Search results for "Earth"
showing 10 items of 12204 documents
Effect of long residence time and high temperature over anaerobic biodegradation of Scenedesmus microalgae grown in wastewater
2018
[EN] Anaerobic digestion of indigenous Scenedesmus spp. microalgae was studied in continuous lab-scale anaerobic reactors at different temperatures (35 degrees C and 55 degrees C), and sludge retention time - SRT (50 and 70 days). Mesophilic digestion was performed in a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) and in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). Mesophilic CSTR operated at 50 days SRT only achieved 11.9% of anaerobic biodegradability whereas in the AnMBR at 70 days SRT and 50 days HRT reached 39.5%, which is even higher than the biodegradability achieved in the thermophilic CSTR at 50 days SRT (30.4%). Microbial analysis revealed a high abundance of cellulose-degraders in both re…
In vitro cytotoxic effects of DEHP-alternative plasticizers and their primary metabolites on a L929 cell line
2017
IF 4.208; International audience; Phthalic acid esters have been widely used to improve the plasticity of PVC medical devices. They carry a high exposure risk for both humans and the environment in clinical situations. Our study focuses on the cytotoxicity of alternative plasticizers. Postulated primary metabolites were synthesized, not being commercially available. Cytotoxicity assays were performed on L929 murine cells according to the ISO-EN 10993-5 standard design for the biocompatibility of medical devices. The tested concentrations of plasticizers (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/ml) covered the range likely to be found in biological fluids coming into direct contact with the medical devices. D…
Efficiency in hydrocarbon degradation and biosurfactant production by Joostella sp. A8 when grown in pure culture and consortia
2017
Abstract Joostella strains are emerging candidates for biosurfactant production. Here such ability was analyzed for Joostella strain A8 in comparison with Alcanivorax strain A53 and Pseudomonas strain A6, all previously isolated from hydrocarbon enrichment cultures made of polychaete homogenates. In pure cultures Joostella sp. A8 showed the highest stable emulsion percentage (78.33%), hydrophobicity rate (62.67%), and an optimal surface tension reduction during growth in mineral medium supplemented with diesel oil (reduction of about 12 mN/m), thus proving to be highly competitive with Alcanivorax and Pseudomonas strains. During growth in pure culture different level of biodegradation were …
Bacterial community structure and removal performances in IFAS-MBRs: A pilot plant case study
2017
Abstract The paper reports the results of an experimental campaign carried out on a University of Cape Town (UCT) integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) membrane bioreactor (MBR) pilot plant. The pilot plant was analysed in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrients removal, kinetic/stoichiometric parameters, membrane fouling and sludge dewaterability. Moreover, the cultivable bacterial community structure was also analysed. The pilot plant showed excellent COD removal efficiency throughout experiments, with average value higher than 98%, despite the slight variations of the influent wastewater. The achieved nitrification efficiency was close to 98% for most of the experimen…
Influence of food waste addition over microbial communities in an Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor plant treating urban wastewater
2018
[EN] Notorious changes in microbial communities were observed during and after the joint treatment of wastewater with Food Waste (FW) in an Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) plant. The microbial population was analysed by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and dominance of Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Synergistetes and Proteobacteria phyla was found. The relative abundance of these potential hydrolytic phyla increased as a higher fraction of FW was jointly treated. Moreover, whereas Specific Methanogenic Activity (SMA) rose from 10 to 51 mL CH4 g(-1) VS, Methanosarcinales order increased from 34.0% over 80.0% of total Archaea, being Methanosaeta the dominant genus. The effect o…
Effects of UV filter 4-methylbenzylidene camphor during early development of Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858
2018
Abstract The inclusion of organic UV filters in personal care products (PCPs) has increased in recent years. 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC) is one of the most used UV filters, and thus it is commonly found in aquatic ecosystems, with proved negative effects on aquatic organisms. Effects on early life stages of marine vertebrates are largely unknown. Therefore, the main goal of this work was to evaluate 4MBC effects on Senegalese sole (Solea Senegalensis Kaup, 1858) larvae at different levels of biological organization. S. senegalensis were exposed to increasing concentrations of 4MBC from egg stage until 96 h. Mortality, growth, malformations, behaviour and biochemical responses, includ…
Kinetics of vinyl acetate biodegradation by Pseudomonas fluorescens PCM 2123
2018
Abstract The microbial degradation of vinyl acetate (VA) by Pseudomonas fluorescens PCM 2123 strain was studied in both batch and continuous modes. The purpose of the experiments was to determine the kinetic model of the cell growth and biodegradation rate of vinyl acetate (VA), which was the sole carbon and energy source for tested microorganisms. The experiments, carried out in a batch reactor for several initial concentrations of growth substrate in the liquid phase ranging from 18.6 to 373 gsubstrate·m−3 (gs·m−3) made it possible to choose the kinetic model and to estimate its constants. The Haldane inhibitory model with the values of constants: μm = 0.1202 h−1, KS = 17.195 gs·m−3, Ki =…
Specifics of pesticides effects on the phytopathogenic bacteria
2016
Abstract The data concerning the effects of pesticides of different nature on the phytopathogenic bacteria was examined and summarized. Without extensive research on the mechanisms of interaction between pathogenic bacteria and pesticides in the literature review a similar message about microorganisms of soil and phyllosphere are included. The bacteria can be suppressed permanently by pesticides with a mechanism of action that universally affects biological processes in living systems. Long-term storage, ease of use and fast visible effect are the advantages of synthetic pesticides remedies. But chemical pollution, shifts in the balance of ecosystems, unpredictable effects of chemical pesti…
Maternal DNA lineages at the gate of Europe in the 10th century AD
2018
Given the paucity of archaeogenetic data available for medieval European populations in comparison to other historical periods, the genetic landscape of this age appears as a puzzle of dispersed, small, known pieces. In particular, Southeastern Europe has been scarcely investigated to date. In this paper, we report the study of mitochondrial DNA in 10th century AD human samples from Capidava necropolis, located in Dobruja (Southeastern Romania, Southeastern Europe). This geographical region is particularly interesting because of the extensive population flux following diverse migration routes, and the complex interactions between distinct population groups during the medieval period. We suc…
Effects of exposure to gadolinium on the development of geographically and phylogenetically distant sea urchins species.
2016
Gadolinium (Gd), a metal of the lanthanide series used as contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging, is released into the aquatic environment. We investigated the effects of Gd on the development of four sea urchin species: two from Europe, Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula, and two from Australia, Heliocidaris tuberculata and Centrostephanus rodgersii. Exposure to Gd from fertilization resulted in inhibition or alteration of skeleton growth in the plutei. The similar morphological response to Gd in the four species indicates a similar mechanism underlying abnormal skeletogenesis. Sensitivity to Gd greatly varied, with the EC50 ranging from 56 nM to 132 μM across the four species…