To provide new insight into the dark fermentation process, a multi-lateral study was performed to study the microbiology of 20 different lab-scale bioreactors operated in four different countries (Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay). Samples (29) were collected from bioreactors with different configurations, operation conditions, and performances. The microbial communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA genes 454 pyrosequencing. The results showed notably uneven communities with a high predominance of a particular genus. The phylum Firmicutes predominated in most of the samples, but the phyla Thermotogae or Proteobacteria dominated in a few samples. Genera from three physiological groups were detected: high-yield hydrogen producers (Clostridium, Kosmotoga, Enterobacter), fermenters with low-hydrogen yield (mostly from Veillonelaceae), and competitors (Lactobacillus). Inocula, reactor configurations, and substrates influence the microbial communities. This is the first joint effort that evaluates hydrogen-producing reactors and operational conditions from different countries and contributes to understand the dark fermentation process.
Different studies have analyzed mental auditory imagery and mental imagery derived from the other senses. This study analyzed the relationship of musical training with auditory imagery vividness and mental imagery derived from the other senses. A group of 200 participants (100 music students and 100 Compulsory Secondary Education students) were administered the Betts' Questionnaire upon Mental Imagery and the Clarity of Auditory Imagery Scale. Students of music obtained higher in cutaneous, kinesthetic, gustatory, visual, and auditory imagery vividness scores than students not studying music. Moreover, music students obtained higher clarity of auditory imagery scores than nonmusicians. The gender of participants did not influence reported auditory imagery vividness or the clarity of auditory imagery. No gender differences were observed in the other sensorial modalities, except for visual imagery vividness, in which women scored higher than men. The interaction between gender and music training was not significant. The results are discussed and new lines of research are proposed.
BackgroundIron deficiency (ID) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) is considered an adverse prognostic factor. We aimed to evaluate if ID in patients with CHF is associated with increased mortality and hospitalizations.MethodsWe evaluated ID in patients with CHF at 3 university hospitals. ID was defined as absolute (ferritin < 100 μg/L) or functional (transferrin Saturation index < 20% and ferritin between 100 and 299 μg/L). We excluded patients who received treatment with intravenous Iron or Erythropoietin during follow-up. We evaluated if ID was a predictor of death or hospitalization due to heart failure or any cause using univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis.ResultsWe included 1684 patients, 65% males, 38% diabetics, median age of 72 years, 37% in functional class III-IV and 30% of patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction > 45%. Patients were well treated, with 87% and 88% of patients receiving renin-angiotensin inhibitors and beta-blockers, respectively. Median transferrin saturation index was 20%, median ferritin 155 ng/mL and median haemoglobin 13 g/dL. ID was present in 53% of patients; in 35% it was absolute and in 18% functional. Median follow-up was 20 months. ID was a predictor of death, hospitalization due to heart failure or to any cause in univariate analysis but not after multivariate analysis. No differences were found between absolute or functional ID regarding prognosis.ConclusionIn a real life population of patients with CHF and a high prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, ID did not predict mortality or hospitalizations after adjustment for comorbidities, functional class and neurohormonal treatment.
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