Evaluating inhibition conditions in high-solids anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste

High-solids anaerobic digestion (HSAD) processes, when applied to different types of organic fractions of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), may easily be subjected to inhibition due to organic overloading. In this study, a new approach for predicting these phenomena was proposed based on the estimation of the putrescibility (oxygen consumption in 20 h biodegradation, OD20) of the organic mixtures undergoing the HSAD process. Different wastes exhibiting different putrescibility were subjected to lab-scale batch-HSAD. Measuring the organic loading (OL) as volatile solids (VS) was found unsuitable for predicting overload inhibition, because similar VS contents corresponded to both inhibited and successful trials. Instead, the OL calculated as OD20 was a very good indicator of the inhibiting conditions (inhibition started for OD20 > 17\u201318 g O2 kg^(-1)). This new method of predicting inhibition in the HSAD process of diverse OFMSW may be useful for developing a correct approach to the technology in very different contexts

Oesophageal involvement is correlated with interstital lung involvement (ILD) in SSc patients

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc), also known as scleroderma, is a systemic disease on unknown etiology. The severity and type of organ involvement may vary widely, but oesophageal function is altered in the vast majority of SSc patients

Oesophageal involvement is correlated with interstital lung involvement (ILD) in SSc patients

Evaluation of the relationship between esophageal involvement and interstital lung involvement in scleroderma patient

Micro-invasive method for studying lead isotopes in paintings*

A micro-invasive technique is presented that enables pigment sampling from individual layers of a painting cross-section by obtaining a furrow 10–50 μm wide of chosen length. Combined with increased sensitivity of lead (Pb) isotope analysis using multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) equipped with a 1013 Ω resistor or a Pb double-spike technique, the amount of Pb needed for isotopic analysis is drastically reduced, while maintaining a relative 2 SD precision for 206Pb/204Pb of < 0.02%. The methodology proved able to characterize Pb isotope differences within paint layers

Total Duodenectomy with Enteric Duct Drainage: A Rescue Operation for Duodenal Complications Occurring after Pancreas Transplantation

Duodenal graft complications (DGC) occur frequently after pancreas transplantation but rarely cause graft loss. Graft pancreatectomy, however, may be required when DGC compromise recipient's safety. We herein report on two patients with otherwise untreatable DGC in whom the entire pancreas was salvaged by means of total duodenectomy with enteric drainage of both pancreatic ducts. The first patient developed recurrent episodes of enteric bleeding, requiring hospitalization and blood transfusions, starting 21 months after transplantation. The disease causing hemorrhage could not be defined, despite extensive investigations, but the donor duodenum was eventually identified as the site of bleeding. The second patient was referred to us with a duodenal stump leak, 5 months after transplantation. Two previous surgeries had failed to seal the leak, despite opening a diverting stoma above the duodenal graft. Thirty‐nine and 16 months after total duodenectomy with dual duct drainage, respectively, both patients are insulin‐independent and free from abdominal complaints. Magnetic resonance pancreatography shows normal ducts both basal and after intravenous injection of secretin. The two cases presented herein show that when DGC jeopardize pancreas function or recipient safety, total duodenectomy with enteric duct drainage may become an option

Optimizing bioremediation of hydrocarbon polluted soil by life cycle assessment (LCA) approach

In the former Carbochimica site of Fidenza, a bioremediation approach was developed using the technique of biodegradation of pollutants thanks to a selected autochthonous bacterial-fungal consortium. The soil was heavily polluted up to values of total hydrocarbon equal to 1800 mg/kg. The consortium was selected from the microorganism living in the Fidenza soil, bioaugmented and finally reinoculated in the bio-pile for soil treatment. The approach is absolutely innovative, due to the presence not only of bacterial strains but also for the use of fungal strains operating in synergy with the bacteria. The first data from the trials show an effective soil remediation performance. The LCA analysis allowed to make a global assessment of the environmental impacts of the bio-pile remediation treatment scenario compared to the no-action scenario. Impacts were assessed on 18 impact categories at the midpoint level according to the ReCiPe method. For the bio-augmented bio-pile remediation, the results showed a value in the climate change category of 10 kg CO2 for each ton of remediated soil, and at the same time improvement in the categories relating to the toxicity at the local level