Chronic gastric volvulus

A 65-year-old male patient presented to the emergency room with dyspnoea

Petit's lumbar triangle hernia: CT findings

A 45 years old male patient complaining of a lump in the left flank, associated with a dull, heavy, pulling feeling, underwent an abdominal CT

Gastric carcinoma: CT and US findings

A 59 years old patient presented to the emergency room with a two month history of a vague postprandial abdominal heaviness. In the past week vomiting and abdominal pain appeared suddenly. Anorexia developed and there was an average weight loss of about 5 Kg

Fed-batch versus batch cultures of Yarrowia lipolytica for γ-decalactone production from methyl ricinoleate

Constant medium feeding rate and intermittent fed-batch fermentation strategies were investigated aiming to increase the yields of γ-decalactone production by Yarrowia lipolytica, using methyl ricinoleate as substrate and ricinoleic acid source. The accumulation of another compound, 3-hydroxy-γ-decalactone, was also analyzed since it derives from the direct precursor of γ-decalactone thereby providing information about the enzymatic activities of the pathway. Both strategies were compared with the traditional batch mode in terms of overall productivity and yield in respect to the substrate. Although the productivity of γ-decalactone was considerably higher in the batch mode (168 mg l−1 h−1), substrate conversion to lactone (73 mg γ-decalactone g−1) was greater in the intermittent fed-batch giving 6.8 g γ-decalactone l−1. This last strategy therefore has potential for γ-decalactone production at an industrial level.The authors acknowledge Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) for the financial support provided (SFRH/BD/28039/2006)

Empirical modelling as an experimental approach to optimize lactone production

The biotransformation of ricinoleic acid, carried out by Yarrowia lipolytica, leads to the formation of gama-decalactone, a well-known peach-like aroma compound, interesting to produce and to use in the flavouring industry, reason why it is imperative to define the most appropriate conditions for its production. Thus, the aim of this work is the optimization of operating conditions for this lactone. However, as the accumulation of another compound, namely 3-hydroxy-g-decalactone (the precursor of two other aromatic compounds, dec-2-enolide and dec-3-enolide), may also occur simultaneously in the biotransformation medium, and since this compound may as well be of interest for the flavouring industry, the operating conditions for its production were also a focus of attention. Therefore, a 3^2 level full-factorial design was used to determine the effect of pH and dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) on the production of gama-decalactone and 3-hydroxy-gama-decalactone. Since both factors were found to influence the two lactones production, a response surface methodology (RSM) analysis was also applied to identify the optimal conditions for the production of those two compounds. The statistical model pointed out pH = 6.17 and DO = 44.4% as the best conditions optimizing gama-decalactone production. Using these optimalconditions, the maximal gama-decalactone concentration achieved was 680.9 mg/L, which was quite similar to the predicted value of 718.7 mg gama-decalactone per liter. Among the range of operating conditions tested, no optimization was possible for 3-hydroxy-gama-decalactone production, since all possible solutions corresponded to operating conditions not analyzed.The authors aknowledge Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) for the financial support provided (SFRH/BD/28039/2006) and Hector Ruiz for the help provided with MATLAB

Oxygen effect in γ-decalactone production through biotransformation of ricinoleic acid

γ-Decalactone can be produced biotechnologically from the degradation of ricinoleic acid by yeasts, namely Yarrowia lipolytica. Preliminary studies using two different ricinoleic acid sources (methyl ricinoleate and castor oil) at different concentrations were tested as substrates, in flask experiments. Although high amounts of γ-decalactone (up to 2 g L-1) were achieved with oil concentrations of 3% and 5% (v/v) for each substrate, the productivity of the process was small (10 to 14.5 mg L-1 h-1). In order to increase these values, essays were conducted in a 2-L bioreactor, with 3% (v/v) methyl ricinoleate at different aeration and agitation rates, in the herein presented work. Under these conditions, the highest amount of γ-decalactone achieved was lower (approximately 1 g L-1). However, the productivity of the process was much higher: 87 mg L-1 h-1. Furthermore, another compound derived from the direct precursor of γ-decalactone, 3-hydroxy-γ-decalactone, was detected in large amounts (up to 8 g L-1), which implies a change in the metabolic pathway control

A bounded model checker for SPARK programs

This paper discusses the design and implementation of a bounded model checker for SPARK code, and provides a proof of concept of the utility and practicality of bounded verification for SPARK.This work is funded by ERDF - European Regional Development Fund through the COMPETE Programme (operational programme for competitiveness) and by National Funds through the FCT - Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) within project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-020486

Prognostic factors for radiographic progression of osteoarthritis of the knee: An updated systematic review of observational studies

Prevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD