Synthesis of ceramic pigments from industrial wastes: Red mud and electroplating sludge.

The perception of industrial waste has changed, in the last decades, from an economic and environmental problem to a potential raw material. In this work, the synthesis of a stable pigment was prepared by combining two hazardous and unexplored wastes: red mud (RM, rich in Fe) and electroplating sludge (ES, rich in Ni/Cr). The wastes were mixed in different proportions and calcined at 1200 °C. Black and brown pigments were obtained from the mixture of RM/ES in 1:3 and 1:1 wt proportions, respectively. The color was given by the chrome-iron-nickel spinels, based on Ni2+ 3T1g(3F) transitions (≈13,000 cm-1), Cr3+ 4A2g → 4T1g(4F) transitions (≈24,400 cm-1) and Fe3+ (≈15,000-≈22,500 cm-1). The achieved coloring strength and thermal stability on various ceramic glazes render excellent prospects for the industrial application of such waste-based pigments.

Anaerobic degradation of dairy wastewater in intermittent UASB reactors: influence of effluent recirculation.

This work studied the influence of effluent recirculation upon the kinetics of anaerobic degradation of dairy wastewater in the feedless phase of intermittent upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors. Several laboratory-scale tests were performed with different organic loads in closed circuit UASB reactors inoculated with adapted flocculent sludge. The data obtained were used for determination of specific substrate removal rates and specific methane production rates, and adjusted to kinetic models. A high initial substrate removal was observed in all tests due to adsorption of organic matter onto the anaerobic biomass which was not accompanied by biological substrate degradation as measured by methane production. Initial methane production rate was about 45% of initial soluble and colloidal substrate removal rate. This discrepancy between methane production rate and substrate removal rate was observed mainly on the first day of all experiments and was attenuated on the second day, suggesting that the feedless period of intermittent UASB reactors treating dairy wastewater should be longer than one day. Effluent recirculation expressively raised the rate of removal of soluble and colloidal substrate and methane productivity, as compared with results for similar assays in batch reactors without recirculation. The observed bed expansion was due to the biogas production and the application of effluent recirculation led to a sludge bed contraction after all the substrates were degraded. The settleability of the anaerobic sludge improved by the introduction of effluent recirculation this effect being more pronounced for the higher loads.

Evaluación del impacto de una intervención educativa en atención farmacéutica y farmacia clínica / Assessment of the impact of educational intervention in pharmaceutical care and clinical pharmacy

Introducción: La Organización Mundial de la Salud considera la atención farmacéutica (AF) de fundamental importancia para el paciente. Su ejercicio requiere conocimientos y habilidades que pueden adquirirse en formación académica y/o continuada. Sin embargo, poco se ha descrito respecto a la evaluación del impacto de una intervención farmacéutica en el conocimiento, la habilidad y la actitud de los estudiantes y profesionales participantes en eventos científicos relacionados con la AF. Objetivos: Evaluar el impacto de una intervención educativa (IE) y su grado de satisfacción, realizada para los farmacéuticos y los estudiantes de farmacia. Método: Estudio casi experimental en el que los participantes de un curso de 40 horas rellenarán un cuestionario de preguntas abiertas sobre conocimientos, habilidades y actitudes de AF, antes y después de la IE. El análisis de contenido fue la técnica usada para evaluar y tabular los datos. Para las pruebas estadísticas, se utilizaron los test de Sinais y de Mann-Whitney. Resultados: Los participantes (n= 49) eran en su mayoría (n= 34) estudiantes, de los cuales 20 realizaban actividades relacionadas con la AF y la farmacia clínica. El análisis estadístico demostró diferencias significativas entre las distintas puntuaciones obtenidas en el conocimiento, las habilidades y la actitud, antes y después de la IE (p <0,001), aunque la actitud era la variable de mayor impacto. La mayoría tuvo sus expectativas superadas (n= 30) y satisfechas (n= 19). Conclusiones: Los datos demuestran el impacto positivo de los cursos de 40 horas semanales sobre el conocimiento, la habilidad y la actitud en la AF, a partir de conferencias y talleres con discusión de casos prácticos(AU)

Introduction: The World Health Organization considers pharmaceutical care (PC) of fundamental importance for the patient and the community. Its exercise requires knowledge and skills, which can be acquired in academic and/or continuing educations, credited for effectiveness and impact evaluation. However, few manuscripts in the literature have showed the contribution of the educational interventions on the knowledge, skill and attitude of students and professionals who participate in scientifi c events related to PC. Objective: To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention (EI), and its degree of satisfaction, to pharmacists and pharmacy students. Method: A quasi-experimental study was performed, through an extension course with 40 hours of lectures approaching issues related to PC and clinical pharmacy (CP). Participants answered a survey which was handed out before and after the EI. The statistic tests of Sinais and Mann-Whitney were applied to evaluate the EI significance. Results: Participants (n= 49) were mostly (n= 34) students and performing activities related to PC and CP (n= 20). Statistics differences, before and after the EI, were found in the scores of knowledge, skill and attitude (p <0.001). The evaluated item which showed the most improvement was the last one. Most (n= 30) had exceeded or met their expectations (n= 19). Conclusions: The analysis of the data led us to conclude that an EI of 40 h/week about knowledge, skill and attitude in PC using traditional methods, improves knowledge and problem-solving skills of participants(AU)

Sulfate reduction during the acidification of sucrose at pH 5 under thermophilic (55 degrees C) conditions. II: effect of sulfide and COD/SO(2-)(4) ratio.

This work studied the effect of the sulfide concentration and COD/SO(2-)(4) ratios (4 and 1) on sulfate reduction and acidification in a thermophilic (55 degrees C) UASB reactor fed with sucrose (4 g COD(l(reactor)d)(-1)) operated at a reactor mixed liquor pH controlled at 5 for a period of 301 days. When implementing N(2) stripping, sulfate reduction efficiencies up to 95%, corresponding to volumetric sulfate reduction rates of 0.87 and 4.2g (l(reactor)d)(-1) at the COD/SO(2-)(4) ratios of 4 and 1, respectively, were achieved. Sulfide was toxic to sulfate reduction at a total dissolved sulfide concentration of 100 mg l(-1). Acidification was always complete and acetate was the only form of substrate in the effluent at a COD/SO(2-)(4) ratio of 1. The sludge was well retained in the reactor and kept its granular shape throughout the reactor run.

Sulfate reduction during the acidification of sucrose at pH 5 under thermophilic (55 degrees C) conditions. I: effect of trace metals.

This work studied the effect of supplying trace metals (7.5 microM Fe and 0.5 microM Co, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Se, Mo and W) on sulfate reduction and acidification in thermophilic (55 degrees C) UASB reactors fed with sucrose (4 g COD (l(reactor) d)(-1)) operated at a reactor mixed liquor pH controlled at 5. Trace metals were supplied to one UASB reactor and were omitted from the influent of a second UASB reactor. The influence of different trace metal concentrations was further assessed in batch tests performed with the sludge from the UASB reactor receiving no trace metals. The absence of trace metals in the influent did not affect the performance of the acidifying UASB reactor throughout the 305 day long reactor run, but supplying low concentrations of trace metals inhibited sulfate reduction.

Fixation of autogenous bone grafts with ethyl-cyanoacrylate glue or titanium screws in the calvaria of rabbits.

This study compared the fixation of autogenous onlay bone grafts with cyanoacrylate glue (Super Bonder) and with titanium screws. Twenty rabbits underwent bilateral parietal ostectomies. Bone segments were fixed anteriorly to the resulting bone defect. In group I, the grafts were fixed with 4 mm long, 1.5 mm diameter screws; in group II, adhesive was used. The animals were killed after 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 days. Histomorphometric analysis was used to quantify the maintenance of the graft area. Discrete areas of inflammatory reaction were seen in both groups after 5 days and for group II after 15 days. After 30 days, new bone formation was seen at the interface of the grafts. After 120 days, the graft was incorporated into the host bed in group I and partially incorporated in group II. There was a significant statistical difference regarding the mean graft areas between 15 and 120 days (p<0.001) and between fixation methods (p<0.002). Fixation with adhesive promoted a significantly greater area of bone graft than screw fixation, independent of time period. The adhesive was biocompatible, presented similar stability to the screw and maintained the bone area, although there was a delay in graft incorporation.

Evaluation of an Epson flatbed scanner to read Gafchromic EBT films for radiation dosimetry.

Gafchromic EBT (EBT) films are becoming increasingly popular due to their advantageous properties. When flatbed colour scanners are used for film dosimetry, a good quality control of the scanning device is a crucial step for accurate results. The proposal of this work was to fully assess the performance of the scanner Epson Expression 10000XL in order to quantify all parameters and needed corrections to minimize dose uncertainties. A standard step tablet, with 32 steps and optical densities from 0.06 to 3.8, was used to check the scanner linearity. The scanner warming-up effect and reproducibility were evaluated by performing 30 consecutive scans plus 20 scans in 15 min intervals. The scanning colour modes: 24 and 48 bits and scanning resolutions from 50 to 300 dpi were tested. A Wiener filter with different pixels regions was applied with the purpose of reducing the film noise. All scans were made in transmission mode with a constant film orientation. The red colour channel was posteriorly extracted from the images to maximize readout sensitivity. Two EBT films were irradiated, perpendicularly and parallel to beam incidence, with a 6 MV photon beam with doses that ranged from 0.2 to 3 Gy. A polynomial expression was used to convert optical density into dose. Dose uncertainty was quantified applying error propagation analysis. A correction for the non-uniform response of the scanner was determined using five films irradiated with a uniform dose. The scanner response was linear until an optical density of approximately 1 which corresponds to doses higher than those of clinical interest for EBT films. The scanner signal stabilized after seven readings. Scanner reproducibility around 0.2% was obtained either with the scanner warm or cold. However, reproducibility was significantly reduced when comparing images digitized with the scanner at different temperatures. Neither the colour depth mode, the scanning resolution, the multiscan option nor the Wiener filter had a significant effect on the shape of the calibration curve. However, a reduction in dose uncertainty was possible by selecting appropriate reading parameters. These are a 48 bit colour depth, a 75 dpi resolution and repeating the scan four times. Finally, the two dimensional Wiener filter applied to a 3 x 3 pixel region to the red component of the image reduced the experimental scan uncertainty to about 0.5% for doses higher than 0.5 Gy. Total scan uncertainty was less than 2% for a perpendicular calibration and reduced to less than 1% for a parallel calibration. A dose over-estimation of around 5% for clinical doses may be made if the image acquired is not corrected for the non-uniform response of the scanner. A protocol to read EBT films using the Epson Expression 10000XL scanner was established for IMRT verification. The contribution for the overall uncertainty in film dosimetry coming from the scanning process was estimated to be around 0.5% for doses higher than 0.5 Gy when reading parameters are optimized. Total scan uncertainty achieved is about 2% when using a perpendicular calibration. It can further be reduced if a parallel calibration is used.

Sulfate reduction at pH 4 during the thermophilic (55 degrees C) acidification of sucrose in UASB reactors.

Continuous sulfate reduction at pH 4.0 was demonstrated in a pH controlled thermophilic (55 degrees C) upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor fed with sucrose at a COD/SO(4)(2-) ratio of 0.9 and an organic loading rate of 0.8 and 1.9 gCOD (l(reactor) d)(-1) for a period of 78 days. A nearly complete sulfate reduction efficiency was achieved throughout the reactor run, corresponding to sulfate removal rates of 0.91 and 1.92 g (l(reactor) d)(-1) at sulfate loading rates of 0.94 and 2 g (l(reactor) d)(-1), respectively, by keeping the sulfide concentration below 20 mg l(-1) due to stripping with nitrogen gas. Acidification was always complete and acetate was the only degradation intermediate left in the effluent, which did not exceed 180 mgCOD l(-1) in pseudo-stationary states. The sludge was well retained in the reactor and kept its granular form. Zn, Cu, Se, and Mo accumulated in the sludge, whereas Co, Ni, Fe, and Mn leached from the sludge, despite their continuous supply to the reactor via the influent. The bacterial diversity in the reactor sludge at the end of the reactor run was low and the culture was dominated by one acidifying species, resembling Thermoanaerobacterium sp., and one sulfate reducing species, resembling Desulfotomaculum sp.

A dosimetric calibration method for a double-focused multileaf collimator.

A method based on penumbra measurements and not on light field, is proposed for the calibration of the Siemens 82-leaf Optifocus multileaf collimator (MLC). The measurements were performed using MLCSoft version 1.2.0.4. (PTW-Freiburg, Germany), which is a software tool based on the LA48 measuring system (a linear array of 47 liquid-ionization chambers). The new leaf positions for each of the leaf banks are calculated from the MLCSoft results using an external spreadsheet. Using the proposed method the MLC calibration is directly performed in terms of dosimetry settings with improved precision. The nominal resulting accuracy of 0.5 mm is highly imposed by the limitations of the moving mechanism of the leaves and not by the method itself. To test the results of the MLC calibration, in-water measurements of off-axis dose profiles have been measured in order to verify different field sizes.

Effect of COD/SO(4)(2-) ratio and sulfide on thermophilic (55 degrees C) sulfate reduction during the acidification of sucrose at pH 6.

This study investigated the effect of the COD/SO(4)(2-) ratio (4 and 1) and the sulfide concentration on the performance of thermophilic (55 degrees C) acidifying (pH 6) upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactors fed with sucrose at an organic loading rate of 4.5 g COD l(reactor)(-1)day(-1). Sulfate reduction efficiencies amounted to 65% and 25-35% for the COD/SO(4)(2-) ratios of 4 and 1, respectively. Acidification was complete at all the tested conditions and the electron flow was similar at the two COD/SO(4)(2-) ratios applied. The stepwise decrease of the sulfide concentrations in the reactors with a COD/SO(4)(2-) ratio of 1 by N(2) stripping caused an immediate stepwise increase in the sulfate reduction efficiencies, indicating a reversible inhibition by sulfide. The degree of reversibility was, however, affected by the growth conditions of the sludge. Acidifying sludge pre-grown at pH 6, at a COD/SO(4)(2-) ratio of 9 and exposed for 150 days to 115 mg l(-1) sulfide, showed a slower recovery from the sulfide inhibition than a freshly harvested sludge from a full scale treatment plant (pH 7 and COD/SO(4)(2-)=9.5) exposed for a 70 days to 200 mg l(-1) sulfide. In the latter case, the decrease of the sulfide concentration from 200 to 45 mg l(-1) (35 mg l(-1) undissociated sulfide) by N(2) stripping caused an immediate increase of the sulfate reduction efficiency from 35% to 96%.

Phylogenetic status and matrilineal structure of the biting midge, Culicoides imicola, in Portugal, Rhodes and Israel.

The biting midge Culicoides imicola Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is the most important Old World vector of African horse sickness (AHS) and bluetongue (BT). Recent increases of BT incidence in the Mediterranean basin are attributed to its increased abundance and distribution. The phylogenetic status and genetic structure of C. imicola in this region are unknown, despite the importance of these aspects for BT epidemiology in the North American BT vector. In this study, analyses of partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (COI) sequences were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among 50 C. imicola from Portugal, Rhodes, Israel, and South Africa and four other species of the Imicola Complex from southern Africa, and to estimate levels of matrilineal subdivision in C. imicola between Portugal and Israel. Eleven haplotypes were detected in C. imicola, and these formed one well-supported clade in maximum likelihood and Bayesian trees implying that the C. imicola samples comprise one phylogenetic species. Molecular variance was distributed mainly between Portugal and Israel, with no haplotypes shared between these countries, suggesting that female-mediated gene flow at this scale has been either limited or non-existent. Our results provide phylogenetic evidence that C. imicola in the study areas are potentially competent AHS and BT vectors. The geographical structure of the C. imicola COI haplotypes was concordant with that of BT virus serotypes in recent BT outbreaks in the Mediterranean basin, suggesting that population subdivision in its vector can impose spatial constraints on BT virus transmission.

Spatial distribution of Culicoides species in Portugal in relation to the transmission of African horse sickness and bluetongue viruses.

Surveillance of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midge vectors was carried out at 87 sites within a 50 x 50 km grid distributed across Portugal, using light trap collections at the time of peak midge abundance. Culicoides imicola (Kieffer) made up 66% of the 55 937 Culicoides in these summer collections. It was highly abundant in the central eastern portion of Portugal, between 37 degrees 5' N and 41 degrees 5' N, and in a band across to the Lisbon peninsula (at around 38 degrees 5' N). Of all the complexes, its distribution was most consistent with that of previous outbreaks of Culicoides-borne disease, suggesting that it may remain the major vector in Portugal. Its distribution was also broadly consistent with that predicted by a recent climate-driven model validating the use of remote sensing datasets for modelling of Culicoides distribution. Adult C. imicola were found to have overwintered at 12 of 20 sites re-surveyed in winter but it did so in very low numbers. Culicoides obsoletus (Meigen) and Culicoides pulicaris (Linnaeus) complex midges were widespread despite their low summer abundance. The observed coincidence of high abundances of C. imicola and high abundances of C. pulicaris in summer lead us to suggest that C. imicola could bring African horse sickness virus or bluetongue virus into contact with C. pulicaris and the latter complex, together with C. obsoletus, could then transmit these viruses across much wider areas of Europe. The fact that adult C. pulicaris are present in high abundances in winter may provide a mechanism by which these viruses can overwinter in these areas.

Biosorption of milk substrates onto anaerobic flocculent and granular sludge.

Experiments were performed for adsorption of milk-based substrates onto anaerobic biomass at 35 degrees C. The influence of two parameters was studied, namely, the type of biomass (flocculent or granular) and the sludge adaptation to the substrate. It was found that flocculent sludge presented an adsorption capacity roughly 3 times higher than that of granular sludge. The adsorption data fit well with the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Apparently, short-term sludge adaptation is not influential on the adsorption behavior. On the other hand, long-term adapted sludge showed a higher adsorption capacity than nonadapted sludge, which probably is an indirect effect of different microbial populations. These results suggest that the role of adsorption in the anaerobic treatment of complex substrates containing fat cannot be overlooked, especially for flocculent sludge systems, since organic matter accumulation could cause process failure due to biomass washout.

Immunological and histopathological studies in a rodent model infected with Leishmania infantum promastigotes or amastigotes.

Infection with Leishmania infantum promastigotes (group I) and amastigotes (group II) was evaluated over 32 weeks, using Syrian golden hamsters as an experimental model. Spleen cells strongly responded to the specific antigen at 12 (group I) and 16 weeks (group II) post-inoculation (p.i.) and lower stimulation index values coincided with the parasite burden peak. Western-blot analysis detected antibodies during the 1st week p.i. and the number of recognized proteins increased with the time of infection, reaching a maximum at the peak parasite burden. Histopathology revealed hypoplasia in spleen white pulp and the liver showed a periportal infiltration of inflammatory cells and small granulomas, becoming increasingly more severe as the infection developed. Both organs exhibited a secondary amyloid deposition at the end of the experiment, especially the spleen. In this study, progressive visceral disease was observed as in natural human and canine infections; however, the incubation period was longer in the promastigote than in the amastigote infection.

Cell mediated immunity and specific IgG1 and IgG2 antibody response in natural and experimental canine leishmaniosis.

In the present study, we have followed up Leishmania infantum infection in dogs: (1) naturally infected; (2) experimentally infected with amastigotes; and (3) experimentally infected with culture promastigotes. The main objective was to evaluate the differences of the humoral and cellular immune responses of each group. Sera from 12 beagle dogs were analysed for total anti-leishmanial antibodies and IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Lymphoproliferation to L. infantum antigen was also performed. All naturally infected animals were symptomatic with a marked humoral response. Dogs inoculated with amastigotes were asymptomotic and presented lower antibody titres than naturally infected. Dogs inoculated with culture promastigotes were asymptomotic with no significant humoral response. Strong proliferative responses to Leishmania antigen was observed in dogs inoculated with promastigotes. In our experimental model, IgG1 antibody levels presented a similar pattern in all infected animals, and IgG2 reactivity was high in naturally infected dogs.

Infectivity of promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania infantum in a canine model for leishmaniosis.

Seven dogs experimentally infected with amastigotes or culture promastigotes of Leishmania infantum MON-1 were observed for a period of up to 38 months. The course of infection was monitored by clinical and parasitological examinations, haematological and serum protein analysis, and by anti-leishmania antibody levels. Two of the three amastigote-inoculated dogs developed a symptomatic infection with haematological and protein alterations, and a strong humoral immune response. The third dog was asymptomatic with no haematological or protein alterations and developed a steady humoral response. Four promastigote-inoculated dogs remained asymptomatic throughout the observation period, with only transient antibody responses to leishmanial antigen, and no haematological or protein alterations. The detection of the parasite in biological material obtained at necropsy showed that dogs with no clinical signs or other manifestations of disease may be infected. This indicates that asymptomatic carriers may be present in the canine population, but not identifiable by the usual serological tests, and suggests that epidemiological surveys based on serology may underestimate the prevalence of canine leishmaniosis and the parasite transmission risk.