Surface modification of SiO2 nanoparticles and its impact on the properties of PES-based hollow fiber membrane

In this work, polyethersulfone (PES) hollow fiber membranes incorporated with modified silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles were prepared and characterized for a water treatment process. Prior to doping preparation, commercial SiO2 nanoparticles were first modified using a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution to minimize their agglomeration in the dope solution. The surface-modified nanoparticles were analysed by TEM, BET and zeta potential to determine the particle size, surface area and surface charge, respectively. The effect of modified SiO2 loadings ranging from zero to 4 wt% on the properties of PES-based membranes was examined with respect to thermal stability, hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, pure water flux and protein rejection. The results showed that the modified nanoparticles have reduced agglomeration and greater negative surface charge in comparison to the unmodified nanoparticles. SEM-EDX and FTIR analyses confirmed the presence of modified SiO2 in the PES membrane matrix. It is also found that the thermal stability and hydrophilicity of the composite membranes were improved upon the addition of modified SiO2. The pure water flux and protein rejection of the composite membranes were significantly higher than the control PES membrane. At optimum nanoparticle loading (2 wt%), the composite membrane demonstrated 87.23 L m(-2) h(-1) water flux and 93.6% protein rejection in comparison to 44.2 L m(-2) h(-1) and 80.8% shown by the control PES membrane. The results suggested that the modified SiO2 nanoparticles have great potential to improve membrane water flux without compromising its rejection capability

Emerging Infections and Pertinent Infections Related to Travel for Patients with Primary Immunodeficiencies

Erratum: J Clin Immunol. 2017 Oct;37(7):693-694. doi: 10.1007/s10875-017-0436-0.In today's global economy and affordable vacation travel, it is increasingly important that visitors to another country and their physician be familiar with emerging infections, infections unique to a specific geographic region, and risks related to the process of travel. This is never more important than for patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDD). A recent review addressing common causes of fever in travelers provides important information for the general population Thwaites and Day (N Engl J Med 376:548-560, 2017). This review covers critical infectious and management concerns specifically related to travel for patients with PIDD. This review will discuss the context of the changing landscape of infections, highlight specific infections of concern, and profile distinct infection phenotypes in patients who are immune compromised. The organization of this review will address the environment driving emerging infections and several concerns unique to patients with PIDD. The first section addresses general considerations, the second section profiles specific infections organized according to mechanism of transmission, and the third section focuses on unique phenotypes and unique susceptibilities in patients with PIDDs. This review does not address most parasitic diseases. Reference tables provide easily accessible information on a broader range of infections than is described in the text.Peer reviewe

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) : Phenotype, diagnosis, and therapeutic challenges around the world

Background: X-linked agammaglobulinemia is an inherited immunodeficiency recognized since 1952. In spite of seven decades of experience, there is still a limited understanding of regional differences in presentation and complications. This study was designed by the Primary Immunodeficiencies Committee of the World Allergy Organization to better understand regional needs, challenges and unique patient features. Methods: A survey instrument was designed by the Primary Immunodeficiencies Committee of the World Allergy Organization to collect both structured and semi-structured data on X-linked agammaglobulinemia. The survey was sent to 54 centers around the world chosen on the basis of World Allergy Organization participation and/or registration in the European Society for Immunodeficiencies. There were 40 centers that responded, comprising 32 countries. Results: This study reports on 783 patients from 40 centers around the world. Problems with diagnosis are highlighted by the reported delays in diagnosis>24 months in 34% of patients and the lack of genetic studies in 39% of centers Two infections exhibited regional variation. Vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis was seen only in countries with live polio vaccination and two centers reported mycobacteria. High rates of morbidity were reported. Acute and chronic lung diseases accounted for 41% of the deaths. Unusual complications such as inflammatory bowel disease and large granular lymphocyte disease, among others were specifically enumerated, and while individually uncommon, they were collectively seen in 20.3% of patients. These data suggest that a broad range of both inflammatory, infectious, and autoimmune conditions can occur in patients. The breadth of complications and lack of data on management subsequently appeared as a significant challenge reported by centers. Survival above 20 years of age was lowest in Africa (22%) and reached above 70% in Australia, Europe and the Americas. Centers were asked to report their challenges and responses (n = 116) emphasized the difficulties in access to immunoglobulin products (16%) and reflected the ongoing need for education of both patients and referring physicians. Conclusions: This is the largest study of patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia and emphasizes the continued morbidity and mortality of XLA despite progress in diagnosis and treatment. It presents a world view of the successes and challenges for patients and physicians alike. A pivotal finding is the need for education of physicians regarding typical symptoms suggesting a possible diagnosis of X-linked agammaglobulinemia and sharing of best practices for the less common complications.Peer reviewe

Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Conference of the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) 2015: advancing efficient methodologies through community partnerships and team science

It is well documented that the majority of adults, children and families in need of evidence-based behavioral health interventionsi do not receive them [1, 2] and that few robust empirically supported methods for implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) exist. The Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) represents a burgeoning effort to advance the innovation and rigor of implementation research and is uniquely focused on bringing together researchers and stakeholders committed to evaluating the implementation of complex evidence-based behavioral health interventions. Through its diverse activities and membership, SIRC aims to foster the promise of implementation research to better serve the behavioral health needs of the population by identifying rigorous, relevant, and efficient strategies that successfully transfer scientific evidence to clinical knowledge for use in real world settings [3]. SIRC began as a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded conference series in 2010 (previously titled the “Seattle Implementation Research Conference”; $150,000 USD for 3 conferences in 2011, 2013, and 2015) with the recognition that there were multiple researchers and stakeholdersi working in parallel on innovative implementation science projects in behavioral health, but that formal channels for communicating and collaborating with one another were relatively unavailable. There was a significant need for a forum within which implementation researchers and stakeholders could learn from one another, refine approaches to science and practice, and develop an implementation research agenda using common measures, methods, and research principles to improve both the frequency and quality with which behavioral health treatment implementation is evaluated. SIRC’s membership growth is a testament to this identified need with more than 1000 members from 2011 to the present.ii SIRC’s primary objectives are to: (1) foster communication and collaboration across diverse groups, including implementation researchers, intermediariesi, as well as community stakeholders (SIRC uses the term “EBP champions” for these groups) – and to do so across multiple career levels (e.g., students, early career faculty, established investigators); and (2) enhance and disseminate rigorous measures and methodologies for implementing EBPs and evaluating EBP implementation efforts. These objectives are well aligned with Glasgow and colleagues’ [4] five core tenets deemed critical for advancing implementation science: collaboration, efficiency and speed, rigor and relevance, improved capacity, and cumulative knowledge. SIRC advances these objectives and tenets through in-person conferences, which bring together multidisciplinary implementation researchers and those implementing evidence-based behavioral health interventions in the community to share their work and create professional connections and collaborations

Kajian pemanfaatan filtrat tape ketela pohon sebagai bahan pensubstitusi filtrat tape beras ketan pada brem padat

Brem padat merupakan salah satu makanan tradisional yang dibuat melalui proses fermentasi beras ketan putih hingga menjadi tape. Cairan perasan tape selanjutnya diuapkan sampai kental dan didinginkan sampai padat. Daerah yang terkenal sebagai penghasil brem padat adalah Madiun dan Wonogiri. Ketela pohon merupakan bahan pangan berkalori yang paling murah di dunia tetapi sangat mudah rusak. Produksi ketela pohon yang berlebihan membuat tidak sedikit ketela pohon yang terbuang karena rusak dan harga ketela pohon menjadi jatuh di pasaran. Oleh karena itu perlu diupayakan pemanfaatan ketela pohon selain dibuat aci dan gaplek, antara lain dimanfaatkan dalam pembuatan brem padat, sehingga biaya produksi brem padat yang biasanya terbuat dari beras ketan putih saja dapat berkurang. Proses pembuatan brem padat dapat dibagi menjadi 2 (dua) tahap, yaitu fermentasi bahan baku menjadi tape dan pengolahan air tape menjadi brem padat. Komponen yang sangat diharapkan dalam pembuatan brem padat adalah amilopektin. Karena ketela pohon memiliki kandungan amilopektin yang cukup maka dapat digunakan sebagai bahan pensubstitusi pada pembuatan brem padat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mencari proporsi jumlah filtrat tape ketela pohon terhadap filtrat tape beras ketan yang optimal pada pembuatan brem padat. Penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) dengan 1 (satu) faktor, yaitu proporsi filtrat tape ketela pohon dan filtrat tape beras ketan (45%:55%; 50%:50%; 55%:45%; 60%:40%; 65%:35% dan 70%:30%), masing-masing dilakukan dengan pengulangan sebanyak 4 (empat) kali. Analisa yang dilakukan meliputi analisa bahan baku, yaitu analisa penentuan kadar pati dan kadar gula reduksi, analisa filtrat tape, yaitu penentuan kadar pati, kadar gula reduksi, total asam dan pH, dan analisa brem padat, yaitu penentuan kadar air, kadar pati, kadar gula reduksi, total asam, pH, daya patah dan uji organoleptik terhadap rasa dan tekstur. Perbedaan tingkat subtitusi filtrat tape ketela pohon memberikan perbedaan yang nyata pada kadar air, kadar gula reduksi, kadar pati, total asam, pH, dan daya patah brem padat. Berdasarkan basil analisa dan uji organoleptik diketahui bahwa brem padat dengan tingkat subtitusi filtrat tape ketela pohon sebesar 45% dapat dikatakan mempunyai kualitas terbaik

Kajian pemanfaatan filtrat tape ketela pohon sebagai bahan pensubstitusi filtrat tape beras ketan pada brem padat

Brem padat merupakan salah satu makanan tradisional yang dibuat melalui proses fermentasi beras ketan putih hingga menjadi tape. Cairan perasan tape selanjutnya diuapkan sampai kental dan didinginkan sampai padat. Daerah yang terkenal sebagai penghasil brem padat adalah Madiun dan Wonogiri. Ketela pohon merupakan bahan pangan berkalori yang paling murah di dunia tetapi sangat mudah rusak. Produksi ketela pohon yang berlebihan membuat tidak sedikit ketela pohon yang terbuang karena rusak dan harga ketela pohon menjadi jatuh di pasaran. Oleh karena itu perlu diupayakan pemanfaatan ketela pohon selain dibuat aci dan gaplek, antara lain dimanfaatkan dalam pembuatan brem padat, sehingga biaya produksi brem padat yang biasanya terbuat dari beras ketan putih saja dapat berkurang. Proses pembuatan brem padat dapat dibagi menjadi 2 (dua) tahap, yaitu fermentasi bahan baku menjadi tape dan pengolahan air tape menjadi brem padat. Komponen yang sangat diharapkan dalam pembuatan brem padat adalah amilopektin. Karena ketela pohon memiliki kandungan amilopektin yang cukup maka dapat digunakan sebagai bahan pensubstitusi pada pembuatan brem padat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mencari proporsi jumlah filtrat tape ketela pohon terhadap filtrat tape beras ketan yang optimal pada pembuatan brem padat. Penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) dengan 1 (satu) faktor, yaitu proporsi filtrat tape ketela pohon dan filtrat tape beras ketan (45%:55%; 50%:50%; 55%:45%; 60%:40%; 65%:35% dan 70%:30%), masing-masing dilakukan dengan pengulangan sebanyak 4 (empat) kali. Analisa yang dilakukan meliputi analisa bahan baku, yaitu analisa penentuan kadar pati dan kadar gula reduksi, analisa filtrat tape, yaitu penentuan kadar pati, kadar gula reduksi, total asam dan pH, dan analisa brem padat, yaitu penentuan kadar air, kadar pati, kadar gula reduksi, total asam, pH, daya patah dan uji organoleptik terhadap rasa dan tekstur. Perbedaan tingkat subtitusi filtrat tape ketela pohon memberikan perbedaan yang nyata pada kadar air, kadar gula reduksi, kadar pati, total asam, pH, dan daya patah brem padat. Berdasarkan basil analisa dan uji organoleptik diketahui bahwa brem padat dengan tingkat subtitusi filtrat tape ketela pohon sebesar 45% dapat dikatakan mempunyai kualitas terbaik

Preparation and characterization of PES/SiO2 composite ultrafiltration membrane for advanced water treatment

Polyethersulfone (PES) is a commonly used polymeric material for the fabrication of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. However, the hydrophobic nature of PES leads to poor membrane performance with low anti-fouling properties during filtration process. Hence, for this study, the PES-based hollow fiber membrane was modified with inorganic silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles of various loading (from zero to 4 wt%), aiming to improve the membrane properties for advanced water treatment process. The characterization of the surface morphology, physical and chemical properties of novel PES/SiO2 composite membranes was performed by SEM, FTIR-ATR, TGA and contact angle analyzer. The SEM images show the changes in membrane structure as well as skin layer thickness upon addition of SiO2 nanoparticles. The FTIR-ATR analysis shows the functional group of SiO2 in the polymer matrices. Results further show that the presence of 2 wt% SiO2 in the membrane matrix is the best loading to improve the water flux and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection, achieving 87.2 L/m2·h and 94%, respectively. As a comparison, the control PES membrane only exhibits water flux of 44.2 L/m2·h and rejection of 81%. Results also show that the flux recovery percentage of the membrane was improved from 82% in the control membrane to 93% in the membrane incorporated with 2 wt% SiO2, indicating improved membrane anti-fouling property. Furthermore, the PES/SiO2 membrane shows huge potential for advanced water treatment, as the qualities of the permeate samples treated by this membrane could meet the limit set by a local water company

Response surface methodology for modeling bisphenol a removal using ultrafiltration membrane system

In this work, the effects of various operating parameters (pressure, pH, BPA concentration, and filtration time) toward bisphenol A (BPA) removal via ultrafiltration (UF) membrane system were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). Historical data design of RSM was used to obtain the interaction between variables and response as well as optimizing the process. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the third-order polynomial model was significant in which pH and filtration time were identified as significant terms that influence BPA removal. The 3D response surface plots revealed the two-factor interaction between independent and dependent variables. The optimization process of the model predicted optimum conditions of 99.61% BPA removal at 1 bar, pH 6.7, 10 μg/L BPA concentration, and 10-min filtration time. The predicted optimum conditions for BPA removal were consistent with the obtained experimental values, indicating reliable application of historical data design RSM for modeling BPA removal in UF membrane system