole-4-acetic acid (I4AA; K(B)=12.6Ā±2.7āĪ¼M) > 3-aminopropylphosphonic acid (3-APA; K(B)=35.8Ā±13.5āĪ¼M). 4. trans-4-Amino-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid (2-MeTACA; 300āĪ¼M) had no effect as an agonist or an antagonist indicating that the C2 methyl substituent is sterically interacting with the ligand-binding site of rat Ļ3 GABA(C) receptors. 5. 2-MeTACA affects Ļ1 and Ļ2 but not Ļ3 GABA(C) receptors. In contrast, (Ā±)-TAMP is a partial agonist at Ļ1 and Ļ2 GABA(C) receptors, while at rat Ļ3 GABA(C) receptors it is an antagonist. Thus, 2-MeTACA and (Ā±)-TAMP could be important pharmacological tools because they may functionally differentiate between Ļ1, Ļ2 and Ļ3 GABA(C) receptors in vitro
Placental Copper Transport in Rats: Effects of Elevated Dietary Zinc on Fetal Copper, Iron and Metallothionein
A deep learning approach to identify gene targets of a therapeutic for human splicing disorders
Drugs that modify RNA splicing are promising treatments for many genetic diseases. Here the authors show that deep learning strategies can predict drug targets, strongly supporting the use of in silico approaches to expand the therapeutic potential of drugs that modulate RNA splicing
A mutation in CFTR produces different phenotypes depending on chromosomal background
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene but the association between mutation (genotype) and disease presentation (phenotype) is not straightforward. We have been investigating whether variants in the CFTR gene that alter splicing efficiency of exon 9 can affect the phenotype produced by a mutation. A missense mutation, R117H, which has been observed in three phenotypes, was found to occur on two chromosome backgrounds with intron 8 variants that have profoundly different effects upon splicing efficiency. A close association is shown between chromosome background of the R117H mutation and phenotype. These findings demonstrate that the genetic context in which a mutation occurs can play a significant role in determining the type of illness produced.link_to_subscribed_fulltex