Bisphenol-S removal via photoelectro-fenton/H2O2 process using Co-porphyrin/Printex L6 gas diffusion electrode

The present work reports the development and application of gas diffusion electrode (GDE) based on carbon Printex L6 modified with 5% Co-Porphyrin/CPL6 for the removal of Bisphenol S (BPS) in wastewater using different electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs). The application of the modified GDE led to the in-situ generation of 333 mg L−1 of H2O2 in only 90 min; this represents an increase of 88% in H2O2 generation in relation to the unmodified GDE. The process involving bisphenol S degradation fitted well into a pseudo-first order kinetic reaction for all the treatment techniques evaluated; the treatment techniques investigated recorded an increase in kinetic rate constant in the following order: anodic oxidation (0.004 min−1) < UV-C (0.006 min−1) < H2O2 (0.008 min−1) < H2O2/UV-C (0.016 min−1) < electro-Fenton (0.063 min−1) < photo electro-Fenton (0.154 min−1). The photo electro-Fenton (PEF) process exhibited the best degradation efficiency; BPS was completely removed after only 30 min of treatment and 78% mineralization was recorded after 360 min of treatment. The remaining organic matter under the PEF treatment process corresponded to short-chain carboxylic acids; this confirms the efficiency of the process applied for BPS decontamination. The results obtained show that the proposed treatment mechanism can be successfully combined with cheaper biological treatments for a total remediation of wastes.El presente trabajo reporta el desarrollo y aplicación de un electrodo de difusión de gas (GDE) a base de carbón Printex L6 modificado con 5% de Co-Porfirina/CPL6 para la remoción de Bisfenol S (BPS) en aguas residuales utilizando diferentes procesos electroquímicos de oxidación avanzada (EAOPs). La aplicación del GDE modificado condujo a la generación in situ de 333 mg L −1 de H 2 O 2 en sólo 90 min; esto representa un aumento del 88% en H 2 O 2generación en relación con el GDE no modificado. El proceso de degradación del bisfenol S encajaba bien en una reacción cinética de pseudo primer orden para todas las técnicas de tratamiento evaluadas; las técnicas de tratamiento investigadas registraron un aumento en la constante de velocidad cinética en el siguiente orden: oxidación anódica (0,004 min - 1 ) < UV-C (0,006 min- 1 ) < H 2 O 2 (0,008 min- 1 ) < H 2 O 2 /UV-C (0,016 min −1 ) < electro-Fenton (0,063 min −1 ) < fotoelectro-Fenton (0,154 min −1). El proceso fotoelectro-Fenton (PEF) exhibió la mejor eficiencia de degradación; El BPS se eliminó por completo después de solo 30 minutos de tratamiento y se registró un 78% de mineralización después de 360 ​​minutos de tratamiento. La materia orgánica remanente bajo el proceso de tratamiento con PEF correspondió a ácidos carboxílicos de cadena corta; esto confirma la eficiencia del proceso aplicado para la descontaminación de BPS. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el mecanismo de tratamiento propuesto puede combinarse con éxito con tratamientos biológicos más económicos para una remediación total de los residuos

A new 500 kb haplotype associated with high CD8+ T-lymphocyte numbers predicts a less severe expression of hereditary hemochromatosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hereditary Hemochromatosis(HH) is a common genetic disorder of iron overload where the large majority of patients are homozygous for one ancestral mutation in the <it>HFE </it>gene. In spite of this remarkable genetic homogeneity, the condition is clinically heterogeneous, varying from a severe disease to an asymptomatic phenotype with only abnormal biochemical parameters. The recent recognition of the variable penetrance of the HH mutation in different large population studies demands the need to search for new modifiers of its phenotypic expression. The present study follows previous observations that MHC class-I linked genetic markers, associated with the setting of CD8+ T-lymphocyte numbers, could be clinically relevant modifiers of the phenotypic expression in HH, and aimed to find new markers that could be used as more reliable prognostic variables.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Haplotype analysis, including seven genetic markers within a 1 Mb region around the microsatellite D6S105 was performed in a group of 56 previously characterized C282Y homozygous Portuguese patients. Parameters analyzed in this study were total body iron stores, clinical manifestations related with HH and immunological parameters (total lymphocyte numbers, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte numbers). An independent group of 10 C282Y homozygous patients from Vancouver, Canada, were also included in this study and analyzed for the same parameters.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A highly conserved ancestral haplotype defined by the SNP markers PGBD1-A, ZNF193-A, ZNF165-T (designated as A-A-T) was found associated with both abnormally low CD8+ T-lymphocyte numbers and the development of a severe clinical expression of HH. In a small proportion of patients, another conserved haplotype defined by the SNP markers PGBD1-G, ZNF193-G, ZNF165-G (designated as G-G-G) was found associated with high CD8+ T-lymphocyte numbers and a milder clinical expression. Remarkably, the two conserved haplotypes defined in Portuguese patients were also observed in the geographically different population of Canadian patients, also predicting CD8+ T-lymphocyte numbers and the severity of disease.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results may have important implications not only for approaching the question of the penetrance of the hemochromatosis gene in different world populations but also to further narrow the region of interest to find a candidate gene involved in the setting of CD8+ T-lymphocyte numbers in humans.</p

Proliferação Celular em Gestações Naturais e de Conceptos Bovinos Transgênicos Clonados, que Expressam Proteína Fluorescente Verde / Cell proliferation in pregnancies natural and transgenic conceptos cattle cloned, expressing green fluorescent protein

Neste estudo, foi avaliada a ocorrência de proliferação celular em placentônios de conceptos bovinos transgênicos clonados e de inseminação artificial, nos períodos de 60 e 90 dias de gestação. As amostras foram recortadas e fixadas em solução de paraformoldeído a 4% em tampão fosfato de sódio a 0,1M pH 7.4, para realização da técnica de imuno-histoquímica. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados entre bovinos clonados transgênicos e de inseminação artificial. Em todos os grupos e períodos gestacionais, o epitélio fetal apresentou marcação positiva para proliferação celular. Aos 60 dias a marcação positiva no epitélio uterino das gestações manipuladas foi pouco evidente em relação às de gestações naturais. Por sua vez aos 90 dias a imunorreatividade dos placentônios dos conceptos clonados, foi intensa não só no epitélio mas também no tecido conjuntivo fetal, fato não observado na gestação natural, onde a reação positiva foi pouco evidente no tecido conjuntivo fetal. Neste estudo foi demonstrado possível desequilíbrio nos padrões de proliferação celular nos conceptos bovinos clonados transgênicos, pois aos 60 dias, apresentaram menor atividade proliferativa e aos 90 dias aumento. Desse modo os resultados são importantes para a compreensão de possíveis falhas no desenvolvimento gestacional em técnicas avançadas de manipulação embrionárias

O estágio extracurricular na formação profissional: a opinião dos estudantes de fisioterapia

Investigar a opinião dos estudantes de Fisioterapia em relação ao estágio extracurricular e a influência dessa prática para sua formação profissional. Realizou-se um estudo transversal com alunos de Fisioterapia de uma instituição de ensino superior do estado do Ceará, Brasil. A amostra foi composta de 157 estudantes, sendo 29 homens (18,5%) e 128 mulheres (81,5%), com média de idade 22,6±4,02 anos, do segundo ao último semestre da graduação. Aplicou-se um questionário com 20 questões objetivas abordando a vivência e repercussões dessa prática. Do total de alunos pesquisados, 61 (38,9%) afirmaram ter participado de estágio extracurricular. Desses, 55 (90,2%) foram motivados pela necessidade de adquirir experiência; 53 (86,9%) realizaram intervenções nos pacientes; e 13 (21,3%) com carga horária de 15 a 20 horas/semanais. Porém, 36 acadêmicos (59,0%) o fizeram em desacordo com as normas do Conselho Federal de Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional. Os acadêmicos consideraram que o estágio extracurricular foi uma ferramenta de aprimoramento para sua formação profissional, pois propiciou o exercício de procedimentos e técnicas mais comuns da atuação do fisioterapeuta. Entretanto, alerta-se para a necessidade de fiscalização dos órgãos competentes, para que o aluno exerça funções compatíveis com o seu nível de qualificação

A spatial approach for the epidemiology of antibiotic use and resistance in community-based studies: the emergence of urban clusters of Escherichia coli quinolone resistance in Sao Paulo, Brasil

Copyright © Kiffer et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Background Population antimicrobial use may influence resistance emergence. Resistance is an ecological phenomenon due to potential transmissibility. We investigated spatial and temporal patterns of ciprofloxacin (CIP) population consumption related to E. coli resistance emergence and dissemination in a major Brazilian city. A total of 4,372 urinary tract infection E. coli cases, with 723 CIP resistant, were identified in 2002 from two outpatient centres. Cases were address geocoded in a digital map. Raw CIP consumption data was transformed into usage density in DDDs by CIP selling points influence zones determination. A stochastic model coupled with a Geographical Information System was applied for relating resistance and usage density and for detecting city areas of high/low resistance risk. Results E. coli CIP resistant cluster emergence was detected and significantly related to usage density at a level of 5 to 9 CIP DDDs. There were clustered hot-spots and a significant global spatial variation in the residual resistance risk after allowing for usage density. Conclusions There were clustered hot-spots and a significant global spatial variation in the residual resistance risk after allowing for usage density. The usage density of 5-9 CIP DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants within the same influence zone was the resistance triggering level. This level led to E. coli resistance clustering, proving that individual resistance emergence and dissemination was affected by antimicrobial population consumption