Semicontinuous anaerobic digestion of soft drink wastewater in immobilised cell bioreactors

Summary Saponite support considerably increased the kinetics of a. semicontinuous anaerobic digestion process treating soft drink wastewater showing values of the _max andK kinetic parameters (Chen and Hashimoto model) 2.5 and 1.4 times higher than for bentonite and polyurethane support, respectively. This was significant at 95% confidence level.     

Analysis of Rates Using a Generalized Poisson Regression Model

In this paper a generalization of the Poisson regression model indexed by a shape parameter is proposed for the analysis of life table and follow-up data with concomitant variables. The model is suitable for analysis of extra-Poisson variation data. The model is used to fit the survival data given in Holford (1980). The model parameters, the hazard and survival functions are estimated by the method of maximum likelihood. The results obtained from this study seem to be comparable to those obtained by Chen (1988). Approximate tests of the dispersion and goodness-of-fit of the data to the model are also discussed.     

A kinetic study of the anaerobic digestion of piggery waste using down-flow stationary fixed film reactors

Summary In this paper the behaviour of the down-flow stationary fixed film digesters is studied at laboratory and bench scale. Several organic loading rates are applied to the reactors in order to examine the support surface behaviour. Specific support surfaces of about 50 m²/m³ void volume seems to be optimal. A set of experiments carried out in a continuous stirred reactor is used to fit the kinetic constants of the Chen and Hashimoto's model. The model is then used to assess its applicability to the DSFF digesters. The results show that its application, is possible as a first approximation.Nomenclature B₀ Ultimate methane yield (m³ CH₄/Kg VS) - B Specific methane production (m³ CH₄/Kg VS) - CSTR Continuous stirred tank reactor - DSFF Down-flow Stationary Fixed Film - HRT Hydraulic retention time (days) - K Kinetic constant of the Chen and Hashimoto model (dimensionless) - S Biodegradable substrate concentration (g/l) - SLR Superficial loading rate (Kg VS/m²·d) - SSS Specific support surface (m² support surface/m³ digester void volume) - S₀ Initial substrate concentration (g/l) - VS Volatile solids (g/l) - VFA Volatile Fatty Acids (mg/dm³) - Microorganisms specific growth (day^-1) - _m Kinetic constant of Chen and Hashimoto's model (day^-1) - Retention time (days) - _m Minimum retention time to avoid microorganisms washout (days)     

Status of Acute Symptomatic Seizures in a Female Patient with Thyrotoxicosis: Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy. A Case Report

Hashimoto’s encephalopathy is an autoimmune disease associated with a significant increase in the titer of autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin and is characterized by inflammatory and degenerative brain disorders. We report a clinical case of the recurrent status of acute symptomatic seizures in a female patient with Hashimoto’s encephalopathy.     

The mechanism of fast-gate opening in ClC-0

ClC-0 is a chloride channel whose gating is sensitive to both voltage and chloride. Based on analysis of gating kinetics using single-channel recordings, a five-state model was proposed to describe the dependence of ClC-0 fast-gate opening on voltage and external chloride (Chen, T.-Y., and C. Miller. 1996. J. Gen. Physiol. 108:237-250). We aimed to use this five-state model as a starting point for understanding the structural changes that occur during gating. Using macroscopic patch recordings, we were able to reproduce the effects of voltage and chloride that were reported by Chen and Miller and to fit our opening rate constant data to the five-state model. Upon further analysis of both our data and those of Chen and Miller, we learned that in contrast to their conclusions, (a) the features in the data are not adequate to rule out a simpler four-state model, and (b) the chloride-binding step is voltage dependent. In order to be able to evaluate the effects of mutants on gating (described in the companion paper, see Engh et al. on p. 351 of this issue), we developed a method for determining the error on gating model parameters, and evaluated the sources of this error. To begin to mesh the kinetic model(s) with the known CLC structures, a model of ClC-0 was generated computationally based on the X-ray crystal structure of the prokaryotic homolog ClC-ec1. Analysis of pore electrostatics in this homology model suggests that at least two of the conclusions derived from the gating kinetics analysis are consistent with the known CLC structures: (1) chloride binding is necessary for channel opening, and (2) chloride binding to any of the three known chloride-binding sites must be voltage dependent.     

Clinical studies on thyroidal autoantibodies.

In an attempt to clarify autoimmune nature of Grave's disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroidal autoantibodies have been studied on 86 cases of Grave's disease, 54 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 31 cases of simple goiter, 11 cases of primary hypothyroidism a-d 22 cases of thyroid neoplasia as well as on 364 healthy subjects. Two kinds of tanned red cell hemagglutination tests were carreid out on each case. One method using refined human thyroglobulin for sensitization of sheep red cells has been found to be specifice for anti-thyroglobulin antibody and to be frequently positive in Hashimoto patients. However, in another method using human thyroidal microsomes (purified by ultracentrifugation) as sensitizing antigen, some heterogenous antibodies including anti-thyroglobulin antibody might be detected together with the antibody against the antigen proper to thyroidal micorsome (HF antigen)which is derived from hyperfunctioning thyroidal follicular cells of Grave's patients. hAnti-HF antibody is frequently detected both in Hashimoto and Grave's patients. In other thyroid diseases the titers of both thyroidal autoantibodies were generally low, though higher than in healthy subjects. The effect of aging on thyroidal autoantibodies in healthy subjects was clearly observed in females but not in males. From the results of these two test, it is possible to speculate that high=columnar and hyperfunctioning thyroidal follicular cells might exist focally in most cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.     

Selenium and its relationship with selenoprotein P and glutathione peroxidase in children and adolescents with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and hypothyroidism

The essential trace element selenium (Se) is required for thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism. Selenoproteins contain selenocysteine and are responsible for biological functions of selenium. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is one of the major selenoproteins which protects the thyroid cells from oxidative damage. Selenoprotein P (SePP) is considered as the plasma selenium transporter to tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum Se and SePP levels, and GPx activity in erythrocytes of children and adolescents with treated Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, and normal subjects.Blood samples were collected from 32 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, 20 with hypothyroidism, and 25 matched normal subjects. All the patients were under treatment with levothyroxine and at the time of analysis all of the thyroid function tests were normal. GPx enzyme activity was measured by spectrophotometry at 340 nm. Serum selenium levels were measured by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption. SePP, TPOAb (anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody), and TgAb (anti-thyroglobulin antibody) were determined by ELISA kits. T₄, T₃, T₃ uptake and TSH were also measured.Neither GPx activity nor SePP levels were significantly different in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or hypothyroidism compared to normal subjects. Although GPx and SePP were both lower in patients with hypothyroidism compared to those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and normal subjects but the difference was not significant. Serum Se levels also did not differ significantly in patients and normal subjects. We did not find any correlation between GPx or SePP with TPOAb or TgAb but SePP was significantly correlated with Se.Results show that in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or hypothyroidism who have been under treatment with levothyroxine and have normal thyroid function tests, the GPx, SePP and Se levels are not significantly different.     

普萘洛尔治疗桥本病伴发甲亢82例临床疗效观察

目的：探讨普萘洛尔治疗桥本病伴发甲亢82例临床疗效观察。方法：随机选取2010年04月份-2011年05月份因桥本病伴发甲亢就诊于我院的患者82例,随机分为治疗组41例患者（采用普萘洛尔治疗）,对照组41例患者（采用常规治疗）,统计两组患者的甲状腺功能以及影像学改变,并对结果进行统计分析。结果：治疗组总有效率为68.3％,甲状腺功能以及影像学检查结果均明显优于对照组,经统计分析,P〈0．05,差异存在显著性。结论：普萘洛尔治疗桥本病伴发甲亢有效改善甲状腺功能,值得临床普遍使用。     

Hashimoto disease and hypothyroidism in child-bearing period--essential problem for woman and her child

Hashimoto disease is the most frequent cause of women's hypothyroidism in the reproductive period. It can, both directly and indirectly, influence the fertility, pregnancy, and fetus development. Nevertheless congenital hypothyroidism is very occasionally the consequence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. The neonatal hypothyroidism screening makes the early thyroxin treatment possible and prevents the development of complications from central nervous system. The authors showed main problems of Hashimoto disease in women during pregnancy as well as pregestational and postgestational period. The reasons of congenital hypothyroidism taking into account both iodine deficiency and excess were also presented.     

A case study on Hashimoto's thyroiditis induced electrolyte imbalance

Lymphocytic thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where auto-antibodies are produced against the thyroid gland. Initially, there might be a hyperthyroidism condition where T3 and T4 levels are high and external inflammation of thyroid gland might be seen, but over the course of time the destruction of thyroid gland can result in hypothyroidism where the complete destruction of thyroid gland. Electrolyte imbalances notably hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia with Hashimoto thyroiditis is a rare condition, in this article we will discuss about the course of treatment a 40-year-old female patient who presented with atypical symptoms of Hashimoto thyroiditis during her stay in the hospital.     

The Terrace simultaneous chaining paradigm

Terrace and his colleagues (Chen et al., 1997) have developed a simultaneous chaining paradigm (SCP) that breaks new ground in the study of animal learning. It also suggests a sharp contrast with human serial learning, and is pertinent to the on-going (ever-lasting) disagreement about item-to-item vs. item-to-position associations. I shall review this work and suggest the outline of a possible TODAM-like memory model using position rather than context vectors that might eventually provide a theoretical underpinning for this important work of Terrace. However, so far all I have been able to show is that this model can learn but it has not yet been developed to the point where we can estimate parameter values and fit the SCP data.     

Descriptions of two new species of Vietomartyria Hashimoto & Mey (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae) from South China, with reference to autapomorphies of the genus

Two new species of micropterigids, Vietomartyria nankunshana Hirowatari & Hashimoto sp. nov. and V. nanlingana Hirowatari & Jinbo sp. nov., are described from Nankunshan and Nanling (Guangdong, China), respectively. The genus Vietomartyria Hashimoto & Mey, 2000, which was originally established as a monotypic genus, is redefined based on the following autapomorphies shared by the three species: (i) the long basal stalk of each flagellomere; (ii) the many (>100) minute serrate projections near the gonopore of aedeagus; and (iii) the gonopore situated dorsally near the apex.     

Hashimoto encephalopathy: a case study

The impact of thyroid hormones upon the proper function of central nervous system has been known for many years. The neurological symptoms and psychiatric disturbances may occur both in case of hypo- as well as hyperthyreosis. The encephalopathy Hashimoto (EH) described in this paper is a rare illness which occurs in case of patients suffering from the autoimmunological thyroid disease and increased level of antibodies in serum without any connections to the thyroid function. It is characterised by a variety of neurological symptoms and psychotic disturbances, acute state, high re-occurrence and good reaction to glicocorticosteroid treatment. Although we face encephalopathy Hashimoto extremely rarely in the clinical practice one should remember about it during the diagnostic process because when it is a long lasting untreated illness it may lead to the irreversible changes in the central nervous system.     

Determination of aerobic biodegradation kinetics of olive oil mill wastewater

Aerobic biological treatment was conducted for the treatment of high strength olive oil mill wastewater (OMW). Two different approaches were used for kinetic modeling of OMW biodegradation. TOC removal and CO₂–C evolution were monitored in an open and a closed bioreactor systems, respectively. Gompertz, Refractory organics plus first-order (RFO) and Chen–Hashimoto equations were applied to estimate the kinetic parameters by using the data from bioreactors. Furthermore, change in oxidation stage of carbon was monitored and temperature dependency of OMW biodegradation was investigated based on activation energy. At room temperature, 64% of TOC was removed in the open bioreactor while cumulative CO₂–C evolution was 6.32 g L⁻¹ in closed the bioreactor. Higher biodegradation efficiency and kinetic parameters were obtained at 25 °C rather than 10 °C. Gompertz and RFO equations provided better fitting with CO₂–C and TOC data, respectively. Experimental and kinetic estimations indicated that OMW constituted of approximately 30% refractory organics. The comparison of two different modeling approaches showed that kinetic modeling based on CO₂–C provided better correlation with the experimental data. Temperature coefficient indicated that biological degradation of OMW is slightly dependent on temperature.     

Multiple Disease Associations in Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type II

ObjectiveAutoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II (APS II) is characterized by adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease), autoimmune thyroid disease, and/or type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). Multiple other autoimmune diseases have been associated with APS II. Here we report a case of a patient with APS II who over the course of 10 years developed Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, DM1, Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, vitiligo, celiac disease, seronegative arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. This is a particularly aggressive course of APS II, and this combination of autoimmune diseases has not been previously reported.MethodsA 25-year-old female with a history of ulcerative colitis (UC), celiac disease, and DM1 presented to our institution with mental status changes. She was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s encephalopathy and treated with high-dose steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). She recovered well from her encephalopathy but her posthospitalization course was complicated due to the development of Addison’s disease, vitiligo, seronegative arthritis, and hypothyroidism.ResultsThe current understanding of APS II and its autoimmune disease associations are briefly summarized.Submitted for publication April 10, 2014 Accepted for publication July 10, 2014 The association of UC and Hashimoto’s encephalopathy with APS II is novel and discussed in detail.ConclusionA case of a patient with APS II with a dramatic development of 8 autoimmune diseases over 10 years is described. The novel APS II developments of Hashimoto’s encephalopathy and UC are discussed. This case highlights the potential complexity and severity of the clinical course of APS II. (Endocr Pract. 2014;20:e250-e255)     

舟蛾赤眼蜂生物学特性

舟蛾赤眼蜂在淮北地区自然界能安全越冬,每年完成２０～２２个世代。环境温湿度、风和光照等自然因子对其发育和活动有明显影响,发育的适宜温度为２４．９～２８．７℃,相对湿度为８０％左右。常年平均寄生率为 １４．８１％;垂直向上活动范围可达 ６～８ｍ,水平扩散可达 ３５ｍ。     

Septum of Geotrichum candidum or Valva of a Centric Diatom?

It is suggested that the structures which have been interpreted as immature septa of Geotrichum candidum by Hashimoto et al. represent valvae of a centric diatom.     

Taxonomic study of the genus Niwaella (Cypriniformes:Cobitidae) from East China,with description of four new species

Four loaches,Niwaella brevipinna Chen & Chen,sp.nov.,N.fimbriata Chen & Chen,sp.nov.,N.nigrolinea Chen & Chen,sp.nov.and N.qujiangensis Chen &Chen,sp.nov.,are described based on specimens collected from Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces,East China.The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of 28 individuals of seven species from seven locations collected from Zhejiang,Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces were amplified and analyzed.Morphological and molecular data showed that N.fimbriata Chen & Chen,sp.nov.and N.nigrolinea Chen & Chen,sp.nov.,N.brevipinna Chen& Chen,sp.nov.and N.laterimaculata (Yan & Zheng),N.qujiangensis Chen & Chen,sp.nov.and N.longibarba Chen & Chen are closely related.The seven Chinese Niwaella species,N.brevipinna Chen & Chen,sp.nov.,N.fimbriata Chen & Chen,sp.nov.,N.laterimaculata,N.longibarba,N.nigrolinea Chen & Chen,sp.nov.,N.qujiangensis Chen & Chen,sp.nov.,and N.xinjiangensis are clearly distinguished by the combination of the color patter,mental lobes,suborbital spine,caudal peduncle,body shape,and subdorsal scales.     

Demonstration by immunoblotting of heterogeneity in the autoantibody response directed against fat cells in Graves' disease

Guinea pig fat cell membranes (FCM) have been widely used in preference to thyroid membranes as a source of TSH receptors to investigate TSH receptor antibodies in Graves' disease, because FCM are ostensibly free of other thyroid antigens. However, by FCM immunoblotting we have found: 8 of 10 normal sera bound to determinants at 38 and 190 kDa; 17 other determinants were recognised by 60% of Graves' or Hashimoto sera and by 20% of normal sera; three determinants at 65-90 kDa were recognised by 5 of 13 Graves' but by none of the normal or Hashimoto sera; and none of the determinants recognised appeared to be related to the TSH receptor.     

Evidence for Circulating Immune Complexes in Thyroid Disease

Anti-complementary activity was detected in the sera of 23 (59%) out of 39 patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis; in 10 (29%) out of 34 patients with primary hypothyroidism; in six (17%) out of 36 patients with thyrotoxicosis; and in only six (8%) out of 78 control subjects. Fractionation of Hashimoto sera by Sephadex G-200 chromatography showed that the anti-complementary activity was founding fractions of larger molecular size than monomeric IgG, being localized predominantly in the ascending limb of the second elution peak, suggesting that it was in the form of small immune complexes.