Two sequential batch reactors were operated, aiming at forming aerobic granular sludge and studying the effects of the gradual increase of the NaCl concentration on the granule.
structure and ...microbial diversity, and on the efficiency of ammonia removal. The reactors were fed with ammonia-enriched synthetic effluent and 5 g L−1 of NaCl per week were applied. A decrease in the size of the granules was observed until they were completely disintegrated as the salt concentration increased up to 10 g L−1. However, the ammonia removal efficiency remained high in all the salinities applied. By sequencing the 16S rRNA amplicon gene, the microbial community structure allowed the verification of the presence of several genera affiliated with the bacteria that perform both heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification, besides those involved in the conventional nitrification and denitrification and the ANAMMOX process. Salinity affected the microbial population related to the formation and stability of the granules.
•With the increase of NaCl, the granules decreased in size until they disintegrated.•Ammonia removal remained efficient in all analyzed salinities.•There was no accumulation of nitrite or nitrate in the treated effluent.•The removal of nitrite and nitrate increased with the addition of NaCl.•Several genera of bacteria that perform the nitrification and denitrification.
Abstract
Minerals play an important role in animal metabolism. Knowledge of mineral requirements allows well-formulated diets to be provided, which is the main factor that affects performance. To ...determine the macromineral and trace element requirements for growth and maintenance, thirty-eight 2-month-old Santa Ines lambs with initial body weight (BW) of 13.0 ± 1.49 kg were distributed in a factorial design with feeding levels (ad libitum
,
30% and 60% feed restriction) and sex classes castrated (CM) and intact males (IM). The net mineral requirements for gain were higher (
P
< 0.05) with increasing BW and average daily gain, except for Ca and Na, which remained constant as the empty BW (EBW) increased. The macromineral net requirement for maintenance (g/kg EBW
0.75
) and the true retention coefficient (k; %) were 0.0784 and 65.2 for Ca, 0.0926 and 80.0 for P, and 0.0379 and 59.0 for K, respectively. The k of Mg was higher (
P
< 0.05) for IM (11.3 for IM and 7.9 for CM). Sex did not affect (
P
> 0.05) the maintenance requirement of the trace elements Co, Cu, Zn and Cr which were 0.0015, 0.037, 0.698, and 0.0055 (mg/kg EBW
0.75
), respectively. Our study indicated that the Santa Ines net mineral requirements are different from the main nutritional requirements established by committees for sheep, which may result in unbalanced diets.
We conducted a systematic review to describe and summarize possible associations between the walkability index, overweight, and obesity. Systematic searches using seven electronic databases and ...reference lists were conducted to identify papers published until December 2017. Observational studies, describing associations using regression-based statistical methods, published in English and Portuguese, reporting markers of overweight and obesity, and involving adults (≥18 years) were included. Of the 2469 references initially retrieved, ten were used for the descriptive synthesis. Seven studies showed significant inverse associations between walkability and overweight and obesity, however, all were cross-sectional studies. High risk of bias scores were observed in "selection bias" and "withdrawals and dropouts". All studies were published in high-income countries with sample sizes ranging among 75 to 649,513 participants. Weight and height as measures for determining BMI tended to be self-reported. Indicators of walkability, such as land-use mix, street connectivity and residential density were used as components of the indices. Based on this review, more studies should be conducted in low, middle, and middle-high income countries, using longitudinal designs that control neighborhood self-selection; other indicators of the neighborhood environment, such as food access, physical activity facilities, sidewalks, and safety and crime prevention should be considered.
There is an unprecedented demand for sustainability incorporation; however, a significant gap exists in sustainability management systems. We considered this gap as well as the fact that ...organizations mainly face difficulties in managing sustainability using integrated management systems.
Here, we propose an innovative model to improve corporate sustainability aimed at cleaner production; we develop this model by integrating quality, environmental, social responsibility, and occupational health and safety management systems with the lean manufacturing system. The proposed model is expected to aid organizations in improving corporate sustainability in a structured manner. This research introduces the Lean-Integrated Management System for Sustainability Improvement (LIMSSI), which is based on the rational use of resources and energy while engaging and empowering people. The LIMSSI provides an innovative description of correlations of the quality, environmental, occupational health and safety, and social responsibility requirements with the principles and tools of lean manufacturing; it also includes a description of their integration to create synergies. It was structured considering the difficulties faced by organizations in performing sustainability-improvement activities, and aim to avoid loss of organizational efficiency due to waste, duplication, and increments of bureaucratic processes. The LIMSSI is expected to improve corporate sustainability performance and thereby render companies more sustainable and competitive.
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•This paper presents a Management System for Sustainability Improvement (LIMSSI).•It is based on the rational use of resources, while engaging and empowering people.•We present the correlations between QMS, EMS, SRMS, OHSMS and Lean Manufacturing.•The LIMSSI provide a structured roadmap to improve sustainability.•The LIMSSI can render an organization more competitive and sustainable.
Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) is the most widely used ultraviolet filter (UV filter) in industries to avoid UV radiation damage. BP-3 is added to most sunscreens to protect the skin, hair, and lips from sun ...rays. It results in continuous discharge into aquatic environments, leading to aquatic biota and human's continuous exposure. Consequences of BP-3 exposure on the physiology and behavior of aquatic animals, mainly zebrafish, have been investigated, including their neurotoxic effects. However, little is known about its consequences in long-term developmental endpoints. This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of embryonic BP-3 exposure on biomarkers of neurotoxicity in zebrafish. For this, we exposed embryos to 5, 10, and 20 μg∙L-1 BP-3 concentration and let fish grow to adulthood (5mpf). We evaluated anxiety-like behavior, social preference, aggressiveness, and enzymatic activity of the antioxidant defenses system and neurotoxic biomarkers (Glutathione S-transferase -GST, catalase -CAT, and acetylcholinesterase -AChE) in adult zebrafish. Enzymatic activities were also investigated in larvae immediately after BP-3 exposure. Animals early exposed to BP-3 presented anxiety-like behaviors and decreased social preference, but aggressiveness was not altered. In general, exposure to BP-3 leads to altered enzymatic activity, which persists into adulthood. GST activity increased in embryos and adults, while CAT activity decreased in both life stages. AChE activity enhanced only at the larval stage (96 hpf). The long-term behavioral and biochemical effects of BP-3 highlight the need for abolishing or restricting the compound from personal care products, which are continually disposed into the environment and threaten the biota and human health.
The addition of neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonists to antiemetic regimens has substantially reduced chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). We sought to systematically review the ...overall impact of NK1R antagonists on CINV prevention.
We systematically searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases, and meeting proceedings for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated NK1R antagonists plus standard antiemetic therapy for CINV prevention. Complete response (CR) to therapy was defined as the absence of emesis and the absence of rescue therapy. The endpoints were defined as CR in the overall phase (during the first 120 hours of chemotherapy), CR in the acute phase (first 24 hours), and the delayed phase (24-120 hours) after chemotherapy, nausea, and toxicity. Subgroup analyses evaluated the type of NK1R antagonist used, the emetogenic potential of the chemotherapy regimen, and prolonged use of 5-HT3 (serotonin) receptor antagonists, a class of standard antiemetic agents. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Statistical tests for heterogeneity were one-sided; statistical tests for effect estimates and publication bias were two-sided.
Seventeen trials (8740 patients) were included in this analysis. NK1R antagonists increased the CR rate in the overall phase from 54% to 72% (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.46 to 0.57, P < .001). CR and nausea were improved in all phases and subgroups. The expected side effects from NK1R antagonists did not statistically significantly differ from previous reports; however, this analysis suggests that the incidence of severe infection increased from 2% to 6% in the NK1R antagonist group (three RCTs with a total of 1480 patients; OR = 3.10; 95% CI = 1.69 to 5.67, P < .001).
NK1R antagonists increased CINV control in the acute, delayed, and overall phases. They are effective for both moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy regimens. Their use might be associated with increased infection rates; however, additional appraisal of specific data from RCTs is needed.
We hypothesize that by simulating the natural priming in seeds of a species that forms transient seed banks it is possible to clarify molecular aspects of germination that lead to the recruitment of ...seedlings when the next rainy season begins. We used seeds of Solanum lycocarpum as a biological model. Our findings support the idea that the increment of seed germination kinetics when the rainy season returns is mainly based on the metabolism and embryonic growth, and that the hydropriming, at the end of seed dispersion, increases the germination window time of these seeds by mainly increasing the degradation of galactomannan of the cell wall. This can improve the energy supply (based on carbon metabolism) for seedling growth in post-germination, which improves the seedling's survival chances. From these findings, we promote a hypothetical model about how the priming at the end of the rainy season acts on mRNA synthesis in the germination of seeds from transient banks and the consequence of this priming at the beginning of the following rainy season. This model predicts that besides the Gibberellin and Abscisic Acid balance (content and sensitivity), Auxin would be a key component for the seed-seedling transition in Neotropical areas. Seed collection was performed under authorization number SISGEN AB0EB45.
Applications on electromagnetic waves in the field of biotelemetry have increased in the latest years, being used to prevent, diagnose, and treatment of several diseases. In this context, ...biotelemetry allows minimally invasive monitoring of the physiologic, improving comfort and patient care and significantly reducing hospital costs. Aiming to assist the mineral bone density classification, through a radio frequency signal (RF), for a later diagnosis of osteoporosis, Osseus was proposed in 2018. This equipment is a combination of the application of techniques and concepts of several areas such as software, electrical, electronic, computational, and biomedical engineering, developed at a low cost, with easy access to the population, and non-invasive. However, when placed on evaluation, potential improvements were identified to increase the stability of Osseus operation. It is proposed the implementation of improvements in the antennas used by Osseus, aiming its miniaturization, improvement in the reception of the RF signal, and better stability of the equipment's operation. Then, two antennas were built, one of which was used as a project for the second, which is an array. The array showed significant improvements in the radiation parameters relevant to the application, being a candidate to replace the antennas currently in use at Osseus.
Mangroves occur in the tropics and subtropics. This region is constantly covered by clouds and therefore highly challenging to map and monitor. Technological advances in remote sensing have increased ...the flexibility of performing such analyses. In this study, mapping and change detection were carried out for mangrove areas of the South and Southeast regions of Brazil between 2008 and 2016 using multisensor data and geographical object-based image analysis (GEOBIA). The 823.03 km² mangrove areas in study site in 2008 were reduced to 789.00 km² in 2016, representing a net loss of ~34 km². A change detection analysis of the mangrove areas showed a total gain of 138.21 km², a total loss of 172.24 km² and no change for 650.79 km². The GEOBIA classification accuracy was assessed by performing a statistical analysis of confusion matrix: (2008): global accuracy = 0.92, Kappa index = 0.84 and Tau index = 0.84; and (2016): global accuracy = 0.93, Kappa index = 0.86 and Tau index = 0.86. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the GEOBIA to map and analyze mangrove dynamics. The results exhibit an excellent accuracy. Furthermore, mangrove areas in the south and southeast Brazil were mapped from the same methodological approach.
•Fishes of flood period presented higher mercury concentration in tissues.•The highest levels of mercury occurred in liver.•Specimens of Hoplias malabaricus presented Hg concentrations above safety ...limits.•The spawning period of carnivores was in the period of higher levels of Hg in fish.•The human Hg exposure through fish intake is different throughout the year.
Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) has been spreading in the Western Amazon. ASGM is one of the main sources of pollution by anthropogenic mercury on the environment in the Amazon. Ecotoxicological approaches are important to monitoring aquatic ecosystems. They evaluate interactions among contaminants and living organisms and detect possible risks to animal and human health. The hydrological cycles of Amazonian rivers influence the fishery production. Depending on the period, the availability of mercury may also variate in these aquatic systems. This study aimed to monitoring mercury in commercial fishes from the Amazon Triple Frontier. Total mercury (THg) concentrations in muscle (MTHg), liver (LTHg), and gills (GTHg) of Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus, Hoplias malabaricus, and Pterygoplichthys pardalis caught in the Western Amazon Basin were assessed during the ebb and flood periods. The determination of total mercury concentration in fish samples was done by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (CVAAS). In both periods, H. unitaeniatus and H. malabaricus presented the highest levels of THg in tissues. In the ebb period, H. unitaeniatus and H. malabaricus had higher levels of MTHg > LTHg > GTHg. All species of the flood period had higher levels of LTHg > MTHg > GTHg. Mercury concentrations of all tissues of H. malabaricus showed significant relationship with length and weight. In P. pardalis, negative length-GTHg and weight-GTHg relationship were observed as well as a negative weight-LTHg correlation. Liver presented the highest levels of THg found in this study. Some individuals of H. malabaricus presented MTHg above safe limits for consumption. These results suggest that fish and human exposure to Hg in the Western Amazon Basin is not constant throughout the year. The flood period seems to be critical for high Hg exposure. This information can be used to development of more specific public policies to reduce the risks of mercurialism in humans from Amazon Triple Frontier as well as impacts on fish diversity and fishery production of Solimões-Amazonas Basin.
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