Numerical investigation of the spatial distribution of Escherichia coli in river deltas for different values of river discharge, temperature and irradiation of the water surface

Escherichia coli and other enteric pathogens presence indicate that the water has been contaminated with fecal matter. River deltas are population hotspots which are becoming increasingly urbanized and where poor sanitation has been frequently identified as a pressing issue. In this study, we have investigated the spatial distribution of E. coli in river deltas under varying river discharge, temperature and irradiation at the water surface. A hydrodynamic and water quality model has been used to reproduce an idealized river delta configuration and to investigate the spatial distribution of E. coli across the delta floodplain and channels. The concentration of E. coli rapidly declines downstream, following a tripartite trend with different decline rates on the delta front, pro-delta and shelf area. The highest differences in the spatial distribution of E. coli bacteria occur for low-river discharge values. Temperature and irradiation both influence the concentration of E. coli and mostly influence downstream areas and smaller channels

Advanced content-based semantic scene analysis and information retrieval: the SCHEMA project

The aim of the SCHEMA Network of Excellence is to bring together a critical mass of universities, research centers, industrial partners and end users, in order to design a reference system for content-based semantic scene analysis, interpretation and understanding. Relevant research areas include: content-based multimedia analysis and automatic annotation of semantic multimedia content, combined textual and multimedia information retrieval, semantic -web, MPEG-7 and MPEG-21 standards, user interfaces and human factors. In this paper, recent advances in content-based analysis, indexing and retrieval of digital media within the SCHEMA Network are presented. These advances will be integrated in the SCHEMA module-based, expandable reference system

Chemical Pleurodesis For Hepatic Hydrothorax.

Ascites can occur after hepatic diseases causing dyspnea, coughing and pain. When associated with pleural effusion it can also increase respiratory distress. In a bibliographic survey hydrothorax has been observed in up to 20% of the patients and the kind of treatment is still being discussed. This case report shows the occurrence of a large volume of ascites and pleural effusion in a cirrhotic patient and his treatment. Report the case of a patient with hepatic cirrhosis due to chronic alcoholism and massive pleural effusion and ascites. He was submitted to several pleural paracenteses without success. Scintigraphy showed the presence of ascites and confirmed a possible pleuroperitoneal communication. The thoracic surgery group was called and after evaluation it was decided to submit the patient to a pulmonary decortication and chemical pleurodesis. These procedures were carried out with success. The pleural effusion was solved and the treatment of ascites was decided upon because the patient did not accept any surgical procedure. This treatment could be applied to patients with hydrothorax who could not be submitted to a liver transplantation.38125-

Feedstocks for Second-Generation Biodiesel: Microalgae’s Biology and Oil Composition

The solar energy is an inexhaustible source, while other energy reserves, like fossil and nuclear fuels, are limited in quantity and are depleted as years go by. Renewable energy is necessary to replace petroleum-derived fuels. The first generation biofuels, which are produced from oil seeds and crops, are a possible alternative, but they are limited in their capacity to provide all the energy demanded in the world. Therefore, new sources for the sustainable production of renewable energy are being looked for. This concern has promoted the keen interest in developing second generation biofuels, which are produced from other feedstocks, such as microalgal oils (Schenk et al., 2008; Mata et al., 2010). Some microalgal species are capable of producing biomass yields containing high percentages of oils (Aaronson et. al., 1980). In addition, microalgal systems can use low value natural resources, such as arid lands and saline water, thus offering the potential for large biomass energy contributions without competing for prime agricultural or forest land. Most microalgae grow photoautotrophically by using solar energy and mainly carbon dioxide as carbon source. Alternatively, some species can grow heterotrophically or mixotrophically using organic compounds as energy and carbon sources.Fil: Leonardi, Patricia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Popovich, Cecilia Angelines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Damiani, Maria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentin

Fatty Acids from Microalgae: Targeting the Accumulation of Triacylglycerides

Microalgae were originally considered as sources of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), mainly for aquaculture purposes. However, based on the fact that their fatty acids (FA), stored as triacylglycerides (TAG), can be converted into biodiesel via a transesterification reaction, several microalgal species have emerged over the last decade as promising feedstocks for biofuel production. Elucidation of microalgae FA and TAG metabolic pathways is therefore becoming a cutting-edge field for developing transgenic algal strains with improved lipid accumulation ability. Furthermore, many of the biomolecules produced by microalgae can also be exploited. In this chapter, we describe recent advances in the field of FA and TAG pathways in microalgae, focusing in particular on the enzymes involved in FA and TAG synthesis, their accumulation in lipid droplets, and their degradation. Mention is made of potentially high-value products that can be obtained from microalgae, and possible molecular targets for enhancing FA and TAG production are outlined. A summary is provided of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics of the above-mentioned pathways in microalgae. Understanding the relation between anabolic and catabolic lipid enzyme pathways will provide new insights into biodiesel production and other valuable biomolecules obtained from microalgae

Perancangan Dan Pembuatan Aplikasi Ecommerce Pada Toko Agung Jaya

Perkembangan teknologi pada saat ini telah berkembang secara pesat. Dimana hampir semua kegiatan dapat dilakukan pada dunia maya, misalnya melakukan transaksi pembayaran, pembelian barang, pemesanan tiket, baik tiket pesawat maupun tiket kereta api, dan lainnya.Di jaman sekarang ini penjualan secara online sudah banyak. Hal ini dikarenakan untuk membuka suatu USAha online lebih mudah dan murah dari pada membuka USAha disuatu tempat yang berbentuk bangunan. Selain itu, dengan cara berjualan online orang akan lebih banyak mengetahui barang apa saja yang dijual, karena semua orang dapat melihat tanpa harus mendatangi tempat itu.Berdasarkan hasil pengujian aplikasi yang telah dibuat, aplikasi dapat menampilkan data barang yang dijual beserta promo yang ditawarkan. Selain itu aplikasi ini mempunyai fitur konfirmasi account untuk mengaktifkan account dan kirim detail order

Sexual Dysfunction in Men Receiving Methadone Maintenance Treatment: Clinical History and Psychobiological Correlates

A variety of studies evidenced a relationship between drug use disorders and sexual dysfunction. In particular, heroin and opioid agonist medications to treat heroin dependence have been found to be associated with erectile dysfunction and reduced libido. Controversial findings also indicate the possibility of factors other than the pharmacological effects of opioid drugs concurring to sexual dysfunction. With the present study, we investigated the link between sexual dysfunction and long-term exposure to opioid receptor stimulation (heroin dependence, methadone maintenance treatment, methadone dosage), the potentially related hormonal changes reflecting hypothalamus-pituitarygonadal axis function and prolactin (PRL) pituitary release, the role of adverse childhood experiences in the clinical history and the concomitant symptoms of comorbid mental health disorders in contributing to sexual problems. Forty male patients participating in a long-term methadone treatment program were included in the present study and compared with 40 healthy control subjects who never used drugs nor abused alcohol. All patients and controls were submitted to the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), Child Experiences of Care and Abuse-Questionnaire (CECA-Q) and the Symptom Check List-90 Scale. A blood sample for testosterone and PRL assays was collected. Methadone dosages were recorded among heroin-dependent patients on maintenance treatment. Methadone patients scored significantly higher than controls on the 5-item rating ASEX scale, on CECA-Q and on Symptoms Check List 90 (SCL 90) scale. Testosterone plasma levels were significantly lower and PRL levels significantly higher in methadone patients with respect to the healthy control group. ASEX scores reflecting sexual dysfunction were directly and significantly correlated with CECA-Q neglect scores and SCL 90 psychiatric symptoms total score. The linear regression model, when applied only to addicted patients, showed that methadone dosages were not significantly correlated with sexual dysfunction scores except for 'erectile dysfunction', for which an inverse association was evidenced. Testosterone values showed a significant inverse correlation with ASEX sexual dysfunction scores, CECA-Q neglect scores and psychiatric symptom at SCL 90 among methadone patients. PRL levels were directly and significantly correlated with sexual dysfunction scores, psychiatric symptoms at SCL 90 and CECA-Q neglect scores. Both testosterone and PRL did not correlate with methadone dosages. The present findings appear to support the view of childhood adversities and comorbid psychiatric symptoms contributing to sexual dysfunction and related hormonal changes among methadone patients, challenging the assumption that attributes sexual problems entirely to the direct pharmacological effects of opioid agonist medications

MR/CT image fusion of the spine after spondylodesis: a feasibility study

The objective of this study is to evaluate feasibility, accuracy and time requirements of MR/CT image fusion of the lumbar spine after spondylodesis. Sagittal MR and CT images derived from standard imaging protocols (sagittal T2-weighted MR/sagittal reformatted multi-planar-reformation of the CT) of the lumbar spine with correct (n=5) and incorrect (n=5) implant position were fused by two readers (R1, R2) using OsiriX in two sessions placing one (session 1) or two (session 2) reference point(s) on the dorsal tip(s) of the cranial and caudal endplates from the second lumbar to the first sacral vertebra. R1 was an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist; R2 a spine surgeon, both had received a short training on the software tool. Fusion times and fusion accuracy, defined as the largest deviation between MR and CT in the median sagittal plane on the ventral tip of the cranial end plate of the most cranial vertebra visible on the CT, were measured in both sessions. Correct or incorrect implant position was evaluated upon the fused images for all patients by an experienced senior staff musculoskeletal radiologist. Mean fusion time (session 1/session 2; in seconds) was 100.4/95 (R1) and 104.2/119.8 (R2). Mean fusion deviation (session 1/session 2; in mm) was 1.24/2.20 (R1) and 0.79/1.62 (R2). The correct/incorrect implant position was identified correctly in all cases. In conclusion, MR/CT image fusion of the spine with metallic implants is feasible, fast, accurate and easy to implement in daily routine wor