Cultivation and selection of cyanobacteria in a closed photobioreactor used for secondary effluent and digestate treatment

“The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.097"The main objective of this study was to select and grow wastewater-borne cyanobacteria in a closed photobioreactor (PBR) inoculated with a mixed consortium of microalgae. The 30 L PBR was fed with a mixture of urban secondary effluent and digestate, and operated in semi-continuous mode. Based on the nutrients variation of the influent, three different periods were distinguished during one year of operation. Results showed that total inorganic nitrogen (TIN), inorganic phosphorus concentration (PO43 -), phosphorus volumetric load (LV-P) and carbon limited/non-limited conditions leaded to different species composition, nutrients removal and biomass production in the culture. High TIN/PO43 - concentrations in the influent (36 mg N L- 1/3 mg P L- 1), carbon limitation and an average LV-P of 0.35 mg P L- 1d- 1 were negatively related to cyanobacteria dominance and nutrients removal. On the contrary, cyanobacteria predominance over green algae and the highest microbial biomass production (averaging 0.084 g Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) L- 1d- 1) were reached under TIN/PO43 - concentrations of 21 mg N L- 1/2 mg P L- 1, no carbon limitation and an average LV-P of 0.23 mg P-PO43 - L- 1d- 1. However, although cyanobacteria predominance was also favored with a LV-P 0.15 mg L- 1d- 1, biomass production was negatively affected due to a P limitation in the culture, resulting in a biomass production of 0.0.39 g VSS L- 1d- 1. This study shows that the dominance of cyanobacteria in a microalgal cyanobacterial community in an agitated PBR using wastewater as nutrient source can be obtained and maintained for 234 days. These data can also be applied in future biotechnology applications to optimize and enhance the production of added value products by cyanobacteria in wastewater treatment systems.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Nutrients and biomass dynamics in photo-sequencing batch reactors treating wastewater with high nutrients loadings

The present study investigates different strategies for the treatment of a mixture of digestate from an anaerobic digester diluted and secondary effluent from a high rate algal pond. To this aim, the performance of two photo-sequencing batch reactors (PSBRs) operated at high nutrients loading rates and different solids retention times (SRTs) were compared with a semi-continuous photobioreactor (SC). Performances were evaluated in terms of wastewater treatment, biomass composition and biopolymers accumulation during 30¿days of operation. PSBRs were operated at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2¿days and SRTs of 10 and 5¿days (PSBR2-10 and PSBR2-5, respectively), whereas the semi-continuous reactor was operated at a coupled HRT/SRT of 10¿days (SC10-10). Results showed that PSBR2-5 achieved the highest removal rates in terms of TN (6.7¿mg¿L-1¿d-1), TP (0.31¿mg¿L-1¿d-1), TOC (29.32¿mg¿L-1¿d-1) and TIC (3.91¿mg¿L-1¿d-1). These results were in general 3–6 times higher than the removal rates obtained in the SC10-10 (TN 29.74¿mg¿L-1¿d-1, TP 0.96¿mg¿L-1¿d-1, TOC 29.32¿mg¿L-1¿d-1 and TIC 3.91¿mg¿L-1¿d-1). Furthermore, both PSBRs were able to produce biomass up to 0.09¿g¿L-1¿d-1, more than twofold the biomass produced by the semi-continuous reactor (0.04¿g¿L-1¿d-1), and achieved a biomass settleability of 86–92%. This study also demonstrated that the microbial composition could be controlled by the nutrients loads, since the three reactors were dominated by different species depending on the nutritional conditions. Concerning biopolymers accumulation, carbohydrates concentration achieved similar values in the three reactors (11%), whereas¿<¿0.5% of polyhydrohybutyrates (PHB) was produced. These low values in biopolymers production could be related to the lack of microorganisms as cyanobacteria that are able to accumulate carbohydrates/PHB.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Production of polyhydroxybutyrates and carbohydrates in a mixed cyanobacterial culture : effect of nutrients limitation and photoperiods

In the present study, different photoperiods and nutritional conditions were applied to a mixed wastewater-borne cyanobacterial culture in order to enhance the intracellular accumulation of polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs) and carbohydrates. Two different experimental set-ups were used. In the first, the culture was permanently exposed to illumination, while in the second, it was submitted to light/dark alternation (12h cycles). In both cases, two different nutritional regimes were also evaluated, N-limitation and P-limitation. Results showed that the highest PHB concentration (104 mg L-1) was achieved under P limited conditions and permanent illumination, whereas the highest carbohydrate concentration (838 mg L-1) was obtained under N limited condition and light/dark alternation. With regard to bioplastics and biofuel generation, this study demonstrates that the accumulation of PHBs (bioplastics) and carbohydrates (potential biofuel substrate) is favored in wastewater-borne cyanobacteria under conditions where nutrients are limited.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Selection of cyanobacteria over green algae in a photo-sequencing batch bioreactor fed with wastewater

In this work, a strategy based on photo-sequencing batch operationwas used to select cyanobacteria over unsettled green algae in awastewater treatment system, evaluating for the first time the effect of hydraulic regimes on nutritional dynamics and microorganisms' competition. During 30 days of operation, an initial microalgae mixed consortia dominated by the green microalgae Scenedesmus sp. was cultivated in two different photo-sequencing batch reactors operated at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6 days (PSBR6) and 4 days (PSBR4) at a theoretical solids retention time (SRT) of 10 d. Both reactorswere compared with a semi-continuous reactor (SC10) operated at 10 d of HRT and 10 days of SRT (used as a control). The results indicated that PSBR6 and PSBR4 decreased Scenedesmus sp. population by 88% and 48%, respectively. However, only PSBR6 provided suitable conditions to select cyanobacteria from an initial green algae dominated culture. These conditions included volumetric loads of 11.72 mg TN L-1 d-1, 2.04mg TP L-1 d-1 and 53.31 mg TOC L-1 d-1. The remaining nutrients in the culture led also to a phosphorus limiting N:P ratio (34:1) that improved the increase of cyanobacteria from an initial 2% until 70% of the total population. In addition, PSBR6 reached a biomass production of 0.12 g L-1 d-1,while removing TN, TP and TOC by 58%, 83% and 85%, respectively. Conversely, the application of higher nutrients loads caused by lowerHRT (PSBR4) led to an increase of only 13% of cyanobacteriawhile SC10 remainedwith the same biomass composition during all the experimental time. Thus, this study showed that the dominance of cyanobacteria in microalgal-based wastewater treatment systems can be controlled by the operational and nutritional conditionsPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Polymer accumulation in mixed cyanobacterial cultures selected under the feast and famine strategy

In this study, a sequencing batch reactor (SBR), operated with transient carbon availability (feast and famine) and different nutrients loads, was used to select cyanobacteria accumulating poly (3-hydroxyalkanoate) (PHB) and carbohydrates from a mixed wastewater-borne microbial culture. The SBR was operated with 12 h aerobic light and 12 h anaerobic dark phases, evaluating the effect of three different operational conditions consisting on; 1) carbon limitation, 2) carbon and phosphorus limitation and 3) phosphorus limitation. Once a steady state was reached in each operational period of the SBR, part of the biomass was collected and submitted to separate batch tests in order to investigate the maximum PHB and carbohydrates accumulation levels. Batch tests were performed during 24 h of illuminated aerobic condition and 24 h of dark anaerobic condition, while inorganic carbon was constantly present. During the SBR operation, inorganic carbon was mostly used for biomass and carbohydrate production, showing very low PHB accumulation levels (<1%). Notwithstanding, in subsequent batch tests, PHB was accumulated after a complete depletion of nitrogen, reaching almost 4%. Concerning carbohydrates, it was found that phosphorus limitation (with and without carbon limitation) led to a culture mostly dominated by cyanobacteria and higher levels of carbohydrate content (43%–48%) than the culture with carbon limitation and high loads of nitrogen and phosphorus (29%). Such contents were obtained in only 24 h of incubation under aerobic illuminated conditions. Hence, these encouraging results indicate that carbon uptake and the consequent polymers production from cyanobacteria can be enhanced through carbon and nutrient feeding strategiesPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Sistematización de la construcción de la memoria colectiva del sector Mario Antonio Díaz, Santa Isabel II, Villa Nueva.

Describe el proceso de construcción de memoria colectiva del Sector Mario Antonio Díaz. E trabajó con 35 comunitarios del sector Mario Antonio Díaz, ubicado en Santa Isabel II, Villa Nueva. La población se caracterizó por ser un grupo de desplazados internos, cuyo origen étnico se divide en tres grandes grupos: quiché, kackchiquel, ladino; y minorías: Ixil, Achí, Pocomchí y Jakalteco. La investigación de realizó estudiantes del Centro de Práctica de la Escuela de Ciencias Psicológicas de la Universidad de San Carlos – CAPVVIPO-, durante los años 2010 y 2011. La investigación es de tipo descriptiva y se toma como base para la sistematización los principios de la “Guía para la sistematización de experiencias” de UICN (Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza), siendo estos principalmente: Punto de partida, ¿Dónde estamos? Y las lecciones aprendidas para todas las partes involucradas en este proceso, además de la recopilación de información a través de periódicos nacionales e informes anuales del centro de práctica CAPVVIPO principalmente, entrevistas a comunitarios, estudiantes y ex estudiantes. Concluye que, La sistematización de la memoria colectiva se encuentran dos protagonistas principales: los pobladores del sector Mario Antonio Díaz, y los estudiantes de CAPVVIPO quienes proporcionaron la información necesaria para la descripción el proces

Plan de Negocios: Producción y comercialización de pan a base de harina de soya.

El pan a base de harina de soya,producto que se destacará de los demás por su alto contenido nutricional tales como aminoácidos, proteínas, y nutrientes como calcio, hierro, y zinc. La empresa"SOYANICPAN" tendrá su centro de ventas, pero también el producto se comercializará por medio de la distribución propia de la panadería, la cual trazará rutas de comercio específicas; y vendedores independientes

Aleitamento materno exclusivo: da teoria à realidade

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding until the months of the baby, and its maintenance with complementary foods up to two years (WHO and UNICEF, 1995) Objectives: Know the opinion of the infants of mothers on exclusive breastfeeding period, identify whether the mothers were informed about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the prenatal period, identify the reason for breastfeeding, assess the exclusive breastfeeding rate during the first 6 months of life and identify the causes for the introduction of another type of feed. Method: quantitative, descriptive study, a non-probabilistic intentional sample of 39 mothers of infants who have breastfed or were still breast-feeding, whose children attended public or private kindergartens, located in urban and rural areas of the district of Coimbra, with application of a questionnaire from October to December 2015. Results: 17.9% of the children were 9 months old, 51.3% of mothers were between 31-35 years, 87.2% were working, 59.9% reported a period of six months as the optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding, 87.2% were- transmitted their knowledge about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the prenatal period, 22.6% said “the baby’s health” to breastfeed, 48.7% introduced other foods at 5 months with 53.8% cited work outside the home the reason for this introduction. Conclusion: Most infants of mothers correctly identified exclusive breastfeeding period is mostly informed about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the prenatal period. the reason was identified to breastfeed and evaluated the exclusive breastfeeding rate for the first 6 months of life. The work outside the home was identified the main reason for the early introduction of other milks or foods.Antecedentes: O aleitamento materno exclusivo até aos meses do bebé, e a sua manutenção com alimentos complementares até aos dois anos (OMS e UNICEF, 1995). Objectivos: Conhecer a opinião das mães de lactentes sobre o período de aleitamento materno exclusivo, identificar se as mães foram informadas sobre a importância do aleitamento materno exclusivo durante o período pré-natal, identificar o motivo para amamentar, avaliar a taxa de aleitamento materno exclusivo durante os primeiros 6 meses de vida e identificar as causas para a introdução de outro tipo de alimentos; Método: Estudo quantitativo, descritivo, numa amostra não probabilística intencional de 39 mães de lactentes, que tenham amamentado ou ainda se encontravam a amamentar, cujos filhos frequentavam creches públicas ou privadas, situadas em meio urbano e rural do distrito de Coimbra, com aplicação de um questionário, de Outubro a Dezembro de 2015. Resultados: 17.9% das crianças tinha 9 meses de idade, 51.3% das mães tinha entre 31-35 anos, 87.2% eram trabalhadoras, 59.9% referiu o período de 6 meses como o período ideal de duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo, a 87.2% foram-lhes transmitidos conhecimentos sobre a importância do aleitamento materno exclusivo durante o período pré-natal, 22.6% referiu “a saúde do bebé” para amamentar, 48.7% introduziu outros alimentos aos 5 meses tendo 53.8% invocado o trabalho fora de casa o motivo para essa introdução. Conclusões: A maioria das mães de lactentes identificou correctamente o período de aleitamento materno exclusivo sendo maioritariamente informadas sobre a importância do aleitamento materno exclusivo durante o período pré-natal. Foi identificado o motivo para amamentar e avaliada a taxa de aleitamento materno exclusivo durante os primeiros 6 meses de vida. O trabalho fora de casa foi identificado o principal motivo para a introdução precoce de outro tipo de leites ou alimentos.

Self-Regulation in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders “SR-MRehab: Un Colegio Emocionante”: A Protocol Study

Self-regulation refers to the ability to control and modulate behavior, and it can include both emotional and cognitive modulation. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders may show difficulties in self-regulation. The main objective of this study is to improve self-regulation skills in children between 6 and 11 years of age with neurodevelopmental disorders. Methodology: A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with the use of “SR-MRehab: Un colegio emocionante”, based on a non-immersive virtual reality system where virtual objects can be managed by children in a natural way using their hands. Children will be recruited from several schools of Granada (Spain) and they will be randomly allocated to two groups. An assessment will be conducted before and after the intervention and 24 weeks after the end of the intervention process. The experimental group will receive the intervention using virtual reality. The control group will receive a standard self-regulation program. Both interventions will be performed once a week for a total of 10 sessions. Changes in self-regulation, as well as the acceptability of technology with the use of SR-MRehab, will be evaluated. The results will be published and will provide evidence regarding the use of this type of intervention in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Trial registration: Registered with code NCT04418921.Programa Estatal de Generacion de Conocimiento y Fortalecimiento Cientifico y Tecnologico del Sistema de I+D+i y del Programa Estatal de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad, del Plan Estatal de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnica y de Innovacion 2017 PID2019-108915RB-I00Teaching innovation project of the Degree in Occupational Therapy of the University of Granada about Emotional Skills 19-7