Mass Transport Limitations in Microbial Fuel Cells:Impact of Flow Configurations

The performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is limited by a number of factors, including metabolic activity of electroactive microorganisms and electrochemical systematic constraints, such as overpotentials at the electrodes or IR losses. Heterogeneities of substrate distribution (availability) can also strongly limit current in MFCs. In this work we investigate how mass transport can be enhanced by changing the flow configurations in MFCs, e.g. by directing the flow through a porous anode or by applying inserts and channels to anodes. Experimental results using a perpendicular flow through the anode were compared to a parallel flow setup, showing increased current output. Finite element method (FEM) simulations were used to simulate the flow profiles and substrate distribution in each setup. The simulations revealed higher average substrate concentrations for the perpendicular flow through a porous carbon fabric anode vs. a parallel flow in the bulk phase of the MFC, related to the enhancement of transport via convection in perpendicular flow. The simulated substrate distributions found for the different inlet setups could be correlated to the experimentally obtained current flow, power output and biofilm distribution. It can be concluded that the increased current output can be explained by the flow profile in the system resulting in an increased substrate distribution in the biofilm on the electrode and a hindered oxygen transport from the cathode

Liver transplantation reverses hypergammaglobulinemia in patients with chronic hepatic failure

Introduction: Sparse data are available about the effect of therapy methods on antibody levels in patients with liver failure. The aim of this study was to determine serum immunoglobulin concentrations in patients with chronic hepatic failure (CHF), acute- (ALF), or acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and to evaluate the impact of MARS treatment or liver transplantation (LT) on antibody levels. Materials and methods: We followed ten patients with ALF, twelve with ACLF and 18 with CHF. Eight patients with ALF and seven with ACLF underwent MARS therapy, whereas the rest received LT. 13 healthy volunteers served as controls. Serum antibody concentrations were measured using ELISA-technique. Results: Median serum levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were significantly increased in patients with CHF compared to ALF or controls (P < 0.02, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01). IgM and IgG concentrations were also significantly elevated in patients with CHF compared to ACLF (IgM, 3.7 vs. 1 g/L, P < 0.001; IgG, 8.7 vs. 3.1 g/L, P = 0.004). Immediately after LT a significant decrease of IgA (6.9 vs. 3.1 g/L, P = 0.004), IgG (8.7 vs. 5.1 g/L, P = 0.02) and IgM (3.7 vs. 1.8 g/L, P = 0.001) was detected in patients with CHF and antibody levels further decreased the days after LT reaching levels comparable to healthy individuals. MARS treatment had no apparent effect on the immunoglobulin profile in patients with ALF or ACLF. Conclusion: We provide evidence that LT reverses hypergammaglobulinemia in patients suffering from CHF within one day, which could be explained to a reconstituted hepatic antibody clearance, whereas MARS treatment has no immediate effect on immunoglobulin levels

Framework and baseline examination of the German National Cohort (NAKO)

The German National Cohort (NAKO) is a multidisciplinary, population-based prospective cohort study that aims to investigate the causes of widespread diseases, identify risk factors and improve early detection and prevention of disease. Specifically, NAKO is designed to identify novel and better characterize established risk and protection factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, respiratory and infectious diseases in a random sample of the general population. Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 205,415 men and women aged 19–74 years were recruited and examined in 18 study centres in Germany. The baseline assessment included a face-to-face interview, self-administered questionnaires and a wide range of biomedical examinations. Biomaterials were collected from all participants including serum, EDTA plasma, buffy coats, RNA and erythrocytes, urine, saliva, nasal swabs and stool. In 56,971 participants, an intensified examination programme was implemented. Whole-body 3T magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 30,861 participants on dedicated scanners. NAKO collects follow-up information on incident diseases through a combination of active follow-up using self-report via written questionnaires at 2–3 year intervals and passive follow-up via record linkages. All study participants are invited for re-examinations at the study centres in 4–5 year intervals. Thereby, longitudinal information on changes in risk factor profiles and in vascular, cardiac, metabolic, neurocognitive, pulmonary and sensory function is collected. NAKO is a major resource for population-based epidemiology to identify new and tailored strategies for early detection, prediction, prevention and treatment of major diseases for the next 30 years. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10654-022-00890-5

Multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of 21,000 cases and 95,000 controls identifies new risk loci for atopic dermatitis

Genetic association studies have identified 21 loci associated with atopic dermatitis risk predominantly in populations of European ancestry. To identify further susceptibility loci for this common, complex skin disease, we performed a meta-analysis of >15 million genetic variants in 21,399 cases and 95,464 controls from populations of European, African, Japanese and Latino ancestry, followed by replication in 32,059 cases and 228,628 controls from 18 studies. We identified ten new risk loci, bringing the total number of known atopic dermatitis risk loci to 31 (with new secondary signals at four of these loci). Notably, the new loci include candidate genes with roles in the regulation of innate host defenses and T cell function, underscoring the important contribution of (auto)immune mechanisms to atopic dermatitis pathogenesis

За кадры. 1982. № 36 (2411)

С днем химика! / И. Чащин, В. Ивасенко, Н. ПолищукВклад молодых / С. ЕмельяноваЛучшая комсомольская / Л. ЖирниковаСделано студентами / А. Симонов, В. ТурунтаевССО перед дорогой. Конкурс агитбригад / Н. ГульматоваССО перед дорогой. Ритмы труда и отдыха / И. Байгрунов, Т. МихайловаПрограмма дальнейшего совершенствования / Р. ГорскаяЭкзамен позади, экзамен впереди / Е. ПрохороваБез связи со специальностью / Р. Б. КвескоПришел на занятия - работай / Ю. АлексеевВыпускники передают опыт / Я. ГрунденталерСлет оперативников / Г. ЯковлевЗадержаны на месте / И. ЕмельяненкоПосле похмелья / Л. ХанисинаВаш паспорт / Л. ПоздняковаНовое законодательство для молодоженов / С. МельниковаВ кроссе - 6,5 тысячи студентов и сотрудников / С. НесыновОн слушал Менделеева / И. Т. ЛозовскийКлещевой энцефалит / В. Волков, Э. Нехорошева, Г. БубеннаяПьяницы на посту / Е. СтепуроНТБ сообщае