Influence of temperature on the performance of a full-scale activated sludge process operated at varying solids retention times whilst treating municipal sewage

In this study, the solid retention time (SRT) was varied with the ambient temperature for a full-scale municipal activated sludge plant with capacity of 200,000 PE (Population Equivalent) located in a humid sub-tropical environment. The effects of ambient temperature on treatment performance were investigated. Off-line samples were collected and analyzed from the treatment plant. The actual temperature variation during the study period was divided into three overlapping ranges and the SRT was adjusted accordingly with temperature in order to achieve the desired effluent quality. The plant’s observed effluent quality and thereby its overall removal efficiency was evaluated in terms of measuring standard biochemical parameters. The results indicate that significant improvement in effluent quality can be obtained by applying the variable SRT (5–7 days) dependent on temperature variation

Le futur de l'autonomie de l'individu. Politique et nihilisme. Lecture philosophique et théologique

The future of the autonomy of the individual. Politics and nihilism. Philosophical and theological vision ABSTRACT: In this article, Paul Valadier looks into the logics and foundations of individualism and examines, at the same time, the consequences on postmodern society. He proposes the possibilities of a new concept of the autonomy of the individual by linking modern tradition and Catholic theology. KEY-WORDS: authonomy, nihilism, individualism Paul Valadier investiga, en aquest article, la lògica i els fonaments de l’individualisme i explora, a la vegada, les conseqüències que té en la societat postmoderna. Proposa les plossibilitats d’una nova concepció de l’autonomia de l’individu enllaçant la tradició modern i la teologia catòlica. PARAULES CLAU: Autonomia, nihilisme, individualism

Panel on future challenges in modeling methodology

This panel paper presents the views of six researchers and practitioners of simulation modeling. Collectively we attempt to address a range of key future challenges to modeling methodology. It is hoped that the views of this paper, and the presentations made by the panelists at the 2004 Winter Simulation Conference will raise awareness and stimulate further discussion on the future of modeling methodology in areas such as modeling problems in business applications, human factors and geographically dispersed networks; rapid model development and maintenance; legacy modeling approaches; markup languages; virtual interactive process design and simulation; standards; and Grid computing

Circulating endothelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles mediate the acute phase response and sickness behaviour associated with CNS inflammation.

Brain injury elicits a systemic acute-phase response (APR), which is responsible for co-ordinating the peripheral immunological response to injury. To date, the mechanisms responsible for signalling the presence of injury or disease to selectively activate responses in distant organs were unclear. Circulating endogenous extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increased after brain injury and have the potential to carry targeted injury signals around the body. Here, we examined the potential of EVs, isolated from rats after focal inflammatory brain lesions using IL-1β, to activate a systemic APR in recipient naïve rats, as well as the behavioural consequences of EV transfer. Focal brain lesions increased EV release, and, following isolation and transfer, the EVs were sequestered by the liver where they initiated an APR. Transfer of blood-borne EVs from brain-injured animals was also enough to suppress exploratory behaviours in recipient naïve animals. EVs derived from brain endothelial cell cultures treated with IL-1β also activated an APR and altered behaviour in recipient animals. These experiments reveal that inflammation-induced circulating EVs derived from endothelial cells are able to initiate the APR to brain injury and are sufficient to generate the associated sickness behaviours, and are the first demonstration that EVs are capable of modifying behavioural responses

Nietzsche et l’avenir de la religion

Nietzsche, qui définit l’homme comme « fabricateur de dieux » est, avant tout, un critique de l’idolâtrie qui peut prendre bien d’autres formes que celle de la religion. Le christianisme est, selon lui, à l’origine de sa propre « euthanasie » qui résulte d’une contradiction entre sa morale de probité et le dogme. La sortie du christianisme n’est donc pas en tant que telle une bonne nouvelle, ni une nouvelle rassurante. Cependant, la leçon de Nietzsche est que l’avenir reste fondamentalement ouvert, y compris à une problématique « reviviscence du divin »

Chronic dermatomycoses of the foot as risk factors for acute bacterial cellulitis of the leg: A case-control study

Objective: To assess the role of foot dermatomycosis ( tinea pedis and onychomycosis) and other candidate risk factors in the development of acute bacterial cellulitis of the leg. Methods: A case-control study, including 243 patients ( cases) with acute bacterial cellulitis of the leg and 467 controls, 2 per case, individually matched for gender, age (+/-5 years), hospital and admission date (+/-2 months). Results: Overall, mycology-proven foot dermatomycosis was a significant risk factor for acute bacterial cellulitis (odds ratio, OR: 2.4; p < 0.001), as were tinea pedis interdigitalis (OR: 3.2; p < 0.001), tinea pedis plantaris (OR: 1.7; p = 0.005) and onychomycosis (OR: 2.2; p < 0.001) individually. Other risk factors included: disruption of the cutaneous barrier, history of bacterial cellulitis, chronic venous insufficiency and leg oedema. Conclusions: Tinea pedis and onychomycosis were found to be significant risk factors for acute bacterial cellulitis of the leg that are readily amenable to treatment with effective pharmacological therapy. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Reversed papilledema in an MPS VI patient with galsulfase (Naglazyme®) therapy

MPS VI (mucopolysaccharidosis VI, known as Maroteaux–Lamy syndrome) is a multi-systemic inherited disease, resulting from a deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase, causing accumulation of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) dermatan sulfate in all tissues. It is one of almost 50 lysosomal storage disorders. Ocular pathology is common in patients with MPS VI, with complications including ocular hypertension, progressive corneal clouding, optic nerve swelling (or papilledema) often associated with communicating hydrocephalus (Ashworth et al., Eye 20(5), 553–563, 2006; Goldberg et al., AJO 69(6), 969–975), and raised intracranial pressure (ICP) progressing to atrophy with loss of vision (Goodrich et al., Loss of vision in MPS VI is a consequence of increased intracranial pressure, 2002). This is the first case report of reversed papilledema and improved visual acuity in an 11-year-old MPS VI patient receiving galsulfase (Naglazyme®), an enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) of recombinant human arylsulfatase B (rhASB) (Harmatz et al., J Pediatr 148(4), 533–539, 2006)

Vitamins and Perinatal Outcomes Among HIV-Negative Women in Tanzania.

Prematurity and low birth weight are associated with high perinatal and infant mortality, especially in developing countries. Maternal micronutrient deficiencies may contribute to these adverse outcomes. In a double-blind trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, we randomly assigned 8468 pregnant women (gestational age of fetus, 12 to 27 weeks) who were negative for human immunodeficiency virus infection to receive daily multivitamins (including multiples of the recommended dietary allowance) or placebo. All the women received prenatal supplemental iron and folic acid. The primary outcomes were low birth weight (<2500 g), prematurity, and fetal death. The incidence of low birth weight was 7.8% among the infants in the multivitamin group and 9.4% among those in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70 to 0.95; P=0.01). The mean difference in birth weight between the groups was modest (67 g, P<0.001). The rates of prematurity were 16.9% in the multivitamin group and 16.7% in the placebo group (relative risk, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.91 to 1.11; P=0.87), and the rates of fetal death were 4.3% and 5.0%, respectively (relative risk, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.05; P=0.15). Supplementation reduced both the risk of a birth size that was small for gestational age (<10th percentile; 10.7% in the multivitamin group vs. 13.6% in the placebo group; relative risk, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.87; P<0.001) and the risk of maternal anemia (hemoglobin level, <11 g per deciliter; relative risk, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80 to 0.97; P=0.01), although the difference in the mean hemoglobin levels between the groups was small (0.2 g per deciliter, P<0.001). Multivitamin supplementation reduced the incidence of low birth weight and small-for-gestational-age births but had no significant effects on prematurity or fetal death. Multivitamins should be considered for all pregnant women in developing countries. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00197548 [ClinicalTrials.gov].)