Correction to: Application of a multiphase microreactor chemostat for the determination of reaction kinetics of Staphylococcus carnosus.

Unfortunately, in the "How to Cite as" section, the given and the family name of the author was incorrectly published, the correct name is Lladó Maldonado. S.

Application of a multiphase microreactor chemostat for the determination of reaction kinetics of Staphylococcus carnosus.

Bioreactors at the microliter scale offer a promising approach to accelerate bioprocess development. Advantages of such microbioreactors include a reduction in the use of expensive reagents. In this study, a chemostat operation mode of a cuvette-based microbubble column bioreactor made of polystyrene (working volume of 550 µL) was demonstrated. Aeration occurs through a nozzle (Ø ≤ 100 µm) and supports submerged whole-cell cultivation of Staphylococcus carnosus. Stationary concentrations of biomass and glucose were determined in the dilution rate regime ranging from 0.12 to 0.80 1/h with a glucose feed concentration of 1 g/L. For the first time, reaction kinetics of S. carnosus were estimated from data obtained from continuous cultivation. The maximal specific growth rate (µmax = 0.824 1/h), Monod constant (KS = 34 × 10- 3gS/L), substrate-related biomass yield coefficient (YX/S = 0.315 gCDW/gS), and maintenance coefficient (mS = 0.0035 gS/(gCDW·h)) were determined. These parameters are now available for further studies in the field of synthetic biology.

Disposable parallel poly(dimethylsiloxane) microbioreactor with integrated readout grid for germination screening of Aspergillus ochraceus.

In this work a disposable, parallel microbioreactor (MBR) suitable for screening in batch or continuous mode is presented. The reactor consists of five parallel microchambers made of poly(dimethylsiloxane) bonded to a glass substrate. A grid structure is engraved on each chamber, allowing subsequent morphology imaging. Measurements are recorded over the entire cultivation period with constant parameters, namely, position and focus in the z-axis. The microdevice may be used for either parallel, uni- or multiparametric screening, and overcomes the drawback of gridless microwell plates which require expensive equipment such as an inverted microscope with an automatic stage. To validate the scalability from laboratory scale to microscale, and thus the cultivation protocol in the MBR, the germination of fungal spores (A. ochraceus) is evaluated for two different key magnitudes (pH and temperature) and compared to the results obtained from conventional laboratory scale systems (flasks and agar plates). Information on germination capacity with regard to interspecies' variability allows for optimization of industrial processes as optimal pH and temperature matched to the mesoscopic cultivation systems. The germination conditions therefore remain unaffected inside the MBR, while providing the following advantages: (i) dramatic reduction of medium consumption, (ii) submerged cultivation with constant oxygen supply, (iii) assured low cost and disposability, and (iv) possibility of a continuous cultivation mode.

Metallic and insulating phases of repulsively interacting fermions in a 3D optical lattice.

The fermionic Hubbard model plays a fundamental role in the description of strongly correlated materials. We have realized this Hamiltonian in a repulsively interacting spin mixture of ultracold (40)K atoms in a three-dimensional (3D) optical lattice. Using in situ imaging and independent control of external confinement and lattice depth, we were able to directly measure the compressibility of the quantum gas in the trap. Together with a comparison to ab initio dynamical mean field theory calculations, we show how the system evolves for increasing confinement from a compressible dilute metal over a strongly interacting Fermi liquid into a band-insulating state. For strong interactions, we find evidence for an emergent incompressible Mott insulating phase. This demonstrates the potential to model interacting condensed-matter systems using ultracold fermionic atoms.

[Scientific cooperation in the area of criminologic techniques in Europe]. / Wissenschaftliche Zusammenarbeit auf dem Gebiet der Kriminaltechnik in Europa.

Due to an increased trend toward professionalism on the part of criminals and the globalization of crime the demands on forensic science have increased. These demands can only be met by international co-operation. A priori all areas of forensic science can be recommended as fields where working together is adequate. Co-operation--depending for example on the amount of work required for planned research and development, on the need for harmonization of methods and techniques or on the complexity of the task--is certainly necessary to a varying extent. In institutionalizing co-operation it is not so much a mere increase in the relevant activities that is offered but much more variety of (new) ideas. In doing this, as will be shown in a couple of examples, the use of new information and communication technology in particular should be increased.

Standardized AgNOR analysis of the invasive tumour front in oral squamous cell carcinomas.

In the last decade, silver staining of nucleolar organizer region-associated proteins (AgNORs) has been widely used in tumour pathology both for diagnostic and for prognostic purposes. However, a reliable and reproducible assessment of these proteins on routinely processed archival tissues has only become possible since the recent introduction of standardized staining method and computer-aided morphometric analysis. In the present study, the AgNOR content at the invasive front of 80 squamous cell carcinomas of the floor of the mouth/tongue was investigated using this novel approach, with regard to prognosis and a variety of clinico-pathological parameters. All standardized AgNOR parameters [mean of AgNOR number, mean of AgNOR area, coefficients of variation (CV) of both AgNOR number and area] were statistically significantly associated with the clinical course. The strongest correlation was found for the AgNOR-area univariate analysis (P = 0.006). In multivariate analysis, the mean of AgNOR number could independently predict both overall (P = 0.01) and disease-free survival (P = 0.001). It is concluded that standardized staining and computer-aided analysis of AgNORs are prerequisites for an objective and reproducible AgNOR assessment, which has potential as a supplementary diagnostic and prognostic tool in oral cancer.

Standardized demonstration of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions-associated proteins in archival oral squamous cell carcinomas and adjacent non-neoplastic mucosa.

Standardized silver staining and quantitation of nucleolar organizer regions-associated proteins (AgNORs) on routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues has been recently established. The present study was designed to assess its applicability and reproducibility on archival oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens, with special emphasis on the invasive tumor front. Standardized image cytometric AgNOR analysis was performed at the invasive zone and central parts of the tumors as well as in adjacent dysplastic and normal oral mucosa by applying a modified silver staining on routinely processed archival tissues after wet autoclave pretreatment for protein retrieval. A statistically highly significant and reproducible difference of all of the four standardized AgNOR parameters evaluated (mean AgNOR number, mean AgNOR area, coefficient of variation (CV) of AgNOR number, and CV of AgNOR area per nucleus) was observed between the different areas assessed; there was a statistically significant gradual decrease in the CV of the AgNOR number from the invasive tumor front to central parts of the carcinomas, from dysplastic mucosa to normal epithelium. The observed increase of AgNORs at the invasive front of oral squamous cell carcinomas seems to indicate a subgroup of tumor cells with increased biosynthetic activity and malignant potential. Wet autoclave pretreatment before silver staining of AgNORs is necessary for a reliable visualization of single AgNOR dots. Second-order statistics of AgNOR features, e.g., CV values, offer a potent and highly reproducible parameter for AgNOR quantitation.

Prognostic value of histobiological factors (malignancy grading and AgNOR content) assessed at the invasive tumour front of oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Tumour cells at the invasive front of carcinomas have been found to differ substantially from the rest of tumour cells in a variety of human cancers. The present multivariate survival analysis of 94 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) revealed that both the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions-associated protein (AgNOR) content of invading tumour cells and a multiparametric histopathological tumour front grade were significantly and independently associated with tumour-related death, irrespective of conventional Broders' grade and clinical stage of the tumours. High tumour front scores and AgNOR content at the invasive OSCC front thus seem to reflect increased malignant potential. Proliferative activity, assessed by standardized AgNOR analysis, most probably represents one of the biological features underlying the usefulness of evaluating the invasive tumour front.

Right pneumonectomy syndrome in infancy treated with an expandable prosthesis.

Severe respiratory distress developed in a 5-month-old infant approximately ten days after pneumonectomy for complete sequestration of the right lung. Right pneumonectomy syndrome was diagnosed by bronchography, which revealed thinning and obstruction of the left main bronchus during expiration. A right thoracotomy was then performed, and an inflatable tissue expander with a subcutaneous injection port was inserted into the right chest cavity to prevent recurrence of the mediastinal shift and to allow for future growth. The patient has done well, requiring reinjection of the prosthesis with additional volume on one occasion in a 20-month period of follow-up.

Lumbar and thoracic epidural analgesia via the caudal approach for postoperative pain relief in infants and children.

Thirty infants scheduled for a variety of gastrointestinal, genitourinary and thoracic surgical procedures were selected for insertion of lumbar or thoracic epidural catheters via the caudal approach using either an Intracath or a Burron continuous brachial plexus kit. The catheters were inserted with ease by residents in training and no catheter-related complications were encountered. Lidocaine 0.5 per cent with 1:200,000 epinephrine was then injected to assure proper placement of the catheter before narcotics were administered. Postoperative analgesia was adequate in all patients using preservative-free morphine 0.05 mg.kg-1. The mean dosing interval was 15 hr and no episodes of nausea, vomiting, hypotension or histamine release were noted. Urinary retention occurred in two infants and one infant became apnoeic three hours after epidural morphine administration but responded to naloxone and pulmonary ventilation with bag and mask. In conclusion, epidural catheters placed via the caudal approach are a safe and effective means of providing postoperative pain control in infants using preservative-free morphine. However, the use of epidural narcotics in infants less than two years of age is restricted to those who will receive intensive care unit monitoring postoperatively so that if apnoea occurs, rapid intervention can be taken by skilled nursing personnel.

Reducing the risks of laryngoscopy in anaesthetised infants.

We have evaluated the use of oxygen insufflation during laryngoscopy with an Oxyscope laryngoscope blade compared to conventional laryngoscopy for maintenance of transcutaneous PO2 during intubation of anaesthetised, spontaneously breathing infants. Twenty healthy children aged between 1 and 24 months were anaesthetised with halothane in oxygen. Laryngoscopy and intubation were performed in a double-blind fashion using a Miller No. 1 Oxyscope blade either with or without oxygen insufflation. Transcutaneous oxygen tension, arterial pressure and heart rate were measured before and after laryngoscopy, and duration of laryngoscopy was recorded. Transcutaneous oxygen tension decreased by 7.1% (SD 6.1%) when oxygen insufflation was used, compared to 33.0% (SD 15.1%) without oxygen insufflation (p less than 0.0001). There were no significant differences in mean duration of laryngoscopy or patient age. We conclude that oxygen insufflation during laryngoscopy and intubation of spontaneously breathing, anaesthetised infants effectively minimises the decrease in transcutaneous oxygen tension from pre-laryngoscopy levels, and makes instrumentation of the airway safer.

Comparison of circle absorber and Jackson-Rees systems for paediatric anaesthesia.

To evaluate effects of anaesthesia delivery systems on respiratory work in infants, we measured end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2), transcutaneous PCO2 (PTcCO2) respiratory rate and arterial blood gases in infants (ages 0.2 to 23.8 months) anaesthetised with either a Jackson-Rees (n = 11) or paediatric circle absorber system (n = 15). Two hours after induction, with assisted ventilation there was no difference in PETCO2, PTcCO2, respiratory rate, pH or PaCO2 in infants anaesthetised with either system. In the laboratory, we measured inspiratory and expiratory resistances to breathing through each system at various tidal volumes and total gas flows into the circuit. These values were compared to resistances created by breathing through an appropriately sized endotracheal tube. Although there was lower resistance to ventilation through Jackson-Rees system, both systems had lower resistances for almost all flows tested than breathing through an endotracheal tube alone (p less than 0.05). The paediatric circle absorber system is an efficient apparatus for anaesthetising spontaneously breathing infants.