Old and new ideas about the environment and science: an exploratory study

Using the framework of social representations theory, this article examines predictors of two belief systems linking beliefs about the environment with beliefs about scientific knowledge. In a survey study with 460 Portuguese respondents, the following four hypotheses were tested: (a) New ecological beliefs were expected to receive higher levels of agreement than old anthropocentric ones, (b) social identities (not only objective positions) were expected to be important predictors of respondents’ beliefs, and (c) the explanatory power of social identity variables was expected to be higher for those beliefs receiving lower levels of agreement (d) and for respondents expressing coherent representations. Analyses reconstructed two belief systems: prudence, linking new ecological ideas with a relativist view of science, and confidence, linking old anthropocentric ideas with a positivist view of science. Results support the hypothesis and show that although these systems can be viewed as contradictory, some respondents manage to agree with both

Biodegradation of 2,4 DCP herbicide by streptomyces collinus isolated from wastewater treatment plant in eastern Algeria

Wastewater treatment plants are the place where most pollutants are transported. 2, 4 DCP is an herbicide widely used in agriculture. This carcinogenic pollutant is very dangerous because it can reach surface waters through runoff and deep waters widely used by humans and animals. Water treatment plants are a reservoir of multiple and varied microorganisms, able to eliminate the toxic effect of many pollutants. The actinobacteria by their impressive metabolic abilities, are among the most appreciated microbial agents in the bioremediation of these hydric sites. In order to evaluate the functionality of the Ibn Ziad station in Constantine, we tested some physicochemical characteristics and the biodiversity of actinobacteria able to tolerate and degrade 2, 4 DCP. Sampling was carried out on raw wastewater, treated water and aeration tank water. The parameters studied were temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity, BOD5, DOC and suspended matters (MES). Actinobacteria were isolated on four selective media, namely AF, modified Czapeck dox, ISP4, Olson. The determination of herbicide biodegradation capacity by these bacteria was tested first on a minimum solid medium supplemented with 50 mg/L of 2, 4-DCP as a single carbon and energy source. Isolates that grew on this medium were cultured in liquid medium in the presence of 50 mg/L of the same pollutant. The degradation kinetics were monitored by HPLC. The best performing isolate was identified by phenotypic and molecular methods. The results show slightly alkaline pH, ambient temperatures. The DOC/BOD5 ratio is less than three, which indicates a slightly biodegradable effluent. While the MES concentration is around 256.7 mg/L. This station shows an important biodiversity of actinobacteria, with 25 isolates, among which 18 are able to live in the presence of 2, 4-DCP. The study of the kinetics of growth and degradation shows a good performance of an isolate, with a degradation rate of 45% after one month of incubation. The polyphasic identification of this bacterium, allows to assign it to the species Streptomyces collinus strain NBRC 12759 16S. These results show that the waters of thisstation are rich in actinobacteria able to degrade the herbicide 2, 4-DCP. These bacteria can be used in the bioremediation of water ecosystems polluted by this phytosanitary productinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Occurrence of fecal bacteria and zoonotic pathogens in different water bodies: supporting water quality management

Water contaminated with microbiological and chemical constituents can cause a variety of diseases. Water bodies may become contaminated by wild and domestic animal feces, agricultural runoff or sewage, and are often overlooked as a reservoir and source of human infection by pathogenic microorganisms. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the presence of the zoonotic pathogens, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes, in various water bodies located in urban and rural areas in the north of Portugal. Water samples were collected from six sites, including natural and artificial ponds, in two different time periods. Several water quality physicochemical parameters, as well as fecal indicator bacteria, were evaluated. High levels of total coliforms (>1.78 log CFU/100 mL) were detected in all samples, and substantial numbers of Enterococcus (>2.32 log CFU/100 mL) were detected in two ponds located in a city park and in an urban garden. Escherichia coli counts ranged from undetectable to 2.76 log CFU/100 mL. Salmonella spp. was isolated from two sites, the city park and the natural pond, while L. monocytogenes was isolated from three sites: the city garden, the natural pond and the artificial pond, both in the rural area. These data show that artificial and natural ponds are a reservoir of fecal indicator bacteria and enteric and zoonotic pathogens. This may impact the potential risks of human infections by potential contaminants during recreational activities, being important for assessing the water quality for strategic management of these areas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Study of the role of indigenous actinobacteria from activated sludge in the degradation of the fungicide fenhexamid

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Study of the biodegradation of the insecticide alpha-cypemethrin by indigenous actinobacteria isolated from activated sludge

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biodegradation of 2,4 DCP herbicide by streptomyces collinus isolated from wastewater treatment plant in eastern Algeria

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efficient ammonium removal from marine aquaculture wastewater with microalgal-bacterial granular sludge technology

Water recirculation in marine aquaculture is fundamental for the protection of water resources and for the sector sustainability as it enables to reduce water usage 1. Microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) has the potential to increase the removal efficiency of pollutants from wastewaters benefiting from the diverse metabolism allowing water recirculation. Moreover, MBGS would allow costs reduction both in biomass separation from the treated water given the rapid settling properties and in aeration due to microalgae oxygen production 2.This study aimed to develop MBGS able to treat marine aquaculture effluents. For that, a lab-scale photo sequencing batch reactor was inoculated with activated sludge, previously adapted to salty wastewater, and a microalgae consortium enriched from water collected at a marine aquaculture. Feeding composition was established to simulate marine aquaculture streams. The aggregation of microalgal and bacterial biomass to form granular structures occurred rapidly. Throughout the operation, dark green granules with a dense and compact structure became predominant together with an increase in chlorophyll and carotenoids content in biomass. Ammonia was absent from the reactor effluent, but the nitrite levels were often above the toxicity levels for fish. Nevertheless, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the treated water was high (> 8.63 mg/L). The microalgal-bacterial granules proved to be efficient in producing streams with high dissolved oxygen levels, lowering the needed of water oxygenation before reuse and without ammonium ions. However, for water recirculation, improvement of the nitrite removal is needed to maintain the levels below the fish toxicity levels.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Benefits of condylar distraction in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction

Abstract in proceedings of the Fourth International Congress of CiiEM: Health, Well-Being and Ageing in the 21st Century, held at Egas Moniz’ University Campus in Monte de Caparica, Almada, from 3–5 June 2019.This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Parasitoses intestinais : efeito protetor na artrite reumatoide?

A artrite reumatoide (AR) é uma doença inflamatória autoimune, sistêmica, de curso progressivo, caracterizada por exuberante sinovite crônica, que pode gerar deformidades e incapacidade funcional, cujo tratamento precoce minimiza o dano às juntas. Sua etiopatogenia ainda não está completamente elucidada, mas compreende respostas imunológicas com a participação de células T auxiliares (Th1). Uma aparente menor gravidade da AR em pacientes de regiões com menor renda poderia estar associada a maior prevalência de parasitoses intestinais, especialmente as helmintíases. A rigor, um desvio na resposta imune para o predomínio de células T auxiliares (Th2), decorrente da exposição crônica a helmintos, modularia negativamente a inflamação em doentes com AR, e levaria a menor gravidade e dano articular. A revisão de aspectos da influência da reposta imunológica nas parasitoses intestinais, especialmente as helmintíases, em pacientes com artrite reumatoide é o objetivo desse trabalho.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease, with a progressive course, characterized by chronic synovitis that may evolve with deformities and functional disability, and whose early treatment minimizes joint damage. Its etiopathogenesis is not fully elucidated but comprises immunologic responses mediated by T helper cells (Th1). An apparent minor severity of RA in patients from regions with lower income could be associated with a higher prevalence of gut parasites, especially helminths. Strictly, a shift in the immune response toward the predominance of T helper cells (Th2), due to the chronic exposure to helminths, could modulate negatively the inflammation in RA patients, resulting in lower severity/joint injury. The interaction between the immunological responses of parasitic helminths in rheumatoid arthritis patients is the purpose of this paper

3-D Evaluation of temporary skeletal anchorage sites in the maxilla

The selection of temporary anchorage device (TAD) site can be a challenging task since one should not only consider the 2-D distances between roots, but also the entire 3-D space. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the posterior maxillary regio