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Many karst regions are undergoing rapid population growth and expansion of urban land accompanied by increases in wastewater generation and changing patterns of nitrate (NO3(-)) loading to surface and groundwater. We investigate variability and sources of NO3(-) in a regional karst aquifer system, the Edwards aquifer of central Texas. Samples from streams recharging the aquifer, groundwater wells, and springs were collected during 2008-12 from the Barton Springs and San Antonio segments of the Edwards aquifer and analyzed for nitrogen (N) species concentrations and NO3(-) stable isotopes (δ(15)N and δ(18)O). These data were augmented by historical data collected from 1937 to 2007. NO3(-) concentrations and discharge data indicate that short-term variability (days to months) in groundwater NO3(-) concentrations in the Barton Springs segment is controlled by occurrence of individual storms and multi-annual wet-dry cycles, whereas the lack of short-term variability in groundwater in the San Antonio segment indicates the dominance of transport along regional flow paths. In both segments, longer-term increases (years to decades) in NO3(-) concentrations cannot be attributed to hydrologic conditions; rather, isotopic ratios and land-use change indicate that septic systems and land application of treated wastewater might be the source of increased loading of NO3(-). These results highlight the vulnerability of karst aquifers to NO3(-) contamination from urban wastewater. An analysis of N-species loading in recharge and discharge for the Barton Springs segment during 2008-10 indicates an overall mass balance in total N, but recharge contains higher concentrations of organic N and lower concentrations of NO3(-) than does discharge, consistent with nitrification of organic N within the aquifer and consumption of dissolved oxygen. This study demonstrates that subaqueous nitrification of organic N in the aquifer, as opposed to in soils, might be a previously unrecognized source of NO3(-) to karst groundwater or other oxic groundwater systems., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The mouse mutation fragilitas ossium (fro) leads to a syndrome of severe osteogenesis and dentinogenesis imperfecta with no detectable collagen defect. Positional cloning of the locus identified a deletion in the gene encoding neutral sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 3 (Smpd3) that led to complete loss of enzymatic activity. Our knowledge of SMPD3 function is consistent with the pathology observed in mutant mice and provides new insight into human pathologies.

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was tested for the isolation of dissolved lignin from diverse natural waters (fresh, estuarine, and marine) in preparation for CuO oxidation. Capillary GC coupled to selected-ion monitoring mass spectrometry (SIM-MS) of CuO oxidation products provides the high sensitivity and precision required for the identification and quantification of trace levels of lignin in seawater. The low blanks and quick cleanup of C18 cartridges support SPE for processing such samples. Comparison of SPE with other isolation procedures (direct dry-down and ultrafiltration) has shown that this method quantitatively recovers dissolved lignin and preserves its compositional parameters. The concentration and nature of dissolved organic matter appear to be primary factors that constrain the amount of water that should be processed to obtain quantitative and reproducible recoveries of dissolved lignin using SPE. Highest recoveries of dissolved lignin were obtained at low pH (1.5-4.0) with substantial decreases at pH > 4. Extraction efficiencies were independent of flow rate within a range of five to fifteen bed volumes per minute (50-150 mL min(-1)), and both refrigeration and freezing were appropriate long-term storage methods for processed cartridges prior to elution of retained dissolved lignin.

Radiotherapy remains the basic treatment of anal cancer especially for epidermoid carcinomas. Tumorectomy and rectal amputation still have indications in the many others histological types and also in aguamous cell carcinomas (> T2) which cannot be totally healed by radiotherapy or after recurrences.

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the impact of laparoscopic surgery on activity in general and digestive surgery. From May 1990 to December 1994, 2256 laparoscopic procedures were performed for cholecystectomy (36%), appendicectomy (20.4%) or inguinal hernia (19.8%). 23.2% of all procedures performed in 1994 were done laparoscopically. The use of laparoscopy did not, in our experience, added any new indications from 1988 to 1994. The conversion rate was 8.15%. 24% of the conversion cases could not be predicted. Mortality was 0.18% and 1.19% of the patients had to undergo a second operation due to complications of laparsocopic surgery. The impact of laparoscopic procedures, 7 years after the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been great. The results of this surgical technique must be evaluated to determine its medical and economic impact.