Aurore: A platform for ultrafast sciences.

We present the Aurore platform for ultrafast sciences. This platform is based on a unique 20 W, 1 kHz, 26 fs Ti:sapphire laser system designed for reliable operation and high intensity temporal contrast. The specific design ensures the high stability in terms of pulse duration, energy, and beam pointing necessary for extended experimental campaigns. The laser supplies 5 different beamlines, all dedicated to a specific field: attosecond science (Aurore 1), ultrafast phase transitions in solids (Aurore 2 and 3), ultrafast luminescence in solids (Aurore 4), and femtochemistry (Aurore 5). The technical specifications of these five beamlines are described in detail, and examples of the recent results are given.

Low energy Ne ion beam induced-modifications of magnetic properties in MnAs thin films.

Investigations of the complex behavior of the magnetization of manganese arsenide thin films due to defects induced by irradiation of slow heavy ions are presented. In addition to the thermal hysteresis suppression already highlighted in Trassinelli et al (2014 Appl. Phys. Lett. 104 081906), we report here on new local magnetic features recorded by a magnetic force microscope at different temperatures close to the characteristic sample phase transition. Complementary measurements of the global magnetization in different conditions (applied magnetic field and temperatures) enable the film characterization to be completed. The obtained results suggest that the ion bombardment produces regions where the local mechanical constraints are significantly different from the average, promoting the local presence of magneto-structural phases far from the equilibrium. These regions could be responsible for the thermal hysteresis suppression previously reported, irradiation-induced defects acting as seeds in the phase transition.

Antipsychotic use and unexpected death: a hospital-based case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of unexpected death in patients prescribed an antipsychotic. Unexpected death was defined as death occurring within 7 days of the onset of acute symptoms. METHOD: A case-control study conducted on events occurring between July 2009 and January 2011 in a UK mental health trust providing in-patient and out-patient services. RESULTS: The study included 100 cases (deaths) and 436 unmatched controls. Current users of antipsychotics had a lower risk of unexpected death than non-users--adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.48 (95% CI 0.24-0.94, P = 0.033). A significant reduction in risk was seen for second-generation [adjusted OR 0.42 (95% CI 0.21-0.86, P = 0.018)], but not first-generation agents [adjusted OR 0.83 (95% CI 0.31-2.20, P = 0.706)]. Treatment with antipsychotics for any duration was associated with reduced risk. Dose and route of administration did not affect risk. In a planned secondary analysis not adjusting for cardiovascular disease, prescription of an antipsychotic was not associated with increased risk of unexpected death [adjusted OR 0.56 (95% CI 0.28-1.08, P = 0.084)]. CONCLUSION: Our findings do not support an association between current antipsychotic use and increased risk of unexpected death.

Thermal desorption mass spectrometer for mass metrology.

This article presents a device for the study of physisorbed elements on polished surfaces (diameter ⩽56 mm) of the kind used in mass metrology. The technique is based on mass spectrometry of molecules desorbed after heating under vacuum of the analyzed surface. We describe a first application of the device to study current and future mass standards in order to understand how their surface reactivity depends on storage conditions, cleaning processes, and polishing methods. Surface contamination analysis by thermal desorption mass spectrometry to examine the effect of cleaning on pure iridium is given as an example.

[Megaesophagus in the dog and cat]. / Megaösophagus bei Hund und Katze.

Megaesophagus is a disorder of the esophagus characterized by diffuse dilation and decreased peristalsis. It is classified into congenital and acquired forms. Gastrointestinal, endocrine, immune-mediated, neuromuscular, paraneoplastic, and toxic disorders have been associated with acquired megaesophagus. Common clinical signs of megaesophagus are regurgitation, weight loss, coughing, and halitosis. Most cases of megaesophagus can be diagnosed using thoracic radiography; however, diagnosing the underlying cause requires a thorough history and additional diagnostics. The treatment, management, and prognosis of megaesophagus vary greatly depending on the underlying cause.

Ammonia influence in anaerobic digestion of OFMSW.

The anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes is taking increasing importance in the recent years. The main problem of some anaerobic digestion process is the large quantity of ammonia that is released, especially when high solid digestion is implemented. A fraction of the supernatant is treated and the remaining is recirculated to maintain the reactor in the optimum solids concentration. The question arising is if this recirculation stream should also be treated to improve biogas production. However, when doing the latter the quantity of ammonia inside the reactor increases too which could lead to inhibit the reactor operation. In this paper it appears that not only free ammonia affects the methanogenic fermentation but also ammonium ion concentration. Biogas production profiles are estimated using the Gompertz model. On the other hand, inhibition constants are fitted using a non-competitive inhibition model equation Thus, 50% inhibition of biomethane production was observed at level of 215 and 468 mg NH3_N/L under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. However, the methane generation under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions was reduced by 50% when ammonium ion reach concentrations of 3,860 and 5,600 mg NH4+_N/L respectively. Under mesophilic conditions, pH higher than 7 impacted the methanogens bacteria negatively. This threshold pH limit, is variable under thermophilic conditions, depending on the total ammonia concentration.

Integration of a Coagulation/Flocculation step in a biological sequencing batch reactor for COD and nitrogen removal of supernatant of anaerobically digested piggery wastewater.

The supernatant from mesophilic anaerobic digestion of piggery wastewater is characterised by a high amount of COD (4.1 g COD L(-1)), ammonium (2.3g NH(4)(+)-NL(-1)) and suspended solids (2.5 g SS L(-1)). This effluent can be efficiently treated by means of a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) strategy for biological COD, SS and nitrogen removal including a Coagulation/Flocculation step. Total COD and SS reduction yields higher than 66% and 74%, respectively, and a total nitrogen removal (via nitrite) of more than 98% were reached when working with HRT 2.7 days, SRT 12 days, temperature 32 degrees C, three aerobic/anoxic periods, without external control of pH and under limited aeration flow. The inhibition of nitrite oxidizing biomass was achieved by the working free ammonia concentration and the restricted air supply (dissolved oxygen concentration below 1 mg O(2)L(-1)). Since a part of the total COD was colloidal and/or refractory, a Coagulation/Flocculation step was implemented inside the SBR operating strategy to meet a suitable effluent quality to be discharged. Several Jar-Tests demonstrated that the optimal concentration of FeCl(3) was 800 mg L(-1). A respirometric assay showed that this coagulant dosage did not affect the biological activity of nitrifying/denitrifying biomass.

Comparison of reject water treatment with nitrification/denitrification via nitrite in SBR and SHARON chemostat process.

A comparison between three feasible ways of developing Biological Nitrogen Removal (BNR) via nitrite to treat real reject water of 800-900 mg NH4(+)-N l(-1) is proposed. A Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) and a chemostat SHARON (Single reactor High activity Ammonium Removal Over Nitrite) continuous reactor were operated. In the SBR operation 0.8 kg N (d m3)(-1) was achieved, whereas in SHARON/denitrification the removal reached was 0.4 kg N (d m3)(-1). SHARON was also developed with partial nitrification of ammonium in order to obtain a stream ready for Anammox (Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation) process obtaining an effluent with an average composition of 400 mg NO2(-)-N l(-1) and 350 mg NH4(-)-N l(-1).

Operation and model description of a sequencing batch reactor treating reject water for biological nitrogen removal via nitrite.

The aim of this study was the operation and model description of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for biological nitrogen removal (BNR) from a reject water (800-900 mg NH(4)(+)-NL(-1)) from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The SBR was operated with three cycles per day, temperature 30 degrees C, SRT 11 days and HRT 1 day. During the operational cycle, three alternating oxic/anoxic periods were performed to avoid alkalinity restrictions. Oxygen supply and working pH range were controlled to achieve the BNR via nitrite, which makes the process more economical. Under steady state conditions, a total nitrogen removal of 0.87 kg N (m(3)day)(-1) was reached. A four-step nitrogen removal model was developed to describe the process. This model enlarges the IWA activated sludge models for a more detailed description of the nitrogen elimination processes and their inhibitions. A closed intermittent-flow respirometer was set up for the estimation of the most relevant model parameters. Once calibrated, model predictions reproduced experimental data accurately.

Variations in the APP gene promoter region and risk of Alzheimer disease.

We genotyped five polymorphisms, including two polymorphisms with known effects on transcriptional activity, in a large cohort of 427 Alzheimer disease (AD) cases and 472 control subjects. An association between rs463946 (-3102 G/C) and AD was found and was confirmed in a replication sample of a similar size. By contrast, analysis of three recently described rare mutations influencing APP transcription did not confirm their association with AD risk.

Start-up of a biological sequencing batch reactor to treat supernatant from anaerobic sludge digester.

Treating the supernatant (reject water) from an anaerobic sludge digestion (800-1200 mg NH4(+)-N l(-1)) may be a good solution for meeting local requirements. As reject water represents 0.6% of the total wastewater influent flow and contains 10-30% of the total N it is recirculated to the head plant. In this study, a lab-scale start-up of biological nitrification/denitrification process to treat reject water was developed in a sequencing batch reactor. Sludge acclimation to the denitrification process was quite fast (6-7 days) for both NO2(-)-N and NO3(-)-N, whereas in nitrification it was slower (20 days). The use of a sequencing batch reactor to treat reject water produced a complete biological reduction of the NH4(+)-N via nitrite, working with sludge age of 15 days, hydraulic retention time of 1.3 days, temperature of 28 degrees C, pH between 7-8.5 and biomass concentration around 3500 mg VSS l(-1). Specific efficiencies were 14 mg NH4(+)-N (g VSS h(-1)) and 30 mg NO2(-)-N (g VSS h)(-1).

Dry anaerobic digestion of differently sorted organic municipal solid waste: a full-scale experience.

This paper presents a comparison of dry anaerobic digestion reactors fed with differently sorted municipal organic solid wastes. One reactor was fed with source sorted organic wastes and a second reactor was fed with mixed organic wastes consisting of grey wastes, mechanically selected municipal solid wastes and sludge. The two reactors utilised the same process (Valorga) and operational conditions at full scale. The results of the study emphasise the influence of the kind of treated material on the process performances, especially in terms of biogas and methane production, thus, energy reclamation. The reactor treating the source sorted organic waste and the reactor treating the mixed organic wastes generated some 200 m3 and 60 m3 of biogas per ton of waste treated, respectively, while the specific methane production was some 0.40 and 0.13 m3CH4/kgTVS, respectively. The mass balance and the final fate of the digested material from the two reactors were also clearly different. As for the costs, these were some 29 Euro per ton of treated waste (50% for personnel) and 53 Euro/ton for disposing of the rejected materials. Incomes were some 100 Euro/ton (on average) and an other 15 Euro/ton came from green certificates. The initial investment was 16 million Euros.

Biological nutrient removal by a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) using an internal organic carbon source in digested piggery wastewater.

Experiments in a lab-scale SBR were conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of using an internal carbon source (non-digested pig manure) for biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal in digested piggery wastewater. The internal C-source used for denitrification had similar effects to acetate. 99.8% of nitrogen and 97.8% of phosphate were removed in the SBR, from an initial content in the feed of 900 mg/l ammonia and 90 mg/l phosphate.

A study in vitro of the abrasive effect of the tongue on enamel and dentine softened by acid erosion.

The palatal aspect of upper anterior teeth appears to be one site of predilection for erosion. This raises the question of whether abrasion of softened enamel and dentine by the tongue has a role in this process. The aim of this study in vitro was to determine whether enamel and dentine specimens licked by the tongue after exposure to acid lost more tissue than when exposed to acid alone. Flat enamel and dentine specimens were prepared from human third molars and taped to expose a window of tissue. Three groups of specimens were exposed to citric acid for 10 min followed by 60 s tongue licking, ultrasonication or immersion in water. Two further groups of enamel specimens were placed in a low erosive drink for 10 min with or without licking. At the end of 5, 10 and 15 treatment cycles tissue loss was measured by profilometry. Enamel loss was significantly greater with licking and ultrasonication compared to water immersion. Dentine loss was greater with licking and ultrasonication compared to water immersion, but differences only reached significance for ultrasonication. The low erosive drink produced one third of the citric acid erosion and licking had no effect. The results suggest that the tongue could exert an abrasive effect on dental tissues softened by erosion, thereby increasing the overall loss of tooth substance.

Comparison of the biodegradability of the grey fraction of municipal solid waste of Barcelona in mesophilic and thermophilic conditions.

The results of the start-up of two digesters in mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, together with its steady results at several organic loading rates are described. A kinetic study is also carried out which allows one to estimate the ultimate methane production, together with the first-order kinetic constant. Operation at thermophilic temperature yields better results as it allows a more loaded reactor and the methane production is slightly higher.

Nitrification, denitrification and biological phosphorus removal in piggery wastewater using a sequencing batch reactor.

Nutrients in piggery wastewater with high organic matter, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content were biologically removed in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with anaerobic, aerobic and anoxic stages. The SBR was operated with 3 cycles/day, temperature 30 degrees C, sludge retention time (SRT) 1 day and hydraulic retention time (HRT) 11 days. With a wastewater containing 1500 mg/l ammonium and 144 mg/l phosphate, a removal efficiency of 99.7% for nitrogen and 97.3% for phosphate was obtained. Experiments set up to evaluate the effect of temperature on the process showed that it should be run at temperatures higher than 16 degrees C to obtain good removals (> 95%). Batch tests (ammonia utilization rate, nitrogen utilization rate and oxygen utilization rate) proved to be good tools to evaluate heterotrophic and autotrophic biomass activity. The SBR proved to be a very flexible tool, and was particularly suitable for the treatment of piggery wastewater, characterized by high nutrient content and by frequent changes in composition and therefore affecting process conditions.

Association studies in candidate genes: strategies to select SNPs to be tested.

OBJECTIVE: When numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in a candidate gene, a relevant and still unanswered question is to determine how many and which of these SNPs should be optimally tested to detect an association with the disease. Testing them all is expensive and often unnecessary. Alleles at different SNPs may be associated in the population because of the existence of linkage disequilibrium, so that knowing the alleles carried at one SNP could provide exact or partial knowledge of alleles carried at a second SNP. We present here a method to select the most appropriate subset of SNPs in a candidate gene based on the pairwise linkage disequilibrium between the different SNPs. METHOD: The best subset is identified through power computations performed under different genetic models, assuming that one of the SNPs identified is the disease susceptibility variant. RESULTS: We applied the method on two data sets, an empirical study of the APOE gene region and a simulated study concerning one of the major genes (MG1) from the Genetic Analysis Workshop 12. For these two genes, the sets of SNPs selected were compared to the ones obtained using two other methods that need the reconstruction of multilocus haplotypes in order to identify haplotype-tag SNPs (htSNPs). We showed that with both data sets, our method performed better than the other selection methods.

Injury prevention and control in children.

Injury is the number one cause of death and life-years lost for children. In children, injury mortality is greater than childhood mortality from all other causes combined. Modern injury prevention and control seeks to prevent and limit or control injuries through the 4 Es of injury prevention: engineering, enforcement, education, and economics. Emergency physicians are often placed in a critical role in the lives of individuals, are respected authorities on the health and safety of children and adults, and have daily exposure to high-risk populations. This gives emergency physicians a unique perspective and an opportunity to take an active role in injury control and prevention. Specific methods or strategies for promulgating injury prevention and control in our emergency medicine practices are suggested, ranging from education (for our patients and health professionals); screening and intervention for domestic violence, child maltreatment, drug-alcohol dependency and abuse; data collection; reporting unsafe products; research; legislation; serving in regulatory and governmental agencies; emergency medical services-community involvement; and violence prevention. Emergency physicians can play a significant role in decreasing pediatric injury and its concomitant morbidity and mortality.

Results of evaluating health care workers with prick and patch testing.

BACKGROUND: Health care workers are exposed to many agents that can cause irritant or allergic contact dermatitis. Recently, much attention has been focused on latex sensitivity, which commonly causes contact urticaria. Most studies have examined the conditions of irritant or allergic contact dermatitis and contact urticaria independently. Therefore, we have little information about the possible occurrence of these conditions in the context of combined assessment including both prick and patch testing. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of irritant and allergic contact dermatitis and contact urticaria in a group of health care workers presenting with skin problems. METHODS: Retrospective review of health care workers assessed by both prick and patch testing in an occupational health clinic. RESULTS: The diagnoses included 61% with irritant contact dermatitis, 31% with allergic contact dermatitis, and 27% with contact urticaria to latex. Eleven percent had both allergic contact dermatitis related to thiuram and contact urticaria to latex. Ninety five percent were deemed to be work-related. CONCLUSION: Health care workers presenting with skin complaints should be assessed with both prick and patch testing.

Asthma therapy in the observation unit.

The management of asthma is a commonly encountered clinical problem. There have been major advances in the treatment of asthma, including an increase in the drugs available for treatment, as well as in knowledge of the pathophysiology of the disease. Despite these advances, however, the prevalence, morbidity, and mortality for asthma have shown a disturbing upward trend over the past few decades. Experience with the OU management of asthma has shown many advantages: decreased inpatient hospitalization, better quality of life for patients, higher patient satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, and effective patient care. It is estimated that 60% to 70% of asthmatic patients could be treated in an ED observation unit instead of in an inpatient hospital ward. There is a tremendous opportunity for the OU management of asthma to improve patient care, as well as decrease costs, thereby reducing asthma morbidity and mortality.