Effects of different operating conditions on sediment slurry sequencing batch reactors treating marine port sediments contaminated by PAHs

Due to intensive anthropic activities, marine port sediments are often contaminated by organic pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which represent a significant environmental threat. In this study, two sediment slurry sequencing batch reactors (SS-SBRs) were used to biologically degrade a mixture of PAHs (namely fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene) from marine sediments dredged from Cagliari (Italy) and El Kantaoui (Tunisia) ports. To enhance PAHs removal by biostimulation, nutrients were added in both sediments, acetate was used as co-substrate (El Kantaoui, SS-SBR1), and saponins were used as surfactants (Cagliari, SS-SBR2). Moreover, different levels of contamination (up to 200 mgPAHtot/kgdw in SS-SBR1; up to 400 mgPAHtot/kgdw in SS-SBR2) and solid to liquid ratios (S/L, up to 0.2 in SS-SBR1; up to 0.1 in SS-SBR2) were applied. As to SS-SBR1, the highest removal efficiencies (99-100% and 98-100% for 3- and 4-ring PAHs, respectively) were achieved when the level of contamination and S/L were set at 200 mgPAH-tot/kgdw and 0.1, 150 mgPAH-tot/kgdw and 0.13, and 150 mgPAH-tot/kgdw and 0.20, respectively; as to SS-SBR2, very high removal efficiencies (99÷100% and 98÷100% for 3- and 4-ring PAHs, respectively) were observed during the whole experimental campaign. Such results are promising and provide a useful background for testing other important operating parameters (e.g., the volumetric exchange ratio)

Factors influencing the relationship between fluoride in drinking water and dental fluorosis: a ten-year systematic review and meta-analysis

The relationship between naturally fluoridated groundwater and dental fluorosis has received large attention from researchers around the world. Despite recognition that several factors influence this relationship, there is a lack of systematic studies analyzing the heterogeneity of these results. To fill such a gap, this study performs a systematic review and meta-analysis to understand which factors influence this relationship and how. Selected studies were sampled between 2007 and 2017 from Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus using keywords and Boolean operators. Results of the systematic review show that dental fluorosis affects individuals of all ages, with the highest prevalence below 11, while the impact of other factors (gender, environmental conditions, diet and dental caries) was inconclusive. Meta-regression analysis, based on information collected through systematic review, indicates that both fluoride in drinking water and temperature influence dental fluorosis significantly and that these studies might be affected by publication bias. Findings show that fluoride negatively affects people's health in less developed countries. The conclusions discuss policy tools and technological innovations that could reduce fluoride levels below that of the WHO (<1.5 mg/L)

Ammonium recovery from agro-industrial digestate using bioelectrochemical systems

Abstract Growing food and biomass production at the global scale has determined a corresponding increase in the demand for and use of nutrients. In this study, the possibility of recovering nitrogen from agro-industrial digestate using bioelectrochemical systems was investigated: two microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) were fed with synthetic and real digestate (2.5 gNH4+-N L−1). Carbon felt and granular graphite were used as anodes in MEC-1 and MEC-2, respectively. As to synthetic wastewater, the optimal nitrogen load (NL) for MEC-1 and -2 was 1.25 and 0.75 gNH4+-N d−1, respectively. MEC-1 showed better performance in terms of NH4+-N removal efficiency (39 ± 2.5%) and recovery rate (up to 70 gNH4+-N m−2d−1), compared to MEC-2 (33 ± 4.7% and up to 30 gN m−2d−1, respectively). At the optimal hydraulic retention time, lower NH4+-N removal efficiencies and recovery rates were observed when real digestate was fed to MEC-1 (29 ± 6.6% and 60 ± 13 gNH4+-N m−2d−1, respectively) and MEC-2 (21 ± 7.9% and 10 ± 3.6 gNH4+-N m−2d−1, respectively), likely due to the higher complexity of the influent. The average energy requirements were 3.6–3.7 kWh kgNremoved−1, comparable with values previously reported in the literature and lower than conventional ammonia recovery processes. Results are promising and may reduce the need for costly and polluting processes for nitrogen synthesis

Xerostomia induced by radiotherapy: an overview of the physiopathology, clinical evidence, and management of the oral damage

Background: The irradiation of head and neck cancer (HNC) often causes damage to the salivary glands. The resulting salivary gland hypofunction and xerostomia seriously reduce the patient\u2019s quality of life. Purpose: To analyze the literature of actual management strategies for radiation-induced hypofunction and xerostomia in HNC patients. Methods: MEDLINE/PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases were electronically evaluated for articles published from January 1, 1970, to June 30, 2013. Two reviewers independently screened and included papers according to the predefined selection criteria. Results: Sixty-one articles met the inclusion criteria. The systematic review of the literature suggests that the most suitable methods for managing the clinical and pathophysiological consequences of HNC radiotherapy might be the pharmacological approach, for example, through the use of cholinergic agonists when residual secretory capacity is still present, and the use of salivary substitutes. In addition, a modified diet and the patient\u2019s motivation to enhance oral hygiene can lead to a significant improvement. Conclusion: Radiation-induced xerostomia could be considered a multifactorial disease. It could depend on the type of cancer treatment and the cumulative radiation dose to the gland tissue. A preventive approach and the correct treatment of the particular radiotherapeutic patient can help to improve the condition of xerostomia

Metal-based gels: Synthesis, properties, and applications

This review covers various aspects of recent developments on the design, the synthesis, the characterization of gels that: (i) are formed in the presence of metal ions (metallogels); (ii) are based on coordination complexes as gelators. Particular attention is devoted to systems that show recognition and sensing properties towards different analytes

Bioleaching of Valuable Elements from Red Mud: A Study on the Potential of Non-Enriched Biomass

Red mud (RM) is the main residue produced by the alkaline extraction of alumina (Al2O3) from bauxite, and it contains valuable metals such as iron (Fe), aluminium (Al), titanium (Ti), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), rare earth elements, etc. This research aimed to investigate the biologically induced leaching of some valuable elements from raw RM without preliminary biomass enrichment and inoculum, simultaneously reducing RM polluting potential and extracting metals for their subsequent recovery within a circular economy-based approach. In addition to the missing inoculum, such an approach is challenging since high RM alkalinity and pH, as well as the absence of any sulphides, constrain the use of the most common biohydrometallurgical techniques. Red Muds from two European locations were tested (RM-I and RM-II, respectively). Bioleaching tests were performed at different temperatures (T = 22 &amp; DEG;C and 28 &amp; DEG;C; and also 15 &amp; DEG;C for RM-II) and solid-to-liquid ratios (S/L = 2%, 5%). A sudden drop in pH from alkaline to constant neutral/acidic values was observed in almost all tests, and such results were attributed to biological activity since abiotic tests did not show any pH decrease. The best results in terms of extraction were achieved with RM-II, in particular for Al, Mg and Mn (17%, 42% and 47%, respectively). At 2% S/L, the highest temperature allowed for a better metal release, while at 5% S/L, the highest extraction of Al, Mg and Ti was observed at 22 &amp; DEG;C. As expected, iron was less available to leach at the achieved pH values, as it was mostly present as hematite in both RMs. Finally, the first microbiological characterisation of the autochthonous biomass selected during the bioleaching treatment of RM was provided

Effects of blue, orange and white lights on growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, and phycocyanin production of Arthrospira platensis cultures

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different light colors on growth, pigment composition, and photosynthetic performance of Arthrospira platensis. Results showed that under orange light the biomass productivity increased due to the capability of A. platensis to fully absorb this portion of the light spectrum. Under blue light, phycocyanin increased continuously up to 13.2% ± 1.96 of dry weight at day 5, while under orange and white lights the phycocyanin content resulted lower, 7.1 ± 0.39 and 6.7% ± 1.58 of dry weight, respectively. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements showed the maximum electron transport rate (rETRmax) in cells grown under orange light. The results of this study indicated that the orange light increased both growth and phycocyanin productivities, while blue light increased mostly the phycocyanin content, while biomass productivity was much lower. Further increase of phycocyanin content was observed shifting the light illuminating the cultures from orange to blue, attaining a raise in phycocyanin content from 8.6% to 12.5% of dry weight within 48 h from the start of the illumination with blue light. Within the same period of time no growth was observed indicating that the synthesis of phycocyanin can be decoupled from growth. This study provides useful physiological information regarding the effects of different light spectra on growth, phycocyanin, and photosynthetic performance, as a prerequisite to optimize the production of high value pigments from cultures of A. platensis

Utilidad de la reconstrucción tridimensional con tomografía computarizada en Traumatología y Ortopedia

La reconstrucción tridimensional es una nuev a técnica diagnóstica introducida en cirugía ortopédica y traumatología. Está indicada en algunas fracturas de acetábulo, columna y pelvis porque facilita una visión desde diferente s ángulos y en determinadas lesiones congénitas donde es imprescindible una correcta evaluación preoperatoria. Presentamo s dos paciente s con fracturas acetabulares, otro con lesión me - tastásica en columna lumbar y otro con hipoplasia del arco neural de cuarta vértebra lumbar. La reconstrucción tridimensional fue útil para el definitivo diagnóstico en los cuatro pacientes.Three dimensional images is a new technique introduced in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology. It's indicated for some fractures of the acetabulum, spine or pelvic girdle becaus e supply a vision from differents angles and in determinated congenital damage s who is indispensable an accurate evaluation before the surgery. We presented two patients with acetabular fractures, other with a metastasi c tumour in lumbar spine and anothe r with a hipoplasti c neural arch in a lumbar vertebra. The thre e dimensional reconstruction was useful for the definitive diagnostic in the four patients

Fracturas epifisiolisis graves de la extremidad proximal del radio: resultado tras tratamiento quirúrgico

La fractura-epifisiolisis del cuello radial es una lesión grave que puede originar alteracione s en e l crecimiento epifisario. Presentamo s una seri e de 22 casos revisados con una antigüedad mínima de dos años. Fueron intervenidos 14 pacientes, de los que 10 estaban incluidos en el grupo III o en lesione s de Jeffery. Once enfermos fueron tratado s con cirugí a abierta. Cuando l a intervenció n consisti ó en reducció n abierta y osteosíntesis, los resultados clínicos fueron buenos en el 50%, pero cuando só- lo se practicó reducción cruenta sin asociar sistema estabilizador metálico, éstos llegaron al 100%. En cinco de los ocho paciente s del primer grupo se presentaron calcificacione s articulares y en dos, epifisiodesis. En el segundo grupo no aparecieron ninguna de éstas alteraciones. Creemos que en los casos de fracturas epifisiolisis del cuello radial en niños con gran desplazamiento, el tratamiento ideal es la cuidadosa reducción cruenta evitando fijación con aguja.The fracture epiphysiolysis of radial neck is a grave lesion which may induc e epiphysea l grown disturbances. A review of 22 case s suffering such fracture s was carried out with a mean follow-up of 2 years. Of the total, 14 cases wer e treated by surgery, 10 of thes e showing either type III or Jeffery's fractures. Eleven patients reequired open reduction. In 50% of the cases treated by open reduction and internal fixation, the clinical results wer e satisfactory. When internal fixation was not used, the satisfactory results reached 100%. Five of the 8 cases of the firt groups developed periarticular ossifications and 2 othe r showed epiphyseal closening. Thes e type of complications wer e not seen in the second group. For epiphysiolysis of the radial neck with sever e displacement. The ideal treatment seems to be a careful open reduction avoiding internal fixation

Leaves and fruits preparations of Pistacia lentiscus L.: A review on the ethnopharmacological uses and implications in inflammation and infection

There is an increasing interest in revisiting plants for drug discovery, proving scientifically their role as remedies. The aim of this review was to give an overview of the ethnopharmacological uses of Pistacia lentiscus L. (PlL) leaves and fruits, expanding the search for the scientific discovery of their chemistry, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and antimicrobial activities. PlL is a wild-growing shrub rich in terpenoids and polyphenols, the oil and extracts of which have been widely used against inflammation and infections, and as wound healing agents. The more recurrent components in PlL essential oil (EO) are represented by α-pinene, terpinene, caryophyllene, limonene and myrcene, with high variability in concentration depending on the Mediterranean country. The anti-inflammatory activity of the oil mainly occurs due to the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the arachidonic acid cascade. Interestingly, the capacity against COX-2 and LOX indicates PlL EO as a dual inhibitory compound. The high content of polyphenols enriching the extracts provide explanations for the known biological properties of the plant. The protective effect against reactive oxygen species is of wide interest. In particular, their anthocyanins content greatly clarifies their antioxidative capacity. Further, the antimicrobial activity of PlL oil and extracts includes the inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, periodontal bacteria and Candida spp. In conclusion, the relevant scientific properties indicate PlL as a nutraceutical and also as a therapeutic agent against a wide range of diseases based on inflammation and infections