The dynamics of the content and migration of trace metals in aquatic ecosystems of Moldova

The current complex investigations, carried out according to well-established methods, allowed us to find the main patterns of the dynamics and migration of metals in the Dniester and Prut rivers, affected by natural and anthropogenic factors. Using a polyfactorial analysis approach, the quantitative effect of main factors (water debit, amount of suspended matter, volume of discharged wastewaters, amount of pesticides and fertilizers metals in water, suspended matter, silt sediments of rivers and reservoirs was revealed. The discharged industrial wastewaters contribute to freshwater pollution with Ni, Zn, Cu, and Cd (r >0.75) The use of fertilizers and pesticides for agricultural purposes affects directly the dynamics of Cu, Zn (r = 0.74-0.92), and the pollution is intensified by the dismembered relief, the peculiarities of rainfall and intensive erosion processes. The Moldavian Thermal Power Plant polluted the water of cooling reservoir with V, Mo, Ni, Cd and the water sediments – also with Pb, Zn and Cu, whose concentrations depend directly on the amount of burned fuel (r=0,76-0,97)

Study on metal accumulation in aquatic plants of Cuciurgan cooling reservoir

The biomass of plants from the Cuciurgan cooling reservoir of the Moldovan Thermal Power Plant is dependent on the reservoir thermofication and bore considerable modifications. The contents of many metals in aquatic plants were highly correlated with their contents in water: r=0,87-0,91. The dynamics of trace element accumulation depends on seasonal factors. From the beginning of spring to the end of summer and beginning of autumn, the concentrations of trace elements increased by large increments, while with the decrease in temperature below 10°C, an opposite effect was observed. After plant death, a significant part of accumulated trace elements are released into the water, in the most cases this being associated with organic compounds. More than one half of the amount of trace elements is deposited with the decaying plants in the bottom sediments. Therefore, difficulties may arise, while identifying the role of aquatic plants in biogenic migration of metals in aquatic ecosystems and water purification processes

Differentiation of cultured and wild sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): total lipid content, fatty acid and trace mineral composition

The proximate, fatty acid and trace mineral compositions in the flesh of cultured and wild sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were evaluated. Cultured sea bass contained significantly (P 0.05) differences were noted in the total content of minerals examined. Thus, cultured and wild sea bass may be differentiated using total lipid content, fatty acid proportions and trace mineral compositions and these differences may be attributed to the constituents of the diet of the fish. Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd

Striatal activation during blepharospasm revealed by fMRI

Objective: To investigate brain areas involved in the initiation and execution of eyelid spasm in patients with benign essential blepharospasm. Methods: The authors used fMRI and correlated the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal with epochs of frequent eyelid spasm in six patients and with epochs of voluntary eye blinks in four healthy subjects. Results: Spasm epochs were accompanied by activation in a subregion of the putamen in all patients, whereas voluntary blinking in healthy subjects was not. Other areas of activation common to patients and healthy subjects included frontal and parietal operculum, supplementary motor area, primary sensorimotor cortex, various visual areas, and the cerebellum. Conclusions: The striatum may be involved in the initiation or execution of eyelid spasm. Future studies, possibly including electromyography (EMG) during fMRI, are needed to detect the sequence and role of other concomitantly activated areas

Striatal activation during blepharospasm revealed by fMRI

Objective: To investigate brain areas involved in the initiation and execution of eyelid spasm in patients with benign essential blepharospasm. Methods: The authors used fMRI and correlated the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal with epochs of frequent eyelid spasm in six patients and with epochs of voluntary eye blinks in four healthy subjects. Results: Spasm epochs were accompanied by activation in a subregion of the putamen in all patients, whereas voluntary blinking in healthy subjects was not. Other areas of activation common to patients and healthy subjects included frontal and parietal operculum, supplementary motor area, primary sensorimotor cortex, various visual areas, and the cerebellum. Conclusions: The striatum may be involved in the initiation or execution of eyelid spasm. Future studies, possibly including electromyography (EMG) during fMRI, are needed to detect the sequence and role of other concomitantly activated areas

Lactic acid fermentation of human urine to improve its fertilizing value and reduce odour emissions

2016-2017 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalbcrcAccepted ManuscriptSelf-fundedPublishe

Evaluation of Potable Groundwater Quality Using Environmetrics. The case of Nestos and Strymon River Regions, Northern Greece

In the present study potable water samples were regularly collected from two geographical regions in Northern Greece. The two regions are close to the Nestos and Strymon Rivers. Throughout 2015, samples from 13 sites were collected and analyzed with a frequency of three times per each quarter for the following parameters: chloride, calcium, nitrate, potassium, electric conductivity and total hardness. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the geographical region and seasonal influence on the above parameters regarding the limits of the 98/83/EC Directive. The findings of the Linear Mixed Effects modeling revealed statistically significant main effects of both factors on the examined parameters. © 2021 School of Science, IHU. All rights reserved

A randomised comparison of bilateral recession versus unilateral recession-resection as surgery for infantile esotropia.

Contains fulltext : 79824.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)OBJECTIVE: Infantile esotropia, a common form of strabismus, is treated either by bilateral recession (BR) or by unilateral recession-resection (RR). Differences in degree of alignment achieved by these two procedures have not previously been examined in a randomised controlled trial. DESIGN: Controlled, randomised multicentre trial. SETTING: 12 university clinics. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: 124 patients were randomly assigned to either BR or RR. Standardised protocol prescribed that the total relocation of the muscles, in millimetres, was calculated by dividing the preoperative latent angle of strabismus at distance, in degrees, by 1.6. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Alignment assessed as the variation of the postoperative angle of strabismus during alternating cover. RESULTS: The mean preoperative latent angle of strabismus at distance fixation was +17.2 degrees (SD 4.4) for BR and +17.5 degrees (4.0) for RR. The mean postoperative angle of strabismus at distance was +2.3 degrees (5.1) for BR and +2.9 degrees (3.5) for RR (p = 0.46 for reduction in the angle and p = 0.22 for the within-group variation). The mean reduction in the angle of strabismus was 1.41 degrees (0.45) per millimetre of muscle relocation for RR and 1.47 (0.50) for BR (p = 0.50 for reduction in the angle). Alignment was associated with postoperative binocular vision (p = 0.001) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant difference was found between BR and RR as surgery for infantile esotropia

Discordant phenotypes in twins with infantile nystagmus

Abstract Infantile nystagmus (IN) may result from aetiologies including albinism and FRMD7 mutations. IN has low prevalence, and twins with IN are rare. Whilst discordant presentation has been previously reported for IN, we present for the first time the comprehensive assessment of diagnostically discordant monozygotic twins. From a cohort of over 2000 patients, we identified twins and triplets discordant for nystagmus. Using next-generation sequencing, high-resolution infra-red pupil tracking and optical coherence tomography, we characterised differences in genotype and phenotype. Monozygotic twins (n = 1), dizygotic twins (n = 3) and triplets (n = 1) were included. The monozygotic twins had concordant TYR variants. No causative variants were identified in the triplets. Dizygotic twins had discordant variants in TYR, OCA2 and FRMD7. One unaffected co-twin demonstrated sub-clinical nystagmus. Foveal hypoplasia (FH) was noted in four of five probands. Both co-twins of the monozygotic pair and triplets displayed FH. In three families, at least one parent had FH without nystagmus. FH alone may be insufficient to develop nystagmus. Whilst arrested optokinetic reflex pathway development is implicated in IN, discordant twins raise questions regarding where differences in development have arisen. In unaffected monozygotes therefore, genetic variants may predispose to oculomotor instability, with variable expressivity possibly responsible for the discordance observed