The surface chemistry of a commercial activated carbon with a slightly basic nature was modified by appropriate treatments in order to obtain two additional samples, respectively with acidic and ...basic properties, without changing its textural parameters significantly. Different techniques (N
2 adsorption at 77 K, temperature programmed desorption, and determination of acidity, basicity, and pH at the point of zero charge) were used to characterize the adsorbents. Kinetic and equilibrium adsorption data of a selected textile reactive dye (Rifafix Red 3BN, C.I. reactive red 241) on the mentioned materials were obtained at the pH values of 2, 7, and 12. The kinetic curves are fitted using the second-order model. The respective rate constants seem to diminish progressively with the initial concentration for the more diluted solutions tested, reaching a constant value at higher concentrations, which depends on the experimental system under consideration (adsorbent and pH). In general, the Langmuir model provides the best fit for the equilibrium data. The different uptakes obtained are discussed in relation to the surface chemical properties of the adsorbents. It is shown that the adsorption of the reactive (anionic) dye on the basic sample (prepared by thermal treatment under H
2 flow at 700 °C) is favored. This conclusion is explained on the basis of the dispersive and electrostatic interactions involved. Moreover, it is also shown that the optimal adsorption condition for all the activated carbons tested corresponds to solution pH values not higher than the pH
pzc of the adsorbents, which may be interpreted by taking into account the electrostatic forces present.
The adsorption of reactive dyes on activated carbon involves electrostatic and dispersive interactions. High adsorbent basicity and pH values not higher than pH
pzc favor the dye uptake.
To investigate sex-specific associations of birth weight with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in mid-to-late adulthood.
ELSA-Brasil is a multicenter ...cohort study of adults aged 35-74 years affiliated with universities or research institutions of six capital cities in Brazil. After exclusions, we investigated 11 636 participants. Socio-demographic factors and birth weight were obtained by interview. All anthropometry was directly measured at baseline. We categorized birth weight as low (⩽2.5 kg); normal (2.5-4 kg) and high (⩾4 kg). We performed analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for continuous outcomes and ordinal logistic regression for categorical adiposity outcomes. We examined interaction on the multiplicative scale by sex and by race.
High birth weight uniformly predicted greater overall and central obesity in men and women. However, low (vs normal) birth weight, in ANCOVA models adjusted for participant age, family income, race, education, maternal education, and maternal and paternal history of diabetes, was associated with lower BMI, WC and WHR means for men, but not for women (Pinteraction=0.01, <0.0001 and <0.0001, respectively). In similarly adjusted ordinal logistic regression models, odds of obesity (odds ratio (OR)=0.65, 0.46-0.90) and of being in the high (vs low) tertile of WC (OR=0.66, 0.50-0.87) and of WHR (OR=0.79, 0.60-1.03) were lower for low (vs normal) birth weight men, but trended higher (BMI: OR=1.18, 0.92-1.51; WC: OR=1.21, 0.97-1.53; WHR: OR=1.44, 1.15-1.82) for low (vs normal) birth weight women.
In this Brazilian sample of middle-aged and elderly adults who have lived through a rapid nutritional transition, low birth weight was associated with adult adiposity in a sex-specific manner. In men, low birth weight was associated with lower overall and central adult adiposity, while in women low birth weight was generally associated with greater central adiposity.
Recent studies have shown that accounting for intraspecific trait variation (ITV) may better address major questions in community ecology. However, a general picture of the relative extent of ITV ...compared to interspecific trait variation in plant communities is still missing. Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis of the relative extent of ITV within and among plant communities worldwide, using a data set encompassing 629 communities (plots) and 36 functional traits. Overall, ITV accounted for 25% of the total trait variation within communities and 32% of the total trait variation among communities on average. The relative extent of ITV tended to be greater for whole‐plant (e.g. plant height) vs. organ‐level traits and for leaf chemical (e.g. leaf N and P concentration) vs. leaf morphological (e.g. leaf area and thickness) traits. The relative amount of ITV decreased with increasing species richness and spatial extent, but did not vary with plant growth form or climate. These results highlight global patterns in the relative importance of ITV in plant communities, providing practical guidelines for when researchers should include ITV in trait‐based community and ecosystem studies.
We identified 100 scientific questions that, if answered, would have the greatest impact on conservation practice and policy. Representatives from 21 international organizations, regional sections ...and working groups of the Society for Conservation Biology, and 12 academics, from all continents except Antarctica, compiled 2291 questions of relevance to conservation of biological diversity worldwide. The questions were gathered from 761 individuals through workshops, email requests, and discussions. Voting by email to short-list questions, followed by a 2-day workshop, was used to derive the final list of 100 questions. Most of the final questions were derived through a process of modification and combination as the workshop progressed. The questions are divided into 12 sections: ecosystem functions and services, climate change, technological change, protected areas, ecosystem management and restoration, terrestrial ecosystems, marine ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems, species management, organizational systems and processes, societal context and change, and impacts of conservation interventions. We anticipate that these questions will help identify new directions for researchers and assist funders in directing funds.
The removal of an analgesic drug (acetaminophen) from water was investigated using activated carbons prepared from different residues, namely urban wastes (post-consumer plastics), and ...agro-industrial residues (cork powder and peach stones), comparing their adsorption capacity with that of commercially available carbonaceous adsorbents. The prepared carbon samples were evaluated on the basis of their adsorption capacities and kinetic performances, which were linked with their different properties. The samples prepared from chemical activation of the biomass residues show reasonably high removal efficiencies along with fast rate of adsorption, which are in fact comparable to commercial carbons. The analysis of the carbon samples after adsorbing the analgesic showed that adsorbent–adsorbate affinity is stronger in hydrophobic carbons of basic character that contain a well-developed microporosity. These characteristics are however not sufficient for an overall performance of a carbon in acetaminophen removal. The carbon must also have a well interconnected pore network (to facilitate the accessibility of acetaminophen molecules, thus speeding up adsorption kinetics) and an adequate chemical composition, which ultimately leads to a high adsorption capacity.
Aims
To evaluate the mycoremediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by either single cultures or binary consortia of Pleurotus pulmonarius LBM 105 and Trametes sanguinea LBM 023.
Methods and ...Results
PCBs tolerance, removal capacity, toxicity reduction and ligninolytic enzyme expression were assessed when growing single culture and binary consortium of fungus in 217 mg l−1 of a technical mixture of Aroclor 1242, 1254 and 1260 in transformer oil. A decrease in tolerance and variation in ligninolytic enzyme secretion were observed in PCB‐amended solid media. Pleurotus pulmonarius LBM 105 mono‐culture was able to remove up to 95·4% of PCBs, whereas binary consortium and T. sanguinea LBM 023 could biodegrade about 55% after 24 days. Significant detoxification levels were detected in all treatments by biosorption mechanism.
Conclusions
Pleurotus pulmonarius LBM 105 in single culture had the best performance regarding PCBs biodegradation and toxicity reduction. Ligninolytic enzyme secretion changed in co‐culture.
Significance and Impact of the Study
The evaluation of PCBs bioremediation effectiveness of basidiomycetes consortium in terms of PCB removal, toxicity and ligninolytic enzyme production to unravel the differences between using individual cultures or consortium has not been reported. The results from this study enable the selection of P. pulmonarius LBM 105 mono‐culture to bioremediate PCBs as it showed higher efficiency compared to binary consortium with T. sanguinea LBM 023 for potential decontamination of PCB‐contaminated transformer oil.
Aim
To evaluate the influence of the addition of microparticulate (micro) and nanoparticulate (nano) zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) to a calcium silicate‐based cement (CS) on ...the subcutaneous healing process in rats compared with MTA Angelus™.
Methodology
In each rat, two polyethylene tubes filled with the following materials: (i) MTA; (ii) CS + ZrO2micro; (iii) CS + ZrO2nano; (iv) CS + Nb2O5micro or (v) CS + Nb2O5nano were implanted subcutaneously; empty polyethylene tubes were used in the Control group. After 7, 15, 30 and 60 days, the specimens (n = 5 per group in each period) were fixed and embedded in paraffin. Masson's trichrome sections were used to obtain the volume density of the inflammatory cells (VvIC) and fibroblasts (VvFb). The sections were also stained with Picrosirius‐red to calculate the birefringent collagen content. Fibroblast growth factor‐1 (FGF‐1) was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the number of immunolabelled cells was obtained. The data were subjected to two‐way anova followed by Tukey's test (P ≤ 0.05).
Results
At all periods, the VvIC was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in all the CS and Control groups than in the MTA group. At all periods, the VvFb was reduced significantly (P = 0.023) in the MTA group in comparison with the other groups. In addition, the number of immunolabelled cells in the capsules of the CS groups was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in the MTA group at all time‐points.
Conclusions
The experimental materials (CS + ZrO2 and CS + Nb2O5) induced fibroblast proliferation and accelerated the regression of the inflammatory reaction. However, the addition of nanoparticulate radiopacifiers did not improve the biological properties of a calcium silicate‐based cement when compared to microparticulate agents.
Aim
To estimate the association between consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and unsweetened fruit juice with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in participants of the Brazilian ...Longitudinal Adult Health Study (ELSA-Brasil) after 4 years of follow-up.
Methods
We used data from ELSA-Brasil cohort (
N
= 15,105). The sample consisted of 6,124 civil servants free of the MetS at baseline (35 to 74 years, both sexes). The consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and unsweetened fruit juice was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire previously validated. The outcome was MetS and its components (Joint Interim Statement criteria). To test the association between beverage consumption at baseline (2008–2010) and MetS and its components at follow-up (2012–2014), we used Poisson regression models with robust variance adjusting for potential confounders.
Results
After 4-year follow-up, the higher consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks (≥ 1 serving/day = 250 mL/day) increased the relative risk of MetS (RR = 1.22; 95% CI 1.04–1.45), high fasting glucose (RR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.01–1.48), and high blood pressure (RR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.00–1.54). Moderate consumption of this beverage (0.4 to < 1 serving/day) increased the relative risk of high waist circumference (WC) (RR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.02–1.42). After adjustment for confounding variables, the consumption of unsweetened fruit juice was not associated with the MetS and its components.
Conclusion
Higher sugar-sweetened soft drinks consumption was associated with a higher risk relative of MetS, high fasting glucose, and high blood pressure, while moderate consumption of this beverage increased the relative risk of high WC in Brazilian adults.
► Acetalisation of glycerol with butanal was carried out over zeolites (USY, BEA and ZSM-5). ► BEA showed the highest catalytic activity of all zeolites. ► All catalysts exhibited good values of ...selectivity to five-member ring acetal.
Acetalisation of glycerol with butanal has been investigated over a range of zeolites with different pore structures and acidity (USY with different Si/Al ratio, BEA and ZSM-5). The products of glycerol acetalisation were (Z
+
E)-(2-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl) methanol (five-member ring acetal) and (Z
+
E)-2-propyl-1,3-dioxan-5-ol (six-member ring acetal). The results showed an optimum in activity for Si/Al ratio in USY zeolite that corresponds to 30. BEA zeolite presented the highest catalytic activity of all zeolites while ZSM-5 zeolite presented the lowest activity. All catalysts exhibited high selectivity to five-member ring acetal product (77–82%).
The effects of reaction temperature, catalyst loading and molar ratio of glycerol to butanal on this reaction, over BEA zeolite, have been studied. It was found that the glycerol conversion increased with the catalyst loading, with the temperature and with molar ratio of glycerol to butanal.
BEA zeolite was recycled four times with the same catalyst sample. It was observed a stabilization of the catalytic activity (after the fourth use, the zeolite showed 93% of its initial activity).
PDF
