Mechanisms of copper and zinc bioremoval by microalgae and bacteria grown in nutrient rich wastewaters.

Swine farming produces large quantities of nutrient-rich wastewater, which often contains metals such as Cu and Zn, used as feed additives for pigs. These metals must be removed from the wastewater before discharge but their retention in the biomass can limit its subsequent utilization. Photobioreactors are a very promising alternative for swine wastewater treatment, as the consortium of microalgae and bacteria growing symbiotically in these reactors allows high nutrient and metal removal efficiency at moderate costs. This work studies the mechanisms of removal of Cu(II) and Zn(II) by the two types of microorganisms growing in these photobioreactors. A microalga commonly used in wastewater treatment (Scenedesmus almeriensis) and an activated sludge were kept in contact with synthetic wastewater containing 100 mg/L of Cu and Zn. After 72 h, Scenedesmus almeriensis removed 43% of Cu and 45% of Zn, while activated sludge removed 78% of Cu and 96% of Zn. Single and sequential extractions of the biomasses using different extracting reagents revealed that biosorption on protonable groups is the dominant removal mechanisms. Mild reagents solubilized 69% of Cu and 94% of Zn from the microalgae and 76% of Cu and 93% of Zn from the activated sludge. Low metal concentrations in the oxidizable and residual fractions evidenced minimal bioaccumulation inside the cells. FTIR and ESEM-EDX analysis confirmed biosorption by ion exchange and complexation as the main metal remediation mechanisms. The weak bonds of the biosorbed Cu and Zn ions are beneficial for the valorization of biomass and the obtaining of safe bioproducts.

Metrics of color-difference formula improvement.

Metrics of color-difference formula improvement (i.e., standardized residual sum of squares and Pearson product moment correlation) are shown to convey the same information. Furthermore, each metric has two computational forms that assume different linear data models, specifically, with or without an ordinate intercept. It is essential to choose a computational form that matches the data model. We recommend explicitly declaring whether or not the data have been centered, i.e., by subtracting the mean value from each datum, to match the intercept-free data model. Statistical testing of the metrics assumes independent, normally distributed randomness of residuals from the data model, and homogeneous variance. Procedures consistent with these assumptions include robust statistical tests, homogenizing data transformations, and meta-analysis.

Herbal Vitamin C Prevents DNA Oxidation and Modifies the Metabolomic Water Profile of Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.).

This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of herbal vitamin C at different levels on tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) growth, potential DNA damage, and the metabolomic profile of water effluent. Forty-five tilapias were housed in separate plastic tanks (80 L), and these were randomly assigned to three treatments: (a) a commercial diet (CD) only; (Nutripec Purina®); (b) the commercial diet plus 250 mg of herbal vitamin C (HVC)/kg (CD250); and (c) the commercial diet plus 500 mg of HVC/kg (CD500). Biometric measurements were taken each week, blood samples were collected from the caudal vein on the final day, and water effluent was taken each week and immediately frozen (-80 °C) until further analysis (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) systems). Data were completely randomized with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Upon including herbal vitamin C, the final BW (p = 0.05) and BWG (p = 0.06) increased linearly. Herbal vitamin C decreases DNA damage (p ≥ 0.05). PLS-DA showed a 41.6% variation between treatments in the water samples. Fifteen metabolites had the best association between treatments, with a stronger correlation with CD500. Herbal vitamin C could improve fish performance, prevent DNA damage, and influence changes in the metabolomic profile of the water.

Distribution of canine distemper virus and nectin-4 in raccoon (Procyon lotor) skin.

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are abundant in urban/wildland interfaces and are key sources of canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreaks in domestic, zoo, and free-ranging wildlife species. CDV is pantropic, which provides multiple potential routes of transmission (urine, respiratory secretions, feces), but the specific role of skin as a target of infection, as a diagnostic sample, or as a potential source of environmental persistence and transmission is unknown. We have characterized the distribution of CDV and its known receptor, nectin-4, in skin samples of 36 raccoons. Even with skin samples that were grossly and histologically normal, immunohistochemistry of skin was useful in the diagnosis of CDV infection, which was found in both epithelium and endothelium. Nectin-4 was codistributed with cellular targets of viral infection. Skin secretions, shed keratinocytes, and hair of CDV infected raccoons are all potential environmental fomites.

Short Breastfeeding Duration is Associated With Premature Onset of Female Breast Cancer.

Currently, there is controversy concerning potential factors that contribute to the development of breast cancer. Our study analyzed the possible association between weight status, cigarette consumption, lactation period, serum estrogen levels, family history of breast cancer, and age at breast cancer diagnosis. We conducted a retrospective study at a University Hospital in Granada (Spain) by consulting the medical records of 524 women aged 19 to 91 years, all of them diagnosed and treated for breast cancer from 2011 to 2019. Our findings indicated that in non-morbidly obese females who were also non-smokers, a maternal lactation period of more than 3 months (p = .013) and the absence of family antecedents of cancer (p = .025) were statistically significant factors that led to a more advanced age at breast cancer diagnosis. Thus, maternal lactation seems to have a potential protective effect on breast cancer.

Color inconstancy of natural teeth measured under white light-emitting diode illuminants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate color and whiteness changes of natural teeth under nine white LED illuminants recently proposed by CIE. METHODS: From spectral reflectance factors of 36 caries-free upper central incisors, corresponding colors under illuminant D65 and CIE 1931 standard colorimetric observer were computed for all tested illuminants, using the chromatic adaptation transform CAT16. Color differences (CIELAB and CIEDE2000 units) and whiteness (WID and WIO indices) from teeth illuminated by CIE standard illuminants (D65 and A) and white LED illuminants were calculated. The appearance of 630 pairs of teeth under all illuminants was also evaluated. RESULTS: Color gamuts from 36 teeth under tested illuminants showed similar volume and shape in CIELAB color space, but their centers of gravity changed in many different directions with respect to colors under D65 or A illuminants: Considering colors under D65/A, color shifts produced by white LED illuminants were in the ranges 2.0-8.6/1.1-7.0 CIELAB units (1.4-8.2/0.6-6.8 CIEDE2000 units). Average WID and WIO values for the 36 teeth under different illuminants ranged from -5.8 to +19.3 and from -7.7 to +11.1, respectively. Considering 630 pairs of teeth, average color differences (mainly lightness differences) were below 0.5 CIELAB units (0.3 CIEDE2000 units), and average whiteness differences ranged from 8.1 to 10.7 for WID (23.4-25.1 for WIO). SIGNIFICANCE: Using CIE LED illuminants, most changes in color and whiteness for individual teeth were above typical threshold values of perceptibility and acceptability in dentistry. However, considering pairs of teeth, the average color and whiteness differences under all tested illuminants were very similar.

Social Support Mediates the Effect of Burnout on Health in Health Care Professionals.

Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion and caused by exposure to excessive and prolonged stress related to job conditions. Moreover, burnout is highly prevalent among health care professionals. The aim of this study is, first, to examine the mediating role of social support over the effect of burnout in health care professionals and, second, to explore potential gender differences. A convenience sample of 1,035 health professionals from Ecuador, including 608 physicians and 427 nurses (68% women, with and age M = 40 + 9 years old), was surveyed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Social Support Survey (MOS), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) as measures of burnout, social support, and general health, respectively. Social support was found to mediate the negative effects of burnout on health regardless of gender. Differences across the three dimensions of burnout and health are further discussed, along with their implications for designing effective burnout interventions for health care professionals in Ecuador.

Epidemiology and Changes in Mortality of Sepsis After the Implementation of Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines.

PURPOSE: To determine the epidemiology and outcome of severe sepsis and septic shock after 9 years of the implementation of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) and to build a mortality prediction model. METHODS: This is a prospective, multicenter, observational study performed during a 5-month period in 2011 in a network of 11 intensive care units (ICUs). We compared our findings with those obtained in the same ICUs in a study conducted in 2002. RESULTS: The current cohort included 262 episodes of severe sepsis and/or septic shock, and the 2002 cohort included 324. The prevalence was 14% (95% confidence interval: 12.5-15.7) with no differences to 2002. The population-based incidence was 31 cases/100 000 inhabitants/year. Patients in 2011 had a significantly lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II; 21.9 ± 6.6 vs 25.5 ± 7.07), Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score (5.6 ± 3.2 vs 6.3 ± 3.6), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores on day 1 (8 ± 3.5 vs 9.6 ± 3.7; P < .01). The main source of infection was intraabdominal (32.5%) although microbiologic isolation was possible in 56.7% of cases. The 2011 cohort had a marked reduction in 48-hour (7% vs 14.8%), ICU (27.2% vs 48.2%), and in-hospital (36.7% vs 54.3%) mortalities. Most relevant factors associated with death were APACHE II score, age, previous immunosuppression and liver insufficiency, alcoholism, nosocomial infection, and Delta SOFA score. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of sepsis/septic shock remained unchanged during a 10-year period, the implementation of the SSC guidelines resulted in a marked decrease in the overall mortality. The lower severity of patients on ICU admission and the reduced early mortality suggest an improvement in early diagnosis, better initial management, and earlier antibiotic treatment.

Estudio de la situación nutricional y hábitos alimentarios de escolares de diferentes comunidades indígenas del municipio de Ixhuatlán de madero, estado de veracruz (méxico) / A study of nutritional status and dietary habits among schoolchildren from different indigenous communities within the municipality of Ixhuatlán de madero, state of veracruz (mexico)

México está inmerso en una situación de transición social y nutricional con consecuencias para la población general. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el estado nutricional de escolares indígenas mexicanos, dependiendo de su género, edad y comunidad indígena y analizar sus hábitos alimenticios. Estudio transversal realizado en 230 escolares (7-12 años de edad), reclutados de seis comunidades indígenas en México. Se evaluó el peso, la talla, talla sentado y el índice de masa corporal (IMC) de los sujetos. Para conocer sus hábitos alimentarios, los sujetos también participaron en una entrevista semi-estructurada y se les pidió que respondieran a un cuestionario de frecuencia de alimentos. Existieron diferencias significativas en la talla y talla sentado por edad (p < 0.05) y no por sexo. El 17.8% presentó exceso de peso (sobrepeso + obesidad), con diferencias por edad (p < 0.05), siendo superior en chicos (20.3%) frente a chicas (14.8%). Existió asociación (p = 0.005) entre estado nutricional y comunidad de pertenencia. Existió una elevada ingesta diaria de carbohidratos (refrescos) 70.8% y de grasa mediante frituras (78.7% de casos). Existe una creciente prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad entre la población infantil perteneciente a las comunidades más aisladas y cuyo abastecimiento dependía del acceso a la tienda de cada comunidad(AU)

Mexico is currently immersed in a context of social and nutritional transition with important consequences for the general population. This study aimed to analyze the nutritional status of indigenous Mexican school children, depending on their gender, age and indigenous community. We also wished to analyze their eating habits. A cross-sectional study performed on 230 school children (7-12 years of age), recruited from six indigenous communities in Mexico. Weight, standing height, sitting height, and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects were evaluated. To assess their eating habits, the subjects also participated in a semi-structured interview and were asked to respond to a food frequency questionnaire. There were significant differences in standing height and sitting height in regard to age (p<0.05) though not in regard to gender. The 17.8% of the subjects had excess weight (overweight + obesity) with significant differences for age (p < 0.05). There was a higher percentage of excess weight among boys (20.3%) than among girls (14.8%). Our study also detected an association (p = 0.005) between nutritional status and indigenous community. The eating habits of the children were characterized by a high daily ingestion of carbohydrates in the form of soft drinks (70.8%) and fat from fried foods (78.7%). There is a growing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the child population in the more isolated indigenous communities, whose food supply directly depends on access to grocery stores at each location(AU)

Normative data for quantitative calcaneal ultrasound in young males and females.

OBJECTIVE: The quantitative ultrasound (QUS) method has been recognized as an optimal screening tool for assessing bone mass status. The aim of this study was to provide standardized values for bone health status measured by the QUS technique based on age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: The study population consisted of 1322 healthy individuals (822 females and 500 males) aged 14-25 years. Bone mass in both calcaneus was estimated with QUS to obtain Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) (dB/MHz). RESULTS: The linear models revealed statistically significant differences between bone mass status of the calcaneus and age, sex, and BMI (P < .001). Bone mass increased at a rate of approximately 0.015 units per year after the age of 14 and these values increased in approximately 0.1 units in males in comparison to females. There was an increase of approximately 0.17 units for each increase in categories of BMI. CONCLUSION: It is crucial to provide standardized values for the QUS parameter in young males and females to allow reliable comparisons and evaluate trends in preventive programs that may enable the identification of individuals at risk for osteoporosis.

Mortality Reduction and Long-Term Compliance with Surviving Sepsis Campaign: A Nationwide Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the long-term degree of compliance with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) bundles and related outcomes after an educational program in septic patients admitted to a network of intensive care units (ICU). METHODS: Prospective, observational, multicenter study in several ICUs during a 5-month period for evaluating the degree of compliance with the SSC bundles of resuscitation in the first 6 h (B6H) and management in the following 24 h (B24H). We compared the findings with those from a historical cohort at the same ICUs after an educational program (EDUSEPSIS) 5 years earlier. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 231 episodes of severe sepsis and the historical cohort included 217. In the current cohort, we found a better compliance with B6H compared with the historical cohort (27.7% vs. 9.7%, P < 0.001), and lower compliance with B24H (4.3% vs. 12.9%, P < 0.001). ICU and in-hospital mortalities were reduced from 37.3% to 27.1% (P = 0.02) and from 45.3% to 36.7% (P = 0.06), respectively. This reduction occurred linearly with the number of B6H items completed (P for trend <0.001). All B6H measures were individually associated with lower ICU mortality. Measurement of plasma lactate, blood cultures, and administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics were associated with lower in-hospital mortality. No benefit was observed regarding B24H. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed that an educational campaign aimed at early recognition and management of patients with severe sepsis improves compliance with management recommendations and hospital survival in the long term.

Púrpura de Schõnlein-Henoch fulminante / Henoch-Schõnlein purpura fulminant

Se trata de paciente femenina de 51 años, con antecedentes patológicos personales de asma bronquial, hipertensión arterial y colitis ulcerativa e infección por el virus de la chikungunya desde hacía un mes. Ingresó con diarreas pastosas oscuras con moco y sangre, evolucionó desfavorablemente con paraplejia flácida y livedo reticularis, que se transformó en púrpura extensa; posteriormente flictenas y edema generalizado. Se mantuvo hipotensa con desequilibrio hidroelectrolítico y deterioro del estado de conciencia, se le realizaron complementarios, fue transfundida y se le realizó hemodiálisis; evolucionó al coma y a la muerte. Los hallazgos anatomopatológicos mostraron una forma adulta, fulminante y mortal de púrpura anafilactoide o de Schõnlein- Henoch. Se encontró proliferación mesangial con depósitos mesangiales fushinofílicos correspondientes a inmunoglobulina A con inmunofluorescencia, vasculitis leucocitoclástica y vasculitis necrotizante de pequeños vasos. La púrpura de Schõnlein-Henoch es una forma peculiar de vasculitis que tiende a la curación espontánea y, ocasionalmente, puede tener un curso mortal o proseguir hacia una nefritis crónica(AU)

Considerations on the use of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes to improve forage utilization.

Digestion of cell wall fractions of forage in the rumen is incomplete due to the complex links which limit their degradation. It is therefore necessary to find options to optimize the use of forages in ruminant production systems. One alternative is to use exogenous enzymes. Exogenous fibrolytic enzymes are of fungal or bacterial origin and increase nutrient availability from the cell wall, which consists of three fractions in different proportions depending on the species of forage: digestible, potentially digestible, and indigestible. The response to addition of exogenous enzymes varies with the type of forage; many researchers infer that there are enzyme-forage interactions but fail to explain the biological mechanism. We hypothesize that the response is related to the proportion of the potentially digestible fraction. The exogenous enzyme activity depends on several factors but if the general conditions for enzyme action are available, the potentially digestible fraction may determine the magnitude of the response. Results of experiments with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes in domestic ruminants are inconsistent. This, coupled with their high cost, has made their use unattractive to farmers. Development of cheaper products exploring other microorganisms with fibrolytic activity, such as Fomes fomentarius or Cellulomonas flavigena, is required.

Breastfeeding and the prevention of breast cancer: a retrospective review of clinical histories.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate at what age parous and nonparous women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Factors taken into account for parous women were whether they had breastfed their children, and if so, the length of the lactation period. Other factors considered for both groups were obesity, family histories of cancer, smoking habits and alcohol consumption. BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in younger women in Western countries. Its growing incidence as well as the increasingly early age of diagnosis led us to carefully analyse its possible causes and the preventive measures to be taken. This is a particularly important goal in epidemiological research. DESIGN: A retrospective study of the clinical histories of patients diagnosed with breast cancer at the San Cecilio University Hospital in Granada (Spain). METHODS: In this study, we analysed 504 medical records of female patients, 19-91 years of age, who had been diagnosed and treated for breast cancer from 2004-2009 at the San Cecilio University Hospital in Granada (Spain). Relevant data (age of diagnosis, period of lactation, family history of cancer, obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking habits) were collected from the clinical histories of each patient and analysed. A conditional inference tree was used to relate the age of diagnosis to smoking habits and the length of the lactation period. RESULTS: The conditional inference tree identified significant differences between the age of the patients at breast cancer diagnosis, smoking habits (p < 0·001) and lactation period if the subjects had breastfed their children for more than six months (p = 0·006), regardless of whether they had a family history of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our study concluded that breastfeeding for over six months not only provides children with numerous health benefits, but also protects mothers from breast cancer when the mothers are nonsmokers. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses play a crucial role in encouraging new mothers to breastfeed their children, and this helps to prevent breast cancer.

A nursing educational intervention helped by One Touch UltraSmart improves monitoring and glycated haemoglobin levels in type I diabetic children.

OBJECTIVES: To improve the monitoring and control of glycated haemoglobin in insulin-dependent children. This article describes an educational intervention for this purpose where One Touch UltraSmart Software was used to manage diabetes. The results showed that this intervention helped to reduce the levels of blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin to less than 7%. BACKGROUND: Various research studies have been performed on the effective control of glycated haemoglobin values in diabetic children by means of technological devices. However, none of this research has evaluated the impact of an educational intervention in conjunction with the use of monitoring instruments such as One Touch UltraSmart. DESIGN: We present an 18-month longitudinal, analytical and observational study of 37 type 1 diabetic patients, 9-16 years of age. For each patient, initial and final values of glycated haemoglobin and the number of blood glucose controls were recorded. METHODOLOGY: For the purposes of our study seven educational workshops, attended by diabetic children and their parents, were conducted. In addition, participants were asked to complete a brief questionnaire so that information could be gathered regarding the eating and exercise habits of the patients. RESULTS: This educational intervention using One Touch UltraSmart led to a statistically significant average reduction of glycated haemoglobin. CONCLUSIONS: Our research showed that the use of One Touch UltraSmart in the context of an educational intervention raised the awareness of the diabetic children and thus helped them to effectively control their disease and to fully understand the necessity of having good dietary and exercise habits. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It can be concluded that the educational intervention led to a significant improvement in the dietary habits of these patients and also helped them to exercise regularly, all of which has a positive impact on their health.

Notes on the application of the standardized residual sum of squares index for the assessment of intra- and inter-observer variability in color-difference experiments.

The standardized residual sum of squares index was proposed to examine the significant merit of a given color-difference formula over another with respect to a given set of visual color-difference data [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 24, 1823-1829, 2007]. This index can also be employed to determine intra- and inter-observer variability, although the full complexity of this variability cannot be described by just one number. Appropriate utilization of the standardized residual sum of squares index for the assessment of observer variability is described with a view to encourage its use in future color-difference research. The main goal of this paper is to demonstrate that setting the F parameters of the standardized residual sum of squares index to 1 results in a loss of essential properties of the index (for example, symmetry), and is therefore strongly discouraged.

Social and cultural influences among Mexican border entrepreneurs.

Social and cultural conditions (including U.S. border and inland influence, role models within the family, and educational background) which affect locus of control and achievement motivation among Mexican entrepreneurs were explored among 64 selected entrepreneurs in two Mexican towns, one on the Mexico-U.S. border, the other located inland. Analyses showed that the border subsample scored higher on External locus of control; however, in both subsamples the father was an important element in the locus of control variable and the entrepreneur status. No statistically significant mean difference was noted for achievement motivation. Practical applications and limitations are discussed.

Measurement of the relationship between perceived and computed color differences.

Using simulated data sets, we have analyzed some mathematical properties of different statistical measurements that have been employed in previous literature to test the performance of different color-difference formulas. Specifically, the properties of the combined index PF/3 (performance factor obtained as average of three terms), widely employed in current literature, have been considered. A new index named standardized residual sum of squares (STRESS), employed in multidimensional scaling techniques, is recommended. The main difference between PF/3 and STRESS is that the latter is simpler and allows inferences on the statistical significance of two color-difference formulas with respect to a given set of visual data.