Microbial processes and bacterial populations associated to anaerobic treatment of sulfate-rich wastewater

A pilot-scale (1.2 m3) anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (ASBBR) containing mineral coal for biomass attachment was fed with sulfate-rich wastewater at increasing sulfate concentrations. Ethanol was used as the main organic source. Tested COD/sulfate ratios were of 1.8 and 1.5 for sulfate loading rates of 0.65–1.90 kgSO42−/cycle (48 h-cycle) or of 1.0 in the trial with 3.0 gSO42− l−1. Sulfate removal efficiencies observed in all trials were as high as 99%. Molecular inventories indicated a shift on the microbial composition and a decrease on species diversity with the increase of sulfate concentration. Beta-proteobacteria species affiliated with Aminomonas spp. and Thermanaerovibrio spp. predominated at 1.0 gSO42− l−1. At higher sulfate concentrations the predominant bacterial group was Delta-proteobacteria mainly Desulfovibrio spp. and Desulfomicrobium spp. at 2.0 gSO42− l−1, whereas Desulfurella spp. and Coprothermobacter spp. predominated at 3.0 gSO42− l−1. These organisms have been commonly associated with sulfate reduction producing acetate, sulfide and sulfur. Methanogenic archaea (Methanosaeta spp.) was found at 1.0 and 2.0 gSO42− l−1. Additionally, a simplified mathematical model was used to infer on metabolic pathways of the biomass involved in sulfate reduction

The use of LANDSAT data to monitor the urban growth of Sao Paulo Metropolitan area

Urban growth from 1977 to 1979 of the region between Billings and the Guarapiranga reservoir was mapped and the problematic urban areas identified using several LANDSAT products. Visual and automatic interpretation techniques were applied to the data. Computer compatible tapes of LANDSAT multispectral scanner data were analyzed through the maximum likelihood Gaussian algorithm. The feasibility of monitoring fast urban growth by remote sensing techniques for efficient urban planning and control is demonstrated

Data-driven topo-climatic mapping with machine learning methods

Automatic environmental monitoring networks enforced by wireless communication technologies provide large and ever increasing volumes of data nowadays. The use of this information in natural hazard research is an important issue. Particularly useful for risk assessment and decision making are the spatial maps of hazard-related parameters produced from point observations and available auxiliary information. The purpose of this article is to present and explore the appropriate tools to process large amounts of available data and produce predictions at fine spatial scales. These are the algorithms of machine learning, which are aimed at non-parametric robust modelling of non-linear dependencies from empirical data. The computational efficiency of the data-driven methods allows producing the prediction maps in real time which makes them superior to physical models for the operational use in risk assessment and mitigation. Particularly, this situation encounters in spatial prediction of climatic variables (topo-climatic mapping). In complex topographies of the mountainous regions, the meteorological processes are highly influenced by the relief. The article shows how these relations, possibly regionalized and non-linear, can be modelled from data using the information from digital elevation models. The particular illustration of the developed methodology concerns the mapping of temperatures (including the situations of Föhn and temperature inversion) given the measurements taken from the Swiss meteorological monitoring network. The range of the methods used in the study includes data-driven feature selection, support vector algorithms and artificial neural network

Reprodução induzida e criação de larvas de híbridos interespecíficos e intragenérico da ordem siluriforme (Pisces).

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a resposta à indução artificial da reprodução em exemplares de cachapinta, híbrido resultante do cruzamento de Pseudoplatystoma corruscans X Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum no cruzamento intergenérico entre fêmea deste produto híbrido e macho de jundiá (Leiarius marmoratus), para verificar a produção de gametas viáveis, quantidade de larvas eclodidas, percentual de sobrevivência e crescimento das larvas e consequentemente a produção de exemplares para estudos genéticos.Organizado por: Sílvio Ricardo Maurano; AQUACIÊNCIA 2012

Verification of the selectivity of a liquid chromatography method for determination of stilbenes and flavonols in red wines by mass spectrometry.

Quantification of bioactive phenols, like stilbenes and flavonols (SaF), has been conducted to evaluate the nutraceutical potential of red wines. However, there is still a lack of full validated, fast and accessible liquid chromatography methods offering high selectivity and a simple procedure. We present here the use of a high-resolution mass spectrometer to evaluate the selectivity of a feasible and traditional liquid chromatography technique (HPLC? DAD) to analyze markers of aglycone SaF in red wines. The SaF compounds were tested: trans-resveratrol, trans-eviniferin, quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol, as well as trans-cinnamic acid, one of their precursors. System suitability and validation tests were employed for the selected conditions (octylsilane column, methanol mobile phase, and gradient elution). The validation process ensured the HPLC?DAD method was selective, linear, sensitive, precise, accurate and robust. The method was then applied to red wine samples from the Campanha Gau´cha region, Southern Brazil. The real samples contained different SaF levels, showing that the method is applicable to routine use. Furthermore, this was the first SaF characterization of red wines from the Campanha Gau´cha, contributing to regional and product development. Keywords Bioactive phenols Red wine Liquid chromatography Mass spectrometry Validatio

A new emerging oral infection: Raoultella planticola in a boy with haematological malignancy

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis is a common complication in pediatric cancer patients, affecting up to 80% of children. Due to neutropenia and disruption of the mucosal barrier, chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis is often complicated by super-infections. CASE REPORT: A 16-years old male with stage 3 Burkitt's lymphoma developed chemotherapy induced oral mucositis grade 3 (according to WHO scale). Ulcers were quickly growing (reaching a maximum diameter of 3 cm) and became greyish in colour, resulting in dysphagia and pain. A swab of the lesions was taken and microbiological tests were performed. The sample grew for Raoultella planticola, an encapsulated Gram-negative bacterium whose full pathogenic potential still needs to be defined. TREATMENT: The patient received antibiotic combination therapy with Amikacin and Ceftazidime for 8 days. Complete healing of the lesions and resolution of the symptoms were reached and he completed his antineoplastic therapy without further complications. FOLLOW-UP: Twelve months after the infection, he is alive and well, with no oral complaints. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of a Raoultella planticola infection in a patient with chemotherapy induced oral mucositis. This type of infection must be added to the list of organisms to be considered when caring for these patients

Performance evaluation of a Wi-Fi-based multi-node network for distributed audio-visual sensors

The experimental research described in this manuscript proposes a complete network system for distributed multimedia acquisition by mobile remote nodes, streaming to a central unit, and centralized real-time processing of the collected signals. Particular attention is placed on the hardware structure of the system and on the research of the best network performances for an efficient and secure streaming. Specifically, these acoustic and video sensors, microphone arrays and video cameras respectively, can be employed in any robotic vehicles and systems, both mobile and fixed. The main objective is to intercept unidentified sources, like any kind of vehicles or robotic vehicles, drones, or people whose identity is not a-priory known whose instantaneous location and trajectory are also unknown. The proposed multimedia network infrastructure is analysed and studied in terms of efficiency and robustness, and experiments are conducted on the field to validate it. The hardware and software components of the system were developed using suitable technologies and multimedia transmission protocols to meet the requirements and constraints of computation performance, energy efficiency, and data transmission security

Early TBI-Induced Cytokine Alterations are Similarly Detected by Two Distinct Methods of Multiplex Assay

Annually, more than a million persons experience traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the US and a substantial proportion of this population develop debilitating neurological disorders, such as, paralysis, cognitive deficits, and epilepsy. Despite the long-standing knowledge of the risks associated with TBI, no effective biomarkers or interventions exist. Recent evidence suggests a role for inflammatory modulators in TBI-induced neurological impairments. Current technological advances allow for the simultaneous analysis of the precise spatial and temporal expression patterns of numerous proteins in single samples which ultimately can lead to the development of novel treatments. Thus, the present study examined 23 different cytokines, including chemokines, in the ipsi and contralateral cerebral cortex of rats at 24 h after a fluid percussion injury (FPI). Furthermore, the estimation of cytokines were performed in a newly developed multiplex assay instrument, MAGPIX (Luminex Corp), and compared with an established instrument, Bio-Plex (Bio-Rad), in order to validate the newly developed instrument. The results show numerous inflammatory changes in the ipsi and contralateral side after FPI that were consistently reported by both technologies

Determinação de polifenóis como subsídio para seleção de variedades do Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Uva.

A proposta do presente trabalho é analisar os teores de polifenóis bioativos em variedades do Banco Ativo de Germoplasma (acessos) e/ou novas variedades em fase de criação (seleções), através da técnica de Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência (HPLC)