Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are no longer considered pollution removal systems but rather resources (nutrients and energy) recovery plants. Legislation imposing more stringent effluent ...requirements and the need energy self-sufficient or even energy-positive plants are the main drivers for the research and development of new WWTP configurations. While a lot of effort has been focused on developing new processes for nutrient recovery, limited efforts have been allocated to maximizing energy recovery from the organic load. Within this context, high-rate activated sludge (HRAS) is the most promising alternative technology to redirect carbon (organic compounds) towards energy as biogas. This is a critical review of the last decade's development of new alternatives for carbon redirection to improve the energy balance of WWTPs on both the laboratory and the industrial scale.
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•C redirection technologies challenges are reviewed.•Bio-sorption/HRAS processes demonstrated high organic matter removal efficiencies.•Bio-sorption/HRAS systems are beneficial in terms of a global energy balance.•60% of C is expected to be redirected to the sludge during the bio-sorption step.•The main challenge of Bio-sorption/HRAS is focused on sludge settling properties.
Objectives
To examine the diagnostic utility of canine cerebrospinal fluid samples collected into tubes containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) with and without the addition of 10% buffered ...formalin analysed within 6 to 20 hours.
Materials and Methods
Inclusion criteria were dogs presenting to a referral hospital with neurological signs and having cerebrospinal fluid analysis performed. Samples were submitted to an external laboratory in tubes containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as paired‐samples; one with the addition of one drop of 10% buffered formalin and the other without formalin. Cytology report, total nucleated cell counts, and protein concentration were reviewed. Three different categories of cell preservation were defined: diagnostic, non‐diagnostic and unclassified. Each sample was included in one of these categories depending on cytological features, and the diagnostic quality between samples was compared. Samples were further divided in two groups depending on protein concentration using 50 mg/dL as cut‐off value and the diagnostic quality between samples was compared.
Results
254 samples from 127 dogs were included. 47% of samples without formalin were non‐diagnostic, 46% diagnostic and 6% unclassified. In the formalin group, 2% samples were non‐diagnostic, 92% diagnostic and 6% unclassified. Samples with formalin preservation were statistically more likely to be diagnostic than samples without formalin preservation. In both protein groups (≥50 and <50 mg/dL) formalin samples were statistically more likely to be diagnostic as well.
Clinical Significance
The addition of one drop of 10% formalin is a simple, widely available method which can help to improve the accuracy of cytological assessment in canine cerebrospinal fluid by preserving cellular morphology when analysis is performed within 6 to 20 hours.
The integration of up-concentration processes to increase the efficiency of primary sedimentation, as a solution to achieve energy neutral wastewater treatment plants, requires further post-treatment ...due to the missing ammonium removal stage. This study evaluated the use of zeolites as a post-treatment step, an alternative to the biological removal process. A natural granular clinoptilolite zeolite was evaluated as a sorbent media to remove low levels (up to 100mg-N/L) of ammonium from treated wastewater using batch and fixed bed columns. After being activated to the Na-form (Z-Na), the granular zeolite shown an ammonium exchange capacity of 29±0.8mgN-NH4+/g in single ammonium solutions and 23±0.8mgN-NH4+/g in treated wastewater simulating up-concentration effluent at pH=8. The equilibrium removal data were well described by the Langmuir isotherm. The ammonium adsorption into zeolites is a very fast process when compared with polymeric materials (zeolite particle diffusion coefficient around 3×10−12m2/s). Column experiments with solutions containing 100mgN-NH4+/L provide effective sorption and elution rates with concentration factors between 20 and 30 in consecutive operation cycles. The loaded zeolite was regenerated using 2g NaOH/L solution and the rich ammonium/ammonia concentrates 2–3g/L in NaOH were used in a liquid-liquid membrane contactor system in a closed-loop configuration with nitric and phosphoric acid as stripping solutions. The ammonia recovery ratio exceeded 98%. Ammonia nitrate and di-ammonium phosphate concentrated solutions reached up to 2–5% wt. of N.
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•A natural zeolite was evaluated to recover ammonium in column experiments.•Loaded zeolite was regenerated and rich concentrates were used in a LLMC system.•Hollow fibre liquid-liquid membrane contactors were used to produce liquid fertilizers.•The closed-loop configuration allowed recovery ratios of ammonia higher that 98%.•Concentrated solutions reached up to 2–5% wt. of N.
A two-stage Partial Nitritation (PN)/Anammox process was carried out at lab-scale conditions to treat reject water from a municipal WWTP. PN was achieved in a granular SBR obtaining an effluent with ...a NH4+–N/NO2−–N molar ratio around 1.0. The microbial characterization of this reactor revealed a predominance of Betaproteobacteria, with a member of Nitrosomonas as the main autotrophic ammonium oxidizing bacterium (AOB). Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) were under the detection limit of 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing, indicating their effective inhibition. The effluent of the PN reactor was fed to an Anammox SBR where stable operation was achieved with a NH4+–N:NO2−–N:NO3−–N stoichiometry of 1:1.25:0.14. The deviation to the theoretical stoichiometry could be attributed to the presence of heterotrophic biomass in the Anammox reactor (mainly members of Chlorobi and Chloroflexi). Planctomycetes accounted for 7% of the global community, being members of Brocadia (1.4% of the total abundance) the main anaerobic ammonium oxidizer detected.
•Stable Partial Nitritation/Anammox treatment of sludge reject water yielded 88% of N removal.•The overall microbial community structure of both SBRs was analysed by 16S rRNA pyrosequencing.•In the nitritation reactor, Nitrosomonas were the main AOB while NOB were not detected.•Anammox activity was attributed to members of Brocadia accounting for 1.4% of the total community.
Imerslund‐Grasbeck syndrome in a cross‐breed dog Sancho, I. M.; Holmes, A.; Adamantos, S.
Journal of small animal practice,
August 2021, 2021-08-00, 20210801, Letnik:
62, Številka:
8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Imerslund‐Gräsbeck syndrome is an autosomal recessive disease reported only in certain pure‐breed dogs. An 18‐month‐old, male neutered beagle cross‐breed was presented for evaluation of severe ...lethargy, progressive weakness and anorexia. Main clinicopathological findings included low body condition score (2.5/9), severe muscle atrophy, several neurological abnormalities, mild normochromic, normocytic, non‐regenerative anaemia, severe hypocobalaminemia and mild proteinuria. Extensive diagnostic tests ruled out most of differential diagnoses for the aforementioned clinicopathological abnormalities and genetic evaluation showed that the dog was heterozygous for two previously described mutations affecting the CUBN gene, the beagle and the border collie variants. The dog showed an excellent clinical response to oral cobalamin supplementation with no relapse after 4 months. In conclusion, this case creates awareness that Imerslund‐Gräsbeck syndrome should be considered even in mixed‐breed dogs with compatible clinical signs and that two different pathogenic CUBN mutations in compound heterozygosity can lead to a typical Imerslund‐Gräsbeck syndrome phenotype.
Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was extracted from Hass avocados and its physicochemical properties were analyzed. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme were pH 7.5 and 20°C. This PPO showed a high ...thermal stability, since 26% of the initial activity was retained by the enzyme after heating at 60°C for 40 min. Inhibition studies were performed using different chemical reagents, and the order in the inhibition efficiency was paeonol > 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde > β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The first two inhibitors presented a non-competitive mechanism while the inhibition by β-CD results from a mixed type mechanism. Since the aqueous solubility of paeonol (a natural compound) is very low, the inclusion complex between this drug and β-CD was obtained in solution and solid state. The stoichiometry of the paeonol:β-CD complex was 1:1 and its ΔG° of formation was −26 kJ/mol. The complexation of paeonol by β-CD not only enhances the aqueous solubility and thermal stability of the drug, but also improves the in vitro inhibition efficiency against PPO. Colorimetric analysis on avocados pulp (in vivo) showed that the inclusion complex does not increase the inhibitory effect of paeonol, remaining practically unchanged. However, the formulation of paeonol:β-CD inclusion complex allows employing this compound as PPO inhibitor in aqueous solutions.
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The present work describes a new approach for the design of a Frequency-Selective Surface (FSS) in the context of frequency filters to increase isolation between two vehicle-borne antennas. A compact ...FSS design based on nested square meandered resonators is optimized for multifrequency operation. Furthermore, a design workflow is proposed. In general, the measurement of low-profile FSS does not correspond to simulation through Floquet modes based on periodic boundary conditions due to the lack of uniformity of mutual coupling among the FSS unit cells. The proposed method demonstrates the agreement between the infinite simulation and the measurement of the finite prototype once a convenient scale factor is applied, which facilitates the design workflow. In this case, an FSS is used as an efficient filter to increase the isolation between antennas by 6 dB in three representative bands (3GPP, WiFI I and II). In this way, multifrequency antennas can be placed at approximately half their actual distance with the same performance in spatial-constrained vehicular environments.
Anti-angiogenic therapy benefits many patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but there is still a need for predictive markers that help in selecting the best therapy for individual ...patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate cancer cell behavior and may be attractive biomarkers for prognosis and prediction of response. Forty-four patients with RCC were recruited into this observational prospective study conducted in nine Spanish institutions. Peripheral blood samples were taken before initiation of therapy and 14 days later in patients receiving first-line therapy with sunitinib for advanced RCC. miRNA expression in peripheral blood was assessed using microarrays and L2 boosting was applied to filtered miRNA expression data. Several models predicting poor and prolonged response to sunitinib were constructed and evaluated by binary logistic regression. Blood samples from 38 patients and 287 miRNAs were evaluated. Twenty-eight miRNAs of the 287 were related to poor response and 23 of the 287 were related to prolonged response to sunitinib treatment. Predictive models identified populations with differences in the established end points. In the poor response group, median time to progression was 3.5 months and the overall survival was 8.5, whereas in the prolonged response group these values were 24 and 29.5 months, respectively. Ontology analyses pointed out to cancer-related pathways, such angiogenesis and apoptosis. miRNA expression signatures, measured in peripheral blood, may stratify patients with advanced RCC according to their response to first-line therapy with sunitinib, improving diagnostic accuracy. After proper validation, these signatures could be used to tailor therapy in this setting.
Background: Non‐specific lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are involved in allergy to fresh and processed fruits. We have investigated the effect of thermal treatment and glycation on the ...physico‐chemical and IgE‐binding properties of the LTP from apple (Mal d 3).
Methods: Mal d 3 was purified from apple peel and the effect of heating in the absence and presence of glucose investigated by CD spectroscopy, electrospray and MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. IgE reactivity was determined by RAST and immunoblot inhibition, SPT and basophil histamine release test.
Results: The identity and IgE reactivity of purified Mal d 3 was confirmed. Mild heat treatment (90°C, 20 min) in the absence or presence of glucose did not alter its IgE reactivity. More severe heat treatment (100°C, 2 h) induced minor changes in protein structure, but a significant decrease in IgE‐binding (30‐fold) and biological activity (100‐ to 1000‐fold). Addition of glucose resulted in up to four glucose residues attached to Mal d 3 and only a 2‐ and 10‐fold decrease of IgE‐binding and biological activity, respectively.
Conclusions: Only severe heat treatment caused a significant decrease in the allergenicity of Mal d 3 but glycation had a protective effect. The presence of sugars in fruits may contribute to the thermostability of the allergenic activity of LTP in heat‐processed foods.
Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) are the major cause of pollen allergy in late summer. Allergen-specific lymphocytes are crucial for immune modulation during ...immunotherapy. We sought to generate and pre-clinically characterise highly immunogenic domains of the homologous pectate lyases in ragweed (Amb a 1) and mugwort pollen (Art v 6) for immunotherapy.
Domains of Amb a 1 (Amb a 1α) and Art v 6 (Art v 6α) and a hybrid molecule, consisting of both domains, were designed, expressed in E. coli and purified. Human IgE reactivity and allergenicity were assessed by ELISA and mediator release experiments using ragweed and mugwort allergic patients. Moreover, T cell proliferation was determined. Blocking IgG antibodies and cytokine production in BALB/c mice were studied by ELISA and ELISPOT.
The IgE binding capacity and in vitro allergenic activity of the Amb a 1 and Art v 6 domains and the hybrid were either greatly reduced or abolished. The recombinant proteins induced T cell proliferative responses comparable to those of the natural allergens, indicative of retained allergen-specific T cell response. Mice immunisation with the hypoallergens induced IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ production after antigen-specific in vitro re-stimulation of splenocytes. Moreover, murine IgG antibodies that inhibited specific IgE binding of ragweed and mugwort pollen allergic patients were detected.
Accumulation of T cell epitopes and deletion of IgE reactive areas of Amb a 1 and Art v 6, modulated the immunologic properties of the allergen immuno-domains, leading to promising novel candidates for therapeutic approach.
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