The reactor was started with an initial upflow velocity of 4mh(-1), which was increased gradually till system deterioration to observe its effect on granule size, reactor performance, and microbial community structure. Monte Carlo method was used to quantify hydrodynamic shear range at different upflow velocities using a modified Ergun equation for the respective ranges of granule size.

RESULTSUp to 6mh(-1) performance was positively affected, but beyond this upflow velocity, the system started

showing reduced performance and completely deteriorated at 10mh(-1). Significant reduction in the abundance and diversity Selleck GSK621 of both Archaea and Bacteria was observed. Among all methanogenic groups, Methanosaetaceae see more was most severely affected due to breakage and wash out of granules.

CONCLUSIONIt can be concluded that hydrodynamic shear can be employed as a sensitive

control parameter to improve reactor performance, and a specified range should be determined experimentally to avoid negative influences associated with this. (c) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry”
“The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of HFE gene mutations in Czech patients with chronic liver diseases and the influence of the mutations on iron status. The presence of HFE gene mutations (C282Y, H63D, and S65C) analyzed by the PCR-RFLP method, presence of cirrhosis, and serum iron indices were compared among 454 patients with different chronic liver diseases (51 with chronic hepatitis B, 122 with chronic hepatitis C, 218 with alcoholic liver disease, and 63 patients with hemochromatosis).

Chronic liver diseases patients other than hemochromatics did not have an increased frequency of HFE gene mutations compared to controls. Although 33.3% of patients with hepatitis B, 43% of patients with hepatitis C, and 73.2% of patients with alcoholic liver disease had elevated selleck compound transferrin saturation or serum ferritin levels, the presence of HFE gene mutations was not significantly associated with iron overload in these patients. Additionally, patients with cirrhosis did not have frequencies of HFE mutations different from those without cirrhosis. This study emphasizes the importance, not only of C282Y, but also of the H63D homozygous genetic constellation in Czech hemochromatosis patients. Our findings show that increased iron indices are common in chronic liver diseases but HFE mutations do not play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, and alcoholic liver disease.”
“Material properties of highly strained GaInNAs quantum wells grown on GaInAs or quasi-GaInAs substrates are investigated by using microscopic theory together with a band structure calculation based on ten-band k.p theory specially formulated for highly strained materials.