Mechanisms Prevalent during Bioremediation of Wastewaters from the Pulp and Paper Industry

Bioremediation of wastewaters represents an important treatment methodology, especially when examined against the backdrop of ever-stricter legislation that is evolving in order to regulate effluent release into the environment. It has been reported that bioremediation specifically holds promise in solving environmental problems. Crucial questions surrounding the treatment of effluents include: efficiency of the process, economic feasibility, legal requirements, and the mechanisms involved in the remediation process. Of all these issues mentioned, the last requires special attention. This paper investigates these matters and focuses on techniques that are currently employed to determine the efficiency of bioremediation and mechanisms involved therein. The physiological significance of biosorption is also examined, as this subject has not been fully addressed in previous publications.     

A Community of One: Social Cognition and Auditory Verbal Hallucinations

Auditory verbal hallucinations have attracted a great deal of scientific interest, but despite the fact that they are fundamentally a social experience—in essence, a form of hallucinated communication—current theories remain firmly rooted in an individualistic account and have largely avoided engagement with social cognition. Nevertheless, there is mounting evidence for the role of social cognitive and social neurocognitive processes in auditory verbal hallucinations, and, consequently, it is proposed that problems with the internalisation of social models may be key to the experience.     

Gastrointestinal Polyposis: Syndromes and Genetic Mechanisms

Adenomas and hamartomas, two genetically transmitted histologic types of gastrointestinal polyposis, are associated in syndromes with extragastrointestinal manifestations. Adenomas that predispose to adenocarcinoma are basic to familial polyposis coli, the Gardner syndrome and the Turcot syndrome. Gastrointestinal polyps and extragastrointestinal lesions serve as a warning, providing time for diagnosis and treatment of adenomas to prevent their malignant transformation in patients and their relatives. Hamartomas with no malignancy potential, but having a tendency toward bleeding and bowel obstruction, are associated with the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, juvenile polyposis, multiple hamartoma syndrome, basal-cell nevus syndrome and the Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Most of these lesions and syndromes follow the inheritance pattern of a single autosomal dominant gene.     

Ringing the alarm bells: signalling and apoptosis in influenza virus infected cells

Small RNA viruses such as influenza viruses extensively manipulate host-cell functions to support their replication. At the same time the infected cell induces an array of defence mechanisms to fight the invader. These processes are mediated by a variety of intracellular signalling cascades. Here we will review the current knowledge of functional kinase signalling and apoptotic events in influenza virus infected cells and how these viruses have learned to misuse these cellular responses for efficient replication.     

Real-Time Bladder Lesion Registration and Navigation: A Phantom Study

Background

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in men, with a recurrence rate of 33–64%. Tumor documentation during cystoscopy of the bladder is suboptimal and might play a role in these high recurrence rates.

Objective

In this project, a bladder registration and navigation system was developed to improve bladder tumor documentation and consequently increase reproducibility of the cystoscopy.

Materials/Methods

The bladder registration and navigation system consists of a stereo-tracker that tracks the location of a newly developed target, which is attached to the endoscope during cystoscopy. With this information the urology registration and navigation software is able to register the 3D position of a lesion of interest. Simultaneously, the endoscopic image is captured in order to combine it with this 3D position. To enable navigation, navigational cues are displayed on the monitor, which subsequently direct the cystoscopist to the previously registered lesion. To test the system, a rigid and a flexible bladder phantom was developed. The system''s robustness was tested by measuring the accuracy of registering and navigating the lesions. Different calibration procedures were compared. It was also tested whether system accuracy is limited by using a previously saved calibration, to avoid surgical delay due to calibration. Urological application was tested by comparing a rotational camera (fixed to the rotating endoscope) to a non-rotational camera (dangling by gravity) used in standard urologic practice. Finally, the influence of volume differences on registering and navigating was tested.

Results/Conclusion

The bladder registration and navigation system has an acceptable accuracy for bladder lesion registration and navigation. Limitations for patient determinants included changes in bladder volume and bladder deformation. In vivo studies are required to measure the effect of these limitations and functionality in urological practice as a tool to increase reproducibility of the cystoscopy.     

Phantom Wars and Cyberwars: Abyssinian Fundamentalism and Catastrophe in Eritrea

The 1998–2000 war between Ethiopia and Eritreapitted former allies against each other, endingnew opportunities for development anddemocracy. We examine discursive constructionof the war, including Western media coverageand propaganda from both governments, but focuson discourse of exiled Ethiopians committed topolitical struggles in their former homeland,using the concept of long-distance nationalism.To investigate one form of long-distancenationalism, resurgent Abyssinianfundamentalism, we turn to sites of itsdiscursive production, including the magazine,Ethiopian Review, and the Internet. Theorists of transnationalism have consideredthe Internet as a site for new forms ofcommunication and community and argue thatInternet discourse among diaspora professionalsand academics embodies a creolizeddiscourse produced by a distinctive type, thecybernaut. In the case of the Abyssiniancybernauts, however, we detect not a newcreolized discourse but a ghostly repetitionof old views.     

Syndromes or Flexibility: Behavior during a Life History Transition of a Coral Reef Fish

The theory of behavioral syndromes focuses on quantifying variation in behavior within and among individual organisms and attempts to account for the maintenance of differences in behavior that occur in a consistent manner among individuals. Behavioral syndromes have potentially important ecological consequences (e.g. survivorship tradeoffs) and can be shaped by population dynamics through selective mortality. Here, we search for any evidence for consistency of behavior across situations in juveniles of a common damselfish, Pomacentrus amboinensis (Pomacentridae) at the transition between larval habitats in the plankton and juvenile habitats on the reef. Naïve fish leaving the pelagic phase to settle on reefs were caught by light traps and their behaviors observed using similar methods across three different situations (small aquaria, large aquaria, field setting); all of which represent low risk and well-sheltered environments. Seven behavioral traits were compared within and among individuals across situations to determine if consistent behavioral syndromes existed. No consistency was found in any single or combination of behavioral traits for individuals across all situations. We suggest that high behavioral flexibility is likely beneficial for newly-settled fish at this ontogenetic transition and it is possible that consistent behavioral syndromes are unlikely to emerge in juveniles until environmental experience is gained or certain combinations of behaviors are favored by selective mortality.     

Experimental Evidence of the Tonic Vibration Reflex during Whole-Body Vibration of the Loaded and Unloaded Leg

Increased muscle activation during whole-body vibration (WBV) is mainly ascribed to a complex spinal and supraspinal neurophysiological mechanism termed the tonic vibration reflex (TVR). However, TVR has not been experimentally demonstrated during low-frequency WBV, therefore this investigation aimed to determine the expression of TVR during WBV.  Whilst seated, eight healthy males were exposed to either vertical WBV applied to the leg via the plantar-surface of the foot, or Achilles tendon vibration (ATV) at 25Hz and 50Hzfor 70s. Ankle plantar-flexion force, tri-axial accelerations at the shank and vibration source, and surface EMG activity of m. soleus (SOL) and m. tibialis anterior (TA) were recorded from the unloaded and passively loaded leg to simulate body mass supported during standing.  Plantar flexion force was similarly augmented by WBV and ATV and increased over time in a load- and frequency dependent fashion. SOL and TA EMG amplitudes increased over time in all conditions independently of vibration mode. 50Hz WBV and ATV resulted in greater muscle activation than 25Hz in SOL when the shank was loaded and in TA when the shank was unloaded despite the greater transmission of vertical acceleration from source to shank with 25Hz and WBV, especially during loading. Low-amplitude WBV of the unloaded and passively loaded leg produced slow tonic muscle contraction and plantar-flexion force increase of similar magnitudes to those induced by Achilles tendon vibration at the same frequencies. This study provides the first experimental evidence supporting the TVR as a plausible mechanism underlying the neuromuscular response to whole-body vibration.     

Molecular Epidemiology of Coxsackievirus A16: Intratype and Prevalent Intertype Recombination Identified

Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) is responsible for nearly 50% of all the confirmed hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in mainland China, sometimes it could also cause severe complications, and even death. To clarify the genetic characteristics and the epidemic patterns of CVA16 in mainland China, comprehensive bioinfomatics analyses were performed by using 35 CVA16 whole genome sequences from 1998 to 2011, 593 complete CVA16 VP1 sequences from 1981 to 2011, and prototype strains of human enterovirus species A (EV-A). Analysis on complete VP1 sequences revealed that subgenotypes B1a and B1b were prevalent strains and have been co-circulating in many Asian countries since 2000, especially in mainland China for at least 13 years. While the prevalence of subgenotype B1c (totally 20 strains) was much limited, only found in Malaysia from 2005 to 2007 and in France in 2010. Genotype B2 only caused epidemic in Japan and Malaysia from 1981 to 2000. Both subgenotypes B1a and B1b were potential recombinant viruses containing sequences from other EV-A donors in the 5’-untranslated region and P2, P3 non-structural protein encoding regions.     

Prevalent Mutations of Human Prion Protein: A Molecular Modeling and Molecular Dynamics Study

Abstract

Point mutations in the human prion protein gene, leading to amino acid substitutions in the human prion protein contribute to conversion of PrP^C to PrP^Sc and amyloid formation, resulting in prion diseases such as familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease (GSS), and fatal familial insomnia. We have investigated impressions of prevalent mutations including Q217R, D202N, F198S, on the human prion protein and compared the mutant models with wild types. Structural analyses of models were performed with molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulation methods. According to our results, frequently occurred mutations are observed in conserved and fully conserved sequences of human prion protein and the most fluctuation values occur in the Helix 1 around residues 144–152 and C-terminal end of the Helix 2. Our analysis of results obtained from MD simulation clearly shows that this long-range effect plays an important role in the conformational fluctuations in mutant structures of human prion protein. Results obtained from molecular modeling such as creation or elimination of some hydrogen bonds, increase or decrease of the accessible surface area and molecular surface, loss or accumulation of negative or positive charges on specific positions, and altering the polarity and pKa values, show that amino acid point mutations, though not urgently change the stability of PrP, might have some local impacts on the protein interactions which are required for oligomerization into fibrillar species.     

Prevalent mutations of human prion protein: a molecular modeling and molecular dynamics study

Point mutations in the human prion protein gene, leading to amino acid substitutions in the human prion protein contribute to conversion of PrPC to PrPSc and amyloid formation, resulting in prion diseases such as familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease (GSS), and fatal familial insomnia. We have investigated impressions of prevalent mutations including Q217R, D202N, F198S, on the human prion protein and compared the mutant models with wild types. Structural analyses of models were performed with molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulation methods. According to our results, frequently occurred mutations are observed in conserved and fully conserved sequences of human prion protein and the most fluctuation values occur in the Helix 1 around residues 144-152 and C-terminal end of the Helix 2. Our analysis of results obtained from MD simulation clearly shows that this long-range effect plays an important role in the conformational fluctuations in mutant structures of human prion protein. Results obtained from molecular modeling such as creation or elimination of some hydrogen bonds, increase or decrease of the accessible surface area and molecular surface, loss or accumulation of negative or positive charges on specific positions, and altering the polarity and pKa values, show that amino acid point mutations, though not urgently change the stability of PrP, might have some local impacts on the protein interactions which are required for oligomerization into fibrillar species.     

Prevalent Long-Term Trends of Hypertension in Austria: The Impact of Obesity and Socio-Demography

Background

Globally there are only less long-term-studies on hypertension available to provide reliable estimates and identify risk groups. This study aims to analyse the prevalence and long-term-trend of hypertension in Austria, recognize affected subpopulations and investigate social inequalities.

Methods

This representative population-based study is based on self-reported data of adults (mean age: 47.7 ± 17.5; n = 178,818) that were taken from five health surveys between 1973 and 2007. An adjustment of self-reported BMI was performed based on a preliminary validation study. Absolute changes (AC) and aetiologic fractions (AF) were calculated from logistic regressions in order to measure trends. To quantify the extent of social inequality, a relative index of inequality (RII) was computed.

Results

During the study period the age-standardized hypertension prevalence increased from 1.0% to 18.8%, with a considerable rise from 1991 onwards. There was a positive trend in all subpopulations, with the highest AC among obese women (+50.2%) and obese subjects aged 75 years and older (+54.4%), whereas the highest risk was observed among the youngest obese adults (AF: 99.4%). The RII for hypertension was higher for women than men, but in general unstable during the investigation period.

Conclusions

Obesity and older age are significant factors for increased morbidity of hypertension. The most undesirable trends occurred in obese women and obese subjects aged 75 years and older. These risk groups should be given special attention when planning hypertension prevention programs. The high increase in the prevalence of hypertension is due to different aspects, e.g. a demographic change and a change in the definition of hypertension. These findings help to understand why hypertension is becoming more common in the Austrian population.     

Mental Retardation: Methods of Diagnosis and Some Recently Described Syndromes

Reduction of intelligence should be differentiated from interference with the use of intelligence by such non-intellective factors as partial deafness and emotional disturbance. The parents of a retarded child want an assessment, a prediction of the eventual achievement level, and a causal explanation if possible. There are varying degrees of knowledge of causation, from recognition of reduced intelligence only, to an understanding of the mechanism of causation in considerable detail from primary cause to ultimate consequence, as in phenylketonuria or isoimmunization. A diagnosis should be as complete as possible, using available modern techniques of investigation, such as chromatography and cytogenetic studies.Among the recently described syndromes associated with mental retardation are: (1) spastic paralysis and congenital ichthyosis; (2) Rud''s syndrome; (3) deaf-mutism, infantilism, ataxia and a disturbance of hormone metabolism; and (5) sex-linked deaf-mutism.     

Infectious Mononucleosis and Mononucleosis Syndromes: Clinical,Virological and Immunological Features

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) mononucleosis are caused by a primary infection with related viruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and CMV. Despite the similarity of clinical manifestations, basic differences exist: (1) The heterophil antibody (HA) response is absent in CMV mononucleosis, whereas it is present in IM. (2) In IM atypical lymphocytosis reflects proliferation of B cells early and of T cells later in the disease course; in CMV mononucleosis the situation appears complex. (3) In blood, EBV is restricted to B lymphocytes, whereas CMV is found in polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes. (4) Complications of CMV mononucleosis such as hepatitis and pneumonitis may be due to virus cytopathic effect in target organs. Prominent tonsillopharyngitis with adenopathy, and visceral complications of IM are related to lymphoproliferation which is self-limited except in males with a rare familial defect in defense against EBV. Immune complex-mediated pathology may occur in both diseases. (5) CMV is frequently transmitted to a fetus in utero or to an infant during or after birth, and this occasionally leads to severe cytomegalic inclusion disease; vertical transmission of EBV appears to be exceptional. (6) Secondary EBV infections are associated with certain malignancies whereas such an association has not been recognized in the case of CMV.Toxoplasma gondii is another cause of HA-negative mononucleosis. Its complications in the heart, in skeletal muscle and in the central nervous system are related to direct invasion by the parasite. Cellular immunity plays an important role in defense against all three agents.     

Medical protection during radiation accidents: some results and lessons of the Chernobyl accident

Actions of medical radiation protection of liquidators of consequences of on Chernobyl atomic power station accident are analysed. It is shown, that during the early period of the accident medical protection of liquidators was provided by administration of radioprotectors, means of prophylaxis: of radioactive iodine incorporation and agent for preventing psychological and emotional stress. When carrying out decontamination and regenerative works, preparations which action is caused by increase of nonspecific resistance of an organism were applied. The lessons taken from the results of the Chernobyl accident, have allowed one to improve the system of medical protection and to introduce in practice new highly effective radioprotective agents.