Hydrolytic effects of acid and enzymatic pre-treatment on the anaerobic biodegradability of <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> and <i>Laminaria digitata</i> species of brown seaweed

Abundant marine biomass in coastal regions has continued to attract increasing attention in recent times as a possible source of renewable energy. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hydrolytic pre-treatment for the purpose of enhancing biogas yield of Laminaria digitata and Ascophyllum nodosum species found on the west coast of Scotland. Results show that L. digitata, in its natural and untreated form, appears to be more readily hydrolysable than A. nodosum. Two treatments were assessed: acid only and acid followed by enzyme. Both treatments enhanced the hydrolysis of both seaweed species, with acid-enzyme treatment providing a better performance

Stimulation of bioprocesses by ultrasound

Ultrasound (US) has become a ubiquitous technological process in a large variety of scientific disciplines. However, little information exists on the use of ultrasound to enhance biological processes and/or processing and consequently this paper provides an overview of work reported to date on this topic. This review provides a brief introduction to ultrasound and the history of ultrasound as applied to bioprocesses. This is followed by a discussion of the influence of US on discrete enzyme systems, enzymes used in bioremediation, microbial fermentations and enzymatic hydrolysis of biopolymers. Augmentation of anaerobic digestion by US is then considered along with enhancement of enzymes in food science and technology. The use of ultrasonically stimulated enzymes in synthesis is then considered and other relevant miscellaneous topics are described. It is concluded that the precise mechanism of action of US in bio-processing remains to be elucidated though a variety of plausible suggestions are made

Sources of inversion variation in the small single copy (SSC) region of chloroplast genomes

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141571/1/ajb21751.pd

When Should a Cervical Collar be Used to Treat Neck Pain?

Neck pain is one of the most prevalent and costly health problems in the United States. It remains a complex, subjective experience with a variety of musculoskeletal causes. Although, cervical collars are a seemingly benign intervention, they can have adverse effects, especially when used for longer periods of time. It is feared that a long period of immobilization, can result in atrophy-related secondary damage. Many physicians cite anecdotal evidence of their clinical utility and soft cervical collars are often prescribed by convention for patients complaining of neck pain. The use of cervical collars to treat neck pain is an area of controversy. This review article examines the current evidence and studies related to recommending cervical collars for neck pain of a variety of etiologies

Oil and Gas Maps of the Pikeville 30 x 60 Minute Quadrangle, Kentucky

The purpose of these oil and gas maps is to portray the distribution of types of wells in a manner useful to the oil and gas industry and geologists interested in subsurface research. The maps are designed to help geologists better evaluate acreage holdings and exploratory/development potential

Testing the performance of the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument in cardiac patients

BACKGROUND: Previous investigations suggest an important role of social support in the outcomes of patients treated for ischemic heart disease. The ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI) is a 7-item self-report survey that assesses social support. Validity and reliability of the ESSI, however, has not been formally tested in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: The ESSI, along with the Short Form-36 (SF-36), was sequentially administered to a cohort of 271 patients undergoing PCI. The test-retest reliability was examined with an intra-class correlation coefficient by comparing scores among 174 patients who completed both instruments 5 and 6 months after their procedure. Internal reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha at the time of patients' baseline procedure. The concurrent validity of the ESSI was assessed by comparing scores between depressed (MHI-5 score < 44) vs. non-depressed patients. The correlation between the ESSI and the SF-36 Social Functioning sub-scale, an accepted measure of social functioning, was also examined. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability showed no significant differences in mean scores among ESSI questionnaires administered 1 month apart (27.8+/-1.4 vs 27.8+/-1.5, p = 0.98). The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.94 and Cronbach's alpha was 0.88. Mean ESSI scores were significantly lower among depressed vs. non-depressed patients (24.6+/-1.7 vs 27+/-1.4, p < 0.018) and a positive albeit modest correlation with social functioning was seen (r = 0.19, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The ESSI appears to be a valid and reliable measure of social support in patients undergoing treatment for coronary artery disease. It may prove to be a valuable method of controlling for patient variability in outcomes studies where the outcomes are related to patients' social support