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This study aimed to evaluate different air dosing strategies such as microaeration flow rates and air dosing points to enhance H2S removal in microaerobic systems treating low-strength wastewaters. Efficiency and stability of the reactors, as well as biogas quality, were assessed, and microbial community changes were evaluated using the PCR-DGGE technique. The results showed that the air dosing point affected the H2S concentration and that air dosing at the headspace promoted the highest H2S removal efficiency. The airflow rate also affected the process, since H2S concentration in the biogas was higher at 0.1 mL air.min−1 than at 0.3 mL air.min−1. The methane concentration in the biogas was also affected by both air dosing point and flow rate, since the lowest value was observed at the highest airflow rate of the headspace dosing point, due to dilution by the N2 influx applied to the system. The highest productivity and operational efficiency were observed at this air dosing point, with this airflow (HD0.3), which corroborates with the operational results and the ecological parameters, since the microaeration at this stage promoted high bacterial and archaeal species richness and diversity, optimum functional organization, high COD and H2S removal efficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient adhesion between polymers and two-dimensional materials, such as graphene, is fundamental and crucial for the development of flexible devices or special coating materials as well as defining the quality of the transfer processes for these materials. Here, contact angle (CA) measurements of four distinct polymers, low-density polyethylene - LDPE, polypropylene - PP, poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) - PBAT and poly (vinylidene-fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) - PVDF-TrFE, and graphene achieved by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were used to understand the adhesion phenomena between such materials. The CA measurements were carried out at specific thermal conditions mimicking a transfer process that is based on direct contact of CVD graphene and polymers above their melting temperature (Direct Dry Transfer - DDT). Surface analysis allowed the efficiency of such transfer method to be pre-estimated owing to an understanding of the adhesion properties of both materials by comparing their polar and dispersive components values. However, rheological properties and chemical structures seemed to be equally important in this evaluation, either by molecular weight modification or introduction of chemical groups onto the surface of polymer films. The results allowed for an understanding of the role of the main factors in adhesion phenomena between graphene and polymers and how they can be used to improve graphene coating during transfer processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Many anuran amphibians deposit their eggs in foam nests, biostructures that help protect the eggs and tadpoles from predators. Currently, there are no other identification and description studies of the cultivable microbiota role in the nests of the Leptodactylid frogs such as Physalaemus cuvieri, Leptodactylus vastus and Adenomera hylaedactyla. This study aimed to isolate and identify the culturable bacteria from these three anuran species' nests, as well as to prospect enzymes produced by this microbiota. Foam nests samples and environmental samples were diluted and viable cell count was determined. Bacterial morphotypes from foam nest samples were isolated through spread plate technique. Isolates' DNAs were extracted followed by rRNA 16S gene amplification and Sanger sequencing. To evaluate their enzymatic potential, the isolates were cultured in ATGE medium supplemented with starch (0.1% w/v), gelatin (3% w/v) and skimmed milk (1% w/v), to verify amylase and protease activity. A total of 183 bacterial morphotypes were isolated, comprising 33 bacterial genera. Proteobacteria phylum was the most abundant in all the three nests (79%). The genera Pseudomonas and Aeromonas were the most abundant taxon in P. cuvieri and L. vastus. In A. Hylaedactyla, were Enterobacter and Bacillus. Regarding enzymatic activities, 130 isolates displayed protease activity and 45 isolates were positive for amylase activity. Our results provide unprecedented information concerning culturable bacterial microbiota of the foam nests of the Leptodactylid frogs, as well as their potential for biomolecules of biotechnological interest.

This study aimed to evaluate different air dosing strategies such as microaeration flow rates and air dosing points to enhance H 2 S removal in microaerobic systems treating low-strength wastewaters. Efficiency and stability of the reactors, as well as biogas quality, were assessed, and microbial community changes were evaluated using the PCR-DGGE technique. The results showed that the air dosing point affected the H 2 S concentration and that air dosing at the headspace promoted the highest H 2 S removal efficiency. The airflow rate also affected the process, since H 2 S concentration in the biogas was higher at 0.1 mL air.min -1 than at 0.3 mL air.min -1 . The methane concentration in the biogas was also affected by both air dosing point and flow rate, since the lowest value was observed at the highest airflow rate of the headspace dosing point, due to dilution by the N 2 influx applied to the system. The highest productivity and operational efficiency were observed at this air dosing point, with this airflow (HD 0.3 ), which corroborates with the operational results and the ecological parameters, since the microaeration at this stage promoted high bacterial and archaeal species richness and diversity, optimum functional organization, high COD and H 2 S removal efficiencies.

Seventy-seven human cases of sylvatic yellow fever were reported in Brazil during the period January-June 2000. The first cases were reported 1 week after New Year's day and originated at Chapada dos Veadeiros, a tourist canyon site in Goiás state, near Brasília, the Brazilian capital. The laboratory procedures used for diagnoses included serology with an IgM capture assay and plaque reduction neutralization test, virus isolation in suckling mice and C6/36 cells, and immunohistochemistry. All cases were diagnosed by at least two different laboratory procedures, with the exception of the first three fatal cases, which were diagnosed on the basis of clinical and epidemiological information. The cases were reported in eight Brazilian states as follows: Goiás with 64.9% (50 cases); Amazonas (1); Bahia (10); Distrito Federal (1); Mato Grosso (4); Minas Gerais (2); Pará (1); São Paulo (2); and Tocantins (6). Patient ages were within the following ranges: 13-74 years old (mean 34.3), 64 (84.4%) were male, especially agricultural workers (n = 30), but tourists (n = 11), carpenters (n = 4), fishermen (n = 4), students (n = 3), truck drivers (n = 3), and other people (n = 22) were also sickened. The case fatality rate was 50.6% (39/77). In Bahia state, a serologic survey that was carried out has suggested a symptomatic/asymptomatic coefficient of 1:4. Field studies developed in Distrito Federal, Goiás, and São Paulo states showed that Haemagogus janthinomys was the mosquito species associated with the transmission. A single strain was also obtained from Aedes scapularis in Bahia. Epizootic occurrence (monkey mortality) was observed in 49 municipalities mainly in Goiás state, where 40 municipalities made reports, 21 of which also diagnosed human cases. Data obtained by the National Institute of Meteorology in Brazil showed an increase in temperature and rain in December 1999 and the first 3 months of 2000 in Goiás and surrounding states, which perhaps has contributed to the intense and widespread transmission of the yellow fever virus. The relatively small number of cases probably reflects the extensive use of yellow fever 17D-vaccine during the last 3 years, in which about 45 million doses were used. During the last months of 1999, 16 and 11 yellow fever cases were reported in Tocantins and Goiás states, respectively. It is noteworthy that the last reported autochthonous cases of sylvatic yellow fever in São Paulo and Bahia, both states outside the endemic/enzootic area, had occurred in 1953 and 1948, respectively., (Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

We describe clinical and epidemiologic findings during the first epidemic of dengue fever in Belém, Pará State, Brazil, in 1996-97. Of 40,237 serum samples, 17,440 (43%) were positive for dengue by virus isolation or serologic testing. No hemorrhagic cases or deaths were reported. Mycobacterium tuberculosis

We report a case of an intradural extramedullary malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) occurring in a 2-year-old girl. Histologically, immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally, the tumor fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for MRT. Many tumor cells contained typical cytoplasmic eosinophilic hyaline inclusions which were filamentous by electron microscopy. Positive vimentin staining was observed immunohistochemically but epithelial markers were negative. Extrarenal MRT are rare. Ten instances in the central nervous system have been reported. This case is the first intradural MRT of the spinal canal. The differential diagnosis from other tumors of this region is important because the prognosis and therapeutic approaches are greatly different.