Comparative Determination of Cofermentation Using Residual Waters for Biogas Production at Small Scale

The present paper underlines the necessity of valorification for residual waters in the context of using them as source for biogas production inside anaerobic fermentation processes. Relative to this aspect, there will be presented a comparative approach for two types of residual waters from Timisoara city (residual water from the treatment plant and from beer factory), both in combination with residual dehydrated sludge and cow whey. Conclusions will be traced relative to the used materials in terms of general properties (physical and chemical), anaerobic fermentation process and quantity and quality for the produced biogas

El modelo de flujo de la Loma de Úbeda (España) : Una herramienta de gestión sostenible y de investigación

El Sistema Acuífero Profundo de Úbeda (España) se explota para el riego del olivar de la Loma de Úbeda, cuya producción destaca mundialmente. El sistema es complejo: estructura multicapa, fuerte explotación, estado de carga variable, la acción tectónica lo compartimenta e interconecta y un 60 % se sitúa entre 400 m y 800 m de profundidad. La carencia de planificación acrecentó el impacto de los bombeos. El Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME) realizó estudios de caracterización para establecer una gestión hídrica sostenible; en ello contribuyó Centro de Estudios y Experimentación de Obra Públicas (CEDEX). La conceptualización y la representación numérica evolucionó de un modelo bidimensional a uno tridimensional, cuya consistencia permitió definir una explotación sectorizada y sostenible.El desarrollo del modelo demandó la modelación estocástica de su geometría. El modelo ha venido siendo usado para apoyar estudios hidroquímicos e isotópicos, en particular en la investigación del 222Rn como posible trazador (proyecto MICINN-REDESAC).The Úbeda Deep Aquifer System (Spain) supplies the water to irrigate the olive plantations of Loma de Úbeda area, whose production stand in the world. The system is complex: multilayer structure, intense exploitation, unconfined/confined conditions, tectonic complexity, and deep location (60 % is between 400 and 800 m depth). The lack of planned management increased the impacts of groundwater exploitation. The Geological Survey of Spain (IGME) has carried out hydrogeological studies to define a sustainable exploitation of the aquifer system, with the collaboration of the Centro de Estudios y Experimentación de Obra Públicas (CEDEX). The conceptualization and the numeric representation evolved from a two-dimensional model to a three-dimensional one whose consistence allowed designing a regionalized and sustainable exploitation. The development of the numeric model required a stochastic modeling of the geometry. The model is also being used to support hydrochemical and isotopic studies, as is the case of 222Rn use as tracer (MICINN-REDESAC Project).Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Increased dose efficiency of breast CT with grating interferometry

Refraction-based x-ray imaging can overcome the fundamental contrast limit of computed tomography (CT), particularly in soft tissue, but so far has been constrained to high-dose ex vivo applications or required highly coherent x-ray sources, such as synchrotrons. Here we demonstrate that grating interferometry (GI) is more dose efficient than conventional CT in imaging of human breast under close-to-clinical conditions. Our system, based on a conventional source and commercial gratings, outperformed conventional CT for spatial resolutions better than 263 µm and absorbed dose of 16 mGy. The sensitivity of GI is constrained by grating fabrication, and further progress will lead to significant improvements of clinical CT

Knowledge sharing practices and issues in policing contexts: a systematic review of the literature.

The effective sharing of knowledge both within and between police organizations is arguably becoming increasingly vital for success and has driven research in a disparate range of fields. This paper therefore presents the results of an integrative systematic literature review of research into knowledge sharing within and between police organizations across Europe. The 39 papers analysed were drawn from English-language studies published between 2000 and 2013, complemented by additional searches for non-English language papers in nine European countries. Analyses showed that past research has focused on intra-organizational knowledge sharing, with a particular spotlight on criminal intelligence and technology. Barriers / enablers of knowledge sharing were grouped into knowledge management strategy/legislation, technology, culture and loss of knowledge themes. Research recommendations include exploring the role of leadership and examination of police knowledge sharing across regional, institutional and international boundaries. Practical recommendations include having procedural clarity in systems, policies for sharing knowledge and developing the relevant knowledge, skills and motivation of police personnel through appropriate training. Keyword : knowledge sharing, information, systematic literature review, polic

Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. METHODS: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. RESULTS: SVR24 rates were 46.1% (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1, 2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin

The Clostridium difficile Cell Wall Protein CwpV is Antigenically Variable between Strains, but Exhibits Conserved Aggregation-Promoting Function

Clostridium difficile is the main cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, leading to significant morbidity and mortality and putting considerable economic pressure on healthcare systems. Current knowledge of the molecular basis of pathogenesis is limited primarily to the activities and regulation of two major toxins. In contrast, little is known of mechanisms used in colonization of the enteric system. C. difficile expresses a proteinaceous array on its cell surface known as the S-layer, consisting primarily of the major S-layer protein SlpA and a family of SlpA homologues, the cell wall protein (CWP) family. CwpV is the largest member of this family and is expressed in a phase variable manner. Here we show CwpV promotes C. difficile aggregation, mediated by the C-terminal repetitive domain. This domain varies markedly between strains; five distinct repeat types were identified and were shown to be antigenically distinct. Other aspects of CwpV are, however, conserved. All CwpV types are expressed in a phase variable manner. Using targeted gene knock-out, we show that a single site-specific recombinase RecV is required for CwpV phase variation. CwpV is post-translationally cleaved at a conserved site leading to formation of a complex of cleavage products. The highly conserved N-terminus anchors the CwpV complex to the cell surface. Therefore CwpV function, regulation and processing are highly conserved across C. difficile strains, whilst the functional domain exists in at least five antigenically distinct forms. This hints at a complex evolutionary history for CwpV