Bioleaching of Valuable Elements from Red Mud: A Study on the Potential of Non-Enriched Biomass

Red mud (RM) is the main residue produced by the alkaline extraction of alumina (Al2O3) from bauxite, and it contains valuable metals such as iron (Fe), aluminium (Al), titanium (Ti), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), rare earth elements, etc. This research aimed to investigate the biologically induced leaching of some valuable elements from raw RM without preliminary biomass enrichment and inoculum, simultaneously reducing RM polluting potential and extracting metals for their subsequent recovery within a circular economy-based approach. In addition to the missing inoculum, such an approach is challenging since high RM alkalinity and pH, as well as the absence of any sulphides, constrain the use of the most common biohydrometallurgical techniques. Red Muds from two European locations were tested (RM-I and RM-II, respectively). Bioleaching tests were performed at different temperatures (T = 22 & DEG;C and 28 & DEG;C; and also 15 & DEG;C for RM-II) and solid-to-liquid ratios (S/L = 2%, 5%). A sudden drop in pH from alkaline to constant neutral/acidic values was observed in almost all tests, and such results were attributed to biological activity since abiotic tests did not show any pH decrease. The best results in terms of extraction were achieved with RM-II, in particular for Al, Mg and Mn (17%, 42% and 47%, respectively). At 2% S/L, the highest temperature allowed for a better metal release, while at 5% S/L, the highest extraction of Al, Mg and Ti was observed at 22 & DEG;C. As expected, iron was less available to leach at the achieved pH values, as it was mostly present as hematite in both RMs. Finally, the first microbiological characterisation of the autochthonous biomass selected during the bioleaching treatment of RM was provided

Caries diagnosis using light fluorescence devices: VistaProof and DIAGNOdent

The modern concept of minimally invasive dentistry encompasses early detection of incipient carious lesions and their treatment. Due to the low sensitivity of visual inspection and radiography in the detection of occlusal hidden carious lesions under a macroscopically sound surface, several devices have been developed to increase detection accuracy. DIAGNOdent is one of the tools used for that purpose and VistaProof is a new device recently introduced into the market. They both use light fluorescence to detect incipient carious lesions. DIAGNOdent is based on the fact that carious lesions show higher level of fluorescence than sound tissues when excited by light at specific wavelength. Vistaproof is based on the same principle, but it uses a different wavelength of excitation than DIAGNOdent and a video camera for the detection of fluorescence. The aim of this article was to compare these two devices and present their clinical use

Local anesthetics induce autophagy in young permanent tooth pulp cells

Pulp cells are essential for tooth development, and dentin repair and regeneration. In addition these cells have been identified as an important stem cell source. Local anesthetics are widely used in dental clinics, as well as the other clinical disciplines and have been suggested to interfere with human permanent tooth development and induce tooth agenesis through unknown mechanisms. Using pig model and human young permanent tooth pulp cells, our research has identified that the local anesthetics commonly used in clinics can affect cell proliferation. Molecular pathway profiling suggested that LC3II is one of the earliest molecules induced by the agents and p62 is the only common downstream target identified for all the drugs tested. The effect of the drugs could be partially recovered by V-ATPase inhibitor only if early intervention is performed. Our results provide novel evidence that local anesthetics could affect tooth cell growth that potentially can have impacts on tooth development

Kinerja Penyuluhan di Nusa Tenggara Timur

The objectives of this research were to portray the influence of internal and external  factors to the performance of the agricultural extension. The individual characrterization of the agricultural extension agents were the internal factors which assumed to influence toward the performance of agricultural extension and  those other i.e the non formal extension education (diklat), the milieu, and the extension organization structure were the external factors. The respondents were selected by the random and purposive sampling method in the three regency as research area. Data analysis was done by using descriptive and Linear Structural Relationship (LISREL) program 8.72 by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) models.   The results of the research showed that the non formal extension education and the extension organization structure were influenced positively and significantly to  the performacen of extension (external factors), but those other were not

PENGARUH FAKTOR INTERNAL DAN EKSTERNAL PENYULUH TERHADAP KOMPETENSI PENYULUH DI NUSA TENGGARA TIMUR

The objectives of this research were to portray the influence of internal and external factors to the competencies of the agricultural extension agents. The individual characrterization of the agricultural extension agents were the internal factors which assumed to influence in creating the competencies, and those other i.e the non formal education (diklat), the milieu, and the extension organization structure were the external factors. The respondents were selected by the random and purposive sampling method in the three regency as research area. Data analysis was done by using descriptive and Linear Structural Relationship (LISREL) program 8.72 by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) models. The results of the research showed that the internal factors were influenced positively and significantly to the competencies of the agricultural extension agents both before and after the autonomy, but those other were not

Effect of hydraulic retention time on the electro-bioremediation of nitrate in saline groundwater

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) have proven their capability to treat nitrate-contaminated saline groundwater and simultaneously recover value-added chemicals (such as disinfection products) within a circular economy-based approach. In this study, the effect of the hydraulic retention time (HRT) on nitrate and salinity removal, as well as on free chlorine production, was investigated in a 3-compartment BES working in galvanostatic mode with the perspective of process intensification and future scale-up. Reducing the HRT from 30.1 +/- 2.3 to 2.4 +/- 0.2 h led to a corresponding increase in nitrate removal rates (from 17 +/- 1 up to 131 +/- 1 mgNO3--N L-1d-1), although a progressive decrease in desalination efficiency (from 77 +/- 13 to 12 +/- 2 %) was observed. Nitrate concentration and salinity close to threshold limits indicated by the World Health Organization for drinking water, as well as significant chlorine production were achieved with an HRT of 4.9 +/- 0.4 h. At such HRT, specific energy consumption was low (6.8 center dot 10-2 +/- 0.3 center dot 10-2 kWh g-1NO3--Nremoved), considering that the supplied energy supports three processes simultaneously. A logarithmic equation correlated well with nitrate removal rates at the applied HRTs and may be used to predict BES behaviour with different HRTs. The bacterial community of the bio-cathode under galvanostatic mode was dominated by a few populations, including the genera Rhizobium, Bosea, Fontibacter and Gordonia. The results provide useful information for the scale-up of BES treating multi-contaminated groundwater

Physicians’ Perceptions of Clinical Utility of a Digital Health Tool for Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Monitoring in Real-Life Hematology Practice. Evidence From the GIMEMA-ALLIANCE Platform

Digital health tools are increasingly being used in cancer care and may include electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) monitoring systems. We examined physicians’ perceptions of usability and clinical utility of a digital health tool (GIMEMA-ALLIANCE platform) for ePRO monitoring in the real-life practice of patients with hematologic malignancies. This tool allows for the collection and assessment of ePROs with real-time graphical presentation of results to medical staff. Based on a predefined algorithm, automated alerts are sent to medical staff. Participating hematologists completed an online survey on their experience with the platform. Of the 201 patients invited to participate between December 2020 and June 2021 (cut-off date for current analysis), 180 (90%) agreed to enter the platform and had a median age of 57 years. Twenty-three hematologists with a median age of 42 years and an average of 17 years of experience in clinical practice were surveyed. All hematologists agreed or strongly agreed that the platform was easy to use, and 87%, agreed or strongly agreed that ePROs data were useful to enhance communication with their patients. The majority of physicians (78%) accessed the platform at least once per month to consult the symptom and health status profile of their patients. The frequency of access was independent of physician sex (p=0.393) and years of experience in clinical practice (p=0.404). In conclusion, our preliminary results support the clinical utility, from the perspective of the treating hematologist, of integrating ePROs into the routine cancer care of patients with hematologic malignancies

Microabrasion in tooth enamel discoloration defects: three cases with long-term follow-ups

Superficial irregularities and certain intrinsic stains on the dental enamel surfaces can be resolved by enamel microabrasion, however, treatment for such defects need to be confined to the outermost regions of the enamel surface. Dental bleaching and resin-based composite repair are also often useful for certain situations for tooth color corrections. This article presented and discussed the indications and limitations of enamel microabrasion treatment. Three case reports treated by enamel microabrasion were also presented after 11, 20 and 23 years of follow-ups