A fungal biofilm reactor based on metal structured packing improves the quality of a Gla::GFP fusion protein produced by Aspergillus oryzae.

Fungal biofilm is known to promote the excretion of secondary metabolites in accordance with solid-state-related physiological mechanisms. This work is based on the comparative analysis of classical submerged fermentation with a fungal biofilm reactor for the production of a Gla::green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein by Aspergillus oryzae. The biofilm reactor comprises a metal structured packing allowing the attachment of the fungal biomass. Since the production of the target protein is under the control of the promoter glaB, specifically induced in solid-state fermentation, the biofilm mode of culture is expected to enhance the global productivity. Although production of the target protein was enhanced by using the biofilm mode of culture, we also found that fusion protein production is also significant when the submerged mode of culture is used. This result is related to high shear stress leading to biomass autolysis and leakage of intracellular fusion protein into the extracellular medium. Moreover, 2-D gel electrophoresis highlights the preservation of fusion protein integrity produced in biofilm conditions. Two fungal biofilm reactor designs were then investigated further, i.e. with full immersion of the packing or with medium recirculation on the packing, and the scale-up potentialities were evaluated. In this context, it has been shown that full immersion of the metal packing in the liquid medium during cultivation allows for a uniform colonization of the packing by the fungal biomass and leads to a better quality of the fusion protein.

Influence of back mixing on the convective drying of residual sludges in a fixed bed.

The influence of a backmixing operation on the convective belt drying of two wastewater sludges was studied. The expansion of the sludge extrudates bed due to increasing additions of dry product was quantified by using X-ray tomography. This non-invasive technique was used to determine the bed porosity and the total exchange area available for heat and mass transfers, for increasing levels of backmixing. For a same drying flux, the expansion of the drying bed leads to higher drying rates, allowing a reduction of the total drying time. In this context, rheological properties of the sludges are key properties.

A non-linear homogeneous model for bone-like materials under compressive load.

Finite element (FE) models accurately compute the mechanical response of bone and bone-like materials when the models include their detailed microstructure. In order to simulate non-linear behavior, which currently is only feasible at the expense of extremely high computational costs, coarser models can be used if the local morphology has been linked to the apparent mechanical behavior. The aim of this paper is to implement and validate such a constitutive law. This law is able to capture the non-linear structural behavior of bone-like materials through the use of fabric tensors. It also allows for irreversible strains using an elastoplastic material model incorporating hardening. These features are expressed in a constitutive law based on the anisotropic continuum damage theory coupled with isotropic elastoplasticity in a finite strain framework. This material model was implemented into metafor (LTAS-MNNL, University of Liège, Belgium), a non-linear FE software. The implementation was validated against experimental data of cylindrical samples subjected to compression. Three materials with bone-like microstructure were tested: aluminum foams of variable density (ERG, Oakland, CA, USA), polylactic acid foam (CERM, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium), and cancellous bone tissue of a deer antler (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium).

Recurrent ulcer after vagotomy and pyloroplasty: the x-ray appearances and their value in diagnosis.

Barium meal studies have shown evidence of a recurrent ulcer or of stenosis in 12 out of 24 patients with recurrent dyspepsia after vagotomy and pyloroplasty. These 12 patients have been subsequently proved to have had recurrences and all but one are now cured by further surgery. Barium meals in 12 patients show no evidence of recurrence or stenosis, and follow-up clinical studies suggest that they do not have recurrent ulcer. Radiological studies appear to have great value in the interpretation of recurrent dyspeptic symptoms after vagotomy and pyloroplasty.

Radiological anatomy after pyloroplasty.

The radiological anatomy of the pyloro-duodenal area after pyloroplasty is described. The deformity produced by pyloroplasty is shown in the patient with a normal pylorus and duodenum and in the patient with a duodenal ulcer and stenosis. From a study of 24 asymptomatic patients after pyloroplasty it is possible to recognize the radiological features that indicate a successful operation.

Diagnostic accuracy of early radiology in acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

The accuracy of early radiology in patients with acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage has been studied by a comparison of the radiological opinion with the established diagnosis. A full examination has proved safe and uncomplicated with a high degree of accuracy and no false-positive results.Analysis of the errors shows that the presence of residue discourages the radiologist from making the correct diagnosis, and modification of the standard bariummeal technique may be needed to overcome this difficulty.

The accuracy of methods of diagnosis in patients with suspected recurrent ulcer after vagotomy.

This paper reports a critical analysis of the results of the investigations used to establish a diagnosis in 37 patients submitted to a second operation for presumed recurrent or unhealed ulcer. The results of investigations have been correlated with the operative and histopathological findings.

Crohn's disease of the stomach and duodenum.

Clinical and radiological abnormalities in 12 patients with gastroduodenal involvement were encountered amongst 300 patients followed by one of us between 1944 and 1969. Symptoms of dyspepsia were relatively mild and obstructive symptoms when present were readily relieved by bypass surgery. The patients have been followed for a mean of 9.7 years (range 1-20); two have died of other causes but the remaining 10 are well.