The presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the aquatic environment as a result of wastewater effluent discharge is a concern in many countries. In order to expand our ...understanding on the occurrence and fate of PPCPs during wastewater treatment processes, 62 antibiotic, analgesic/anti-inflammatory, and antifungal compounds were analyzed in 72 liquid and 24 biosolid samples from six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) during the summer and winter seasons of 2010–2012. This is the first scientific study to compare five different wastewater treatment processes: facultative and aerated lagoons, chemically-enhanced primary treatment, secondary activated sludge, and advanced biological nutrient removal. PPCPs were detected in all WWTP influents at median concentrations of 1.5 to 92,000ng/L, with no seasonal differences. PPCPs were also found in all final effluents at median levels ranging from 3.6 to 4200ng/L with higher values during winter (p<0.05). Removal efficiencies ranged between −450% and 120%, depending on the compound, WWTP type, and season. Mass balance showed that the fate of analgesic/anti-inflammatory compounds was predominantly biodegradation during biological treatment, while antibiotics and antifungal compounds were more likely to sorb to sludge. However, some PPCPs remained soluble and were detected in effluent samples. Overall, this study highlighted the occurrence and behavior of a large set of PPCPs and determined how their removal is affected by environmental/operational factors in different WWTPs.
•Concentration of 62 PPCPs in 72 liquid and 24 biosolid samples from 6 WWTPs•Different PPCP removal patterns by WWTP and season were observed.•Factors affecting PPCP removals included temperature, HRT, and nitrification.•PPCP removals were highest in facultative lagoon and lowest in primary treatment.•Anti-inflammatories were biodegraded while antibiotics were highly persistent.
The role of chloride in the MAPbI3–x Cl x perovskite is still limitedly understood, albeit subjected of much debate. Here, we present a combined angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy ...(AR-XPS) and first-principles DFT modeling to investigate the MAPbI3–x Cl x /TiO2 interface. AR-XPS analyses carried out on ad hoc designed bilayers of MAPbI3–x Cl x perovskite deposited onto a flat TiO2 substrate reveal that the chloride is preferentially located in close proximity to the perovskite/TiO2 interface. DFT calculations indicate the preferential location of chloride at the TiO2 interface compared to the bulk perovskite due to an increased chloride–TiO2 surface affinity. Furthermore, our calculations clearly demonstrate an interfacial chloride-induced band bending, creating a directional “electron funnel” that may improve the charge collection efficiency of the device and possibly affecting also recombination pathways. Our findings represent a step forward to the rationalization of the peculiar properties of mixed halide perovskite, allowing one to further address material and device design issues.
Ninety-nine pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) were analyzed in influent, final effluent, and biosolids samples from a wastewater treatment plant employing a membrane bioreactor ...(MBR). High concentrations in influent were found for acetaminophen, caffeine, metformin, 2-hydroxy-ibuprofen, paraxanthine, ibuprofen, and naproxen (10(4)-10(5) ng/L). Final effluents contained clarithromycin, metformin, atenolol, carbamazepine, and trimethoprim (>500 ng/L) at the highest concentrations, while triclosan, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, triclocarban, metformin, caffeine, ofloxacin, and paraxanthine were found at high concentrations in biosolids (>10(3) ng/g dry weight). PPCP removals varied from -34% to >99% and 23 PPCPs had ≥90% removal. Of the studied PPCPs, 26 compounds have been rarely or never studied in previous membrane bioreactor (MBR) investigations. The removal pathway showed that acetaminophen, 2-hydroxy-ibuprofen, naproxen, ibuprofen, codeine, metformin, enalapril, atorvastatin, caffeine, paraxanthine, and cotinine exhibited high degradation/transformation. PPCPs showing strong sorption to solids included triclocarban, triclosan, miconazole, tetracycline, 4-epitetracycline, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, paroxetine, and ofloxacin. Trimethoprim, oxycodone, clarithromycin, thiabendazole, hydrochlorothiazide, erythromycin-H2O, carbamazepine, meprobamate, and propranolol were not removed during treatment, and clarithromycin was even formed during treatment. This investigation extended our understanding of the occurrence and fate of PPCPs in an MBR process through the analysis of the largest number of compounds in an MBR study to date.
Dps proteins (DNA-binding proteins from starved cells) are multifunctional stress defense proteins from the Ferritin family expressed in Prokarya during starvation and/or acute oxidative stress. ...Besides shielding bacterial DNA through binding and condensation, Dps proteins protect the cell from reactive oxygen species by oxidizing and storing ferrous ions within their cavity, using either hydrogen peroxide or molecular oxygen as the co-substrate, thus reducing the toxic effects of Fenton reactions. Interestingly, the interaction between Dps and transition metals (other than iron) is a known but relatively uncharacterized phenomenon. The impact of non-iron metals on the structure and function of Dps proteins is a current topic of research. This work focuses on the interaction between the Dps from
(a marine facultative anaerobe bacterium capable of degrading petroleum hydrocarbons) and the cupric ion (Cu
), one of the transition metals of greater biological relevance. Results obtained using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), Mössbauer and UV/Visible spectroscopies revealed that Cu
ions bind to specific binding sites in Dps, exerting a rate-enhancing effect on the ferroxidation reaction in the presence of molecular oxygen and directly oxidizing ferrous ions when no other co-substrate is present, in a yet uncharacterized redox reaction. This prompts additional research on the catalytic properties of Dps proteins.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) was analyzed in 499 liquid and 347 solid samples collected from twenty-five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to investigate parameters affecting BPA occurrence, removal, and ...fate. Lagoons, chemically-assisted primary treatment, secondary treatment, and advanced treatment processes were included. Median BPA concentrations in influent and final effluent were 400 ng/L and 150 ng/L, respectively. Median removal efficiencies ranged from 1 to 77%. Respective median BPA levels in primary sludge, secondary biological sludge, and biosolids were 230, 260, and 460 ng/g with digested biosolids having the highest concentrations. The biological aerated filter and membrane bioreactor processes showed the best performance, while chemically-assisted primary treatment achieved the lowest removal. Biodegradation and sorption contributing to BPA removal were influenced by operational conditions: hydraulic retention time (HRT), solids retention time (SRT), and mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS). The influence of HRT, SRT, and MLSS in the bioreactor was stronger during cold temperatures. In order to achieve above 80% removal, the required conditions for HRT, SRT, and MLSS were 13 h, 7 days, and 1600 mg/L during summer (median temperature 19 °C) and 13 h, 17 days, and 5300 mg/L during winter (median temperature 10 °C); indicating that longer SRT and higher MLSS were needed during winter. BPA's sorption tendency to sludge was strongly influenced by the degree of nitrification and HRT.
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•Bisphenol-A (BPA) levels in 846 wastewater and sludge/biosolid samples were reported.•Different BPA removal patterns by wastewater treatment and season were observed.•Temperature, hydraulic retention time, and nitrification affected removal of BPA.•Optimal operational conditions to enhance BPA removal were determined.•Median log Kd values of BPA were estimated, ranging from 6.0 to 7.6.
bis-(3',5')-cyclic diadenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) is a second messenger with roles in virulence, cell wall and biofilm formation, and surveillance of DNA integrity in many bacterial species, ...including pathogens. Strikingly, it has also been proposed to coordinate the activity of the components of K
homeostasis machinery, inhibiting K
import, and activating K
export. However, there is a lack of quantitative evidence supporting the direct functional impact of c-di-AMP on K
transporters. To gain a detailed understanding of the role of c-di-AMP on the activity of a component of the K
homeostasis machinery in
, we have characterized the impact of c-di-AMP on the functional, biochemical, and physiological properties of KhtTU, a K
/H
antiporter composed of the membrane protein KhtU and the cytosolic protein KhtT. We have confirmed c-di-AMP binding to KhtT and determined the crystal structure of this complex. We have characterized in vitro the functional properties of KhtTU and KhtU alone and quantified the impact of c-di-AMP and of pH on their activity, demonstrating that c-di-AMP activates KhtTU and that pH increases its sensitivity to this nucleotide. Based on our functional and structural data, we were able to propose a mechanism for the activation of KhtTU by c-di-AMP. In addition, we have analyzed the impact of KhtTU in its native bacterium, providing a physiological context for the regulatory function of c-di-AMP and pH. Overall, we provide unique information that supports the proposal that c-di-AMP is a master regulator of K+ homeostasis machinery.
To describe pachymetric progression indices (PPI) of the Pentacam HR (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH) and the concept of relational thickness, and to test their accuracy for differentiating keratoconic and ...normal corneas compared with single-point thickness values.
One hundred thirteen individual eyes randomly selected from 113 normal patients and 44 eyes of 44 patients with keratoconus were studied using the Pentacam HR by acquiring central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest point (TP), position of the TP and PPI at minimal (PPI Min) and maximal (PPI Max) meridians, and the average (PPI Ave) of all meridians. Relational thickness parameters were calculated as the ratios of TP and CCT and PPI values. Mann-Whitney U test assessed differences in groups for each variable. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated for all variables and pairwise comparisons were performed.
Statistically significant differences were noted between normal and keratoconic eyes for all parameters (P<.001), except for horizontal position of TP (P=.79). The best parameters, named Ambrósio's Relational Thickness (ART), were ART-Ave (TP/PPI Ave) and ART-Max (TP/PPI Max) with areas under the ROC curves of 0.987 and 0.983, respectively. The best cutoffs were 424 μm and 339 μm for ART-Ave and ART-Max, respectively. Pachymetric progression indices and ART had a greater area under the curve than TP and CCT (P<.001); TP (0.955) had a greater area under the curve than CCT (0.909; P=.002).
Tomographic-derived pachymetric parameters were better able to differentiate normal and keratoconic corneas than single-point pachymetric measurements. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of tomography in identifying early forms of ectasia as well as ectasia risk among LASIK candidates.
Psychosocial stress and depressive disorder have been associated with cancer as putative contributors to worse prognosis. On the other hand, cancer diagnosis is a recognised life event that can ...contribute to distress and depressive states. Humoral and cellular inflammation can promote depressive disorder by means of decreased monoamine synthesis, glutamate neurotoxicity, neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and glucocorticoid resistance. This protocol objectives are to observe the interactions between psychosocial variables and biochemical and immunological biomarkers in a longitudinal, prospective design; to identify inflammation-related depression endophenotypes in breast cancer patients and to understand if early diagnosed and treated depression in this population will translate in better inflammation status and better global prognosis.
Prospective observational cohort, composed by 100 consecutive premenopausal patients, diagnosed with non-distant metastatic breast carcinoma and with no history of major psychopathology or other organic illness. The participants will have an in-person assessment in three different moments, along illness treatment and follow-up, with respect to cytometric, immunologic, and psychosocial parameters and will be tested for depression vulnerability and resilience inflammation-related functional genetic polymorphisms. Additionally, at years 5 and 10 post enrollment, patients`medical records will be assessed. As a control cohort, all patients excluded due to psychiatric history or past psychiatric treatments will have their clinical records assessed at years 5 and 10 after admission. All the data will be managed with the SPSS® software.
This study is an original longitudinal cohort of breast cancer premenopausal patients, with a comprehensive approach to psychosocial, clinical, inflammatory, and genetic variables. It expects to provide evidence regarding the links between genetic, cytometric, immunologic, and psychosocial factors, their potential contribution to the pathophysiology of depressive disorder, breast cancer course, progression, and prognosis. It may further contribute with data to better efficacy of the psycho-oncological interventions.
National Commission of Data Protection (CNPD) 13413/2017; Ethics Committee of IPOP project code CI-IPOP81/2017.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
DNA-binding proteins from starved cells (Dps) are members of the ferritin family of proteins found in prokaryotes, with hollow rounded cube-like structures, composed of 12 equal subunits. These ...protein nanocages are bifunctional enzymes that protect the cell from the harmful reaction of iron and peroxide (Fenton reaction), thus preventing DNA damage by oxidative stress. Ferrous ions are oxidized at specific iron-binding sites in the presence of the oxidant and stored in its cavity that can accommodate up to ca. 500 iron atoms. DNA-binding properties of Dps are associated with the N-terminal, positive charge rich, extensions that can promote DNA binding and condensation, apparently by a cooperative binding mechanism. Here, we describe the binding and protection activities of
Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus
Dps using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Essays (EMSA), and synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) spectroscopy. While no DNA condensation was observed in the tested conditions, it was possible to determine a Dps–DNA complex formation with an apparent dissociation constant of 6.0 ± 1.0 µM and a Hill coefficient of 1.2 ± 0.1. This interaction is suppressed by the inclusion of a single negative charge in the N-terminal region by point mutation. In Dps proteins containing a ferric mineral core (above 96 Fe/protein), DNA binding was impaired. SRCD data clearly showed that no significant modification existed either in secondary structure or protein stability of WT, Q14E variant and core containing proteins. It was, however, interesting to note that, in our experimental conditions, thermal denaturation induced protein aggregation that caused artifacts in thermal denaturation curves, which were dependent on radiation flux and vertical arrangement of the CD cell.
Black poplar (Populus nigra) is a potential feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production, although breeding for this specific end use is required. Our goal was to identify associations between single ...nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers within candidate genes encoding cellulose and lignin biosynthetic enzymes, with chemical wood property phenotypic traits, toward the aim of developing genomics-based breeding technologies for bioethanol production.
Pyrolysis molecular beam mass spectrometry was used to determine contents of five- and six-carbon sugars, lignin, and syringyl: guaiacyl ratio. The association population included 599 clones from 17 half-sib families, which were successfully genotyped using 433 SNPs from 39 candidate genes. Statistical analyses were performed to estimate genetic parameters, linkage disequilibrium (LD), and single marker and haplotype-based associations.
A moderate to high heritability was observed for all traits. The LD, across all candidate genes, showed a rapid decay with physical distance. Analysis of single marker–phenotype associations identified six significant marker–trait pairs, whereas nearly 280 haplotypes were associated with phenotypic traits, in both an individual and multiple trait-specific manner.
The rapid decay of LD within candidate genes in this population and the genetic associations identified suggest a close relationship between the associated SNPs and the causative polymorphisms underlying the genetic variation of lignocellulosic traits in black poplar.
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