Search results for "Rifi"
showing 10 items of 1129 documents
A comprehensive comparison between halophilic granular and flocculent sludge in withstanding short and long-term salinity fluctuations
2018
The effects of salinity fluctuations on the activity of autochthonous halophilic bacteria in aerobic granular sludge (AGS) and flocculent activated sludge (FAS) reactors were investigated. The response of nitrifiers and denitrifiers activity to drastic and moderate salinity shocks in the short-term (ST) and long-term (LT) was examined. The BOD5removal efficiency decreased only in the reactors subjected to the drastic LT salinity increase. Nevertheless, stable performances were achieved 18 days after the shock in the AGS-R1 (90%), whereas after 27 days in the FAS-R1 (82%). The loss in nitritation efficiency was higher in the FAS reactors and was proportional to the shock intensity. Nitritati…
The role of extracellular polymeric substances on aerobic granulation with stepwise increase of salinity
2018
Abstract A granular sequencing batch reactor (GSBR) worked for 164 days to study the effect of salinity on aerobic granulation. The feeding had an organic loading rate (OLR) of 1.6 kg COD⋅m −3 ⋅d −1 and a gradual increase of salinity (from 0.30 to 38 g NaCl − ⋅L −1 ) to promote a biological salt-adaptation. First aggregates (average diameter ≈ 0.4 mm) appeared after 14 days. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) analyses revealed that proteins were mainly higher than polysaccharides, and microorganisms metabolized EPSs as additional carbon source, mostly in feast phase, to face the energy demand for salinity adaptation. No significant worsening of organic matter removal was observed. Th…
Evaluation Framework for Analyzing the Applicability of Criteria Lists for the Selection of Requirements Management Tools Supporting Distributed Coll…
2016
Effective requirements management and enabling tools are critical for successfully developing and maintaining services and products. The identification and selection of an appropriate requirements management tool can be a costly, time-consuming, and error-prone undertaking especially in the context of software product line requirements management, requiring the tools to support both product and platform development activities that often involve geographically distributed, collaborating, and competing stakeholders. Criteria lists have been developed to facilitate the selection. This research (1) creates an evaluation framework to review the applicability of the lists for the selection of req…
Effect of oocyte morphology on post-warming survival and embryo development in vitrified autologous oocytes.
2019
Abstract Research question Does the presence of dysmorphisms affect post-warming survival and embryo development in vitrified autologous oocytes? Design A retrospective study comparing post-warming survival, fertilization and embryo development between morphologically normal (n = 269) and dysmorphic oocytes (n = 147). Results The survival rate was 81.4% in the morphologically normal oocytes and 87.1% in the dysmorphic oocyte group (OR 1.53; 95% CI 0.86 to 2.72). The fertilization rate was 69.9 versus 66.4% (OR 0.85; 95% CI 0.53 to 1.36), the proportion of good-quality embryos on day 3 was 30.3% versus 32.0% (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.59 to 1.97) and the blastocyst formation rate was 54.5% versus 60…
Ovarian stimulation for oocyte vitrification does not modify disease-free survival and overall survival rates in patients with early breast cancer
2019
Research question: Does ovarian stimulation for oocyte vitrification affect disease-free survival and overall survival rates in women with early breast cancer? Design: This cohort study included 259 patients with early breast cancer; 148 patients underwent ovarian stimulation, whereas 111 patients did not. Patients were treated between January 2008 and December 2016. To calculate the disease-free survival time and overall survival rate, the time of definitive surgery was defined as the starting point. The follow-up was conducted up to 5 years. Results: Exposed and non-exposed groups were comparable in tumour, node and metastases classification, Nottingham grade, hormonal receptor status, tu…
The cytoprotective protein MANF promotes neuronal survival independently from its role as a GRP78 cofactor
2021
Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress-regulated protein exhibiting cytoprotective properties through a poorly understood mechanism in various in vitro and in vivo models of neuronal and non-neuronal damage. Although initially characterized as a secreted neurotrophic factor for midbrain dopamine neurons, MANF has recently gained more interest for its intracellular role in regulating the ER homeostasis, including serving as a cofactor of the chaperone glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78). We aimed for a better understanding of the neuroprotective mechanisms of MANF. Here we show for the first time that MANF promotes the survival of …
Efficient recycling of nutrients in modern and past hypersaline environments
2019
The biogeochemistry of hypersaline environments is strongly influenced by changes in biological processes and physicochemical parameters. Although massive evaporation events have occurred repeatedly throughout Earth history, their biogeochemical cycles and global impact remain poorly understood. Here, we provide the first nitrogen isotopic data for nutrients and chloropigments from modern shallow hypersaline environments (solar salterns, Trapani, Italy) and apply the obtained insights to ¿ 15 N signatures of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) in the late Miocene. Concentrations and ¿ 15 N of chlorophyll a, bacteriochlorophyll a, nitrate, and ammonium in benthic microbial mats indicate that…
Resistant ammonia-oxidizing archaea endure, but adapting ammonia-oxidizing bacteria thrive in boreal lake sediments receiving nutrient-rich effluents
2018
Climate change along with anthropogenic activities changes biogeochemical conditions in lake ecosystems, modifying the sediment microbial communities. Wastewater effluents introduce nutrients and organic material but also novel microbes to lake ecosystems, simulating forthcoming increases in catchment loadings. In this work, we first used 16s rRNA gene sequencing to study how the overall sediment microbial community responds to wastewater in six boreal lakes. To examine forthcoming changes in the lake biogeochemistry, we focused on the ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB), and examined their functional and compositional community response to wastewater. Although we found the l…
Circulating exosomes deliver free fatty acids from the bloodstream to cardiac cells: Possible role of CD36
2019
Regulation of circulating free fatty acid (FFA) levels and delivery is crucial to maintain tissue homeostasis. Exosomes are nanomembranous vesicles that are released from diverse cell types and mediate intercellular communication by delivering bioactive molecules. Here, we sought to investigate the uptake of FFAs by circulating exosomes, the delivery of FFA-loaded exosomes to cardiac cells and the possible role of the FFA transporter CD36 in these processes. Circulating exosomes were purified from the serum of healthy donors after an overnight fast (F) or 20 minutes after a high caloric breakfast (postprandial, PP). Western blotting, Immunogold Electron Microscopy and FACS analysis of circu…
Modulation of the nutritional value of lupine wholemeal and protein isolates using submerged and solid-state fermentation with Pediococcus pentosaceu…
2018
The influence of different factors (submerged and/or solid‐state fermentation, pediococci strain, lupine variety and protein isolation process) on the protein digestibility, total phenolic compounds (TPC) content and radical scavenging activity of Lupinus luteus and angustifolius wholemeal and protein isolates was evaluated. As safety factor, biogenic amines (Bas) formation was analysed. The Pediococcus pentosaceus strains No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10 are suitable starters for lupine wholemeal fermentation and both applied processes (fermentation and protein isolation) increase protein digestibility (by 10%). Higher TPC content in fermented wholemeal can be obtained, compare to isolates. In SMF …