Multi-point monitoring of nitrous oxide emissions and aeration efficiency in a full-scale conventional activated sludge tank

In this work the biological tank of a WRRF in Italy was monitored placing five floating hoods on a plug-flow-like biological aerated tank surface in order to capture emission dynamics in both time and space domains. The five hoods report which location is more responsible for N2O production at a certain moment of the day. Moreover, with this experimental investigation, a spatial shift in N2O production towards the end of the biological tank could be detected. This provides important insights in the changes in biological dynamics especially with varying incoming load

Trunk abnormalities in adolescence : a school health care based epidemiological cohort study

The rationale for the studies presented in this thesis was the whish to answer the question whether an extra scoliosis screening should be added to the two periodical medical examinations during adolescence. It was decided to use data collected in a prospective follow-up study conducted since 1984 to answer the following subquestions: 1. What is the prevalence of trunk abnormalities, including scoliosis and Scheuermann's disease? 2. What is the incidence of trunk abnormalities? 3. What ace the determinants of trunk abnormalities? 4. Are the current frequency of periodical medical examinations during adolescence, and the applied method of examining posture and back, adequate for early detection of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? 5. Is it feasible to have scoliosis screening performed by school nurses? 6. What happens in the period between referral for scoliosis by the school physician and the onset of observation or treatment by the orthopedic surgeon

Modelling nitrous and nitric oxide emissions by autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria

The emission of greenhouse gases, such as N2O, from wastewater treatment plants is a matter of growing concern. Denitrification by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) has been identified as the main N2O producing pathway. To estimate N2O emissions during biological nitrogen removal, reliable mathematical models are essential. In this work, a mathematical model for NO (a precursor for N2O formation) and N2O formation by AOB is presented. Based on mechanistic grounds, two possible reaction mechanisms for NO and N2O formation are distinguished, which differ in the origin of the reducing equivalents needed for denitrification by AOB. These two scenarios have been compared in a simulation study, assessing the influence of the aeration/stripping rate and the resulting dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on the NO and N2O emission from a SHARON partial nitritation reactor. The study of the simulated model behavior and its comparison with previously published experimental data serves in elucidating the true NO and N2O formation mechanism

Rat bite fever in a total knee arthroplasty:an unusual case of periprosthetic joint infection

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious complication of orthopedic arthroplasty surgery. Rat bite fever is a rare infection with Streptobacillus moniliformis (S. moniliformis). Rat bite fever can lead to serious complications such as pyogenic infection of joints, bacteremia, endocarditis and even death. We hereby present the first case of a patient with a total knee arthroplasty, infected with S. moniliformis, successfully treated by surgical debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR). CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 64-year-old female. S. moniliformis was isolated from blood cultures and an aspirate of the left knee by 16S rRNA gene polymerase chain reaction technique. It was assumed that the S. moniliformis had a systemic origin and secondarily infected the knee due to fever nine days before the onset of symptoms of the knee. The patient was successfully managed with DAIR and intravenous administration of ceftriaxone for six weeks and oral doxycycline for another six weeks. CONCLUSIONS: S. moniliformis is a rare pathogen and is difficult to culture. The 16S rRNA sequencing is helpful in the determination of a causative microorganism in the case of a culture-negative PJI. A DAIR procedure in combination with 12 weeks of antibiotics could successfully treat S. moniliformis prosthetic joint infection

Two year cumulative incidence of trunk abnormalities in a schoolpopulation in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

We conducted a study of the 2 year cumulative incidence of trunk abnormalities in a cohort of 3,071 11 year old children (1,621 boys, 1,450 girls). The following data were recorded: height, weight, signs of puberty and menarche. Trunk abnormality was assessed in the erect child (asymmetry of shoulders and waistline, imbalance of the trunk, scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis, swayback and flexibility) and by the forward bending test (FBT) (rib hump or lumbar prominence, persisting scoliosis, kyphosis and deviant lateral aspect). A normal FBT both at baseline and at follow-up was found in 84% of the boys and in 79% of the girls. The 2 year cumulative incidence of an abnormal FBT was 10% in boys and 13% in girls

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Membrane Bioreactors

Nowadays, it is widely accepted that wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are significant sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, contributing to the anthropogenic sources. Among the GHG emitted from WWTPs, nitrous oxide (N2O) has been identified of having the major interest/concern, since its high global warming potential (GWP), is 298 times higher than that of CO2 and also to its capability to react with stratospheric ozone causing the layer depletion. Up to now, most of the experimental investigations have been carried out on conventional activated sludge (CAS) processes. The knowledge of N2O emission from advanced technologies such membrane bioreactors (MBRs) is still very limited. The present paper is aimed at providing a picture of the GHG emissions from MBR systems. In particular, data of N2O acquired from pilot plant systems monitoring are here presented. The key aim of the study was to highlight the effect of wastewater features and operational conditions on N2O production/emission from MBRs

A case of Q fever after liver transplantation

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is a zoonosis that causes both acute and chronic disease in humans. Few cases have been reported in solid organ transplant recipients, and this case highlights the need to include Q fever in the differential diagnosis for fever of unknown origin in solid organ transplant hosts.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138856/1/tid12737_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138856/2/tid12737.pd