Cyanobacterial bloom mitigation using proteins with high isoelectric point and chitosan-modified soil

A new environmental friendly method was developed for cyanobacterial blooms mitigation using local lake shore soil modified by protein with high isoelectric point (pI) and chitosan jointly. Results suggested that 5 mg/L lysozyme (pI ≈ 11) and 100 mg/L bromelain (pI ≈ 9.5) modified 10 mg/L soil can both reduce the surface charge of microcystis aeruginosa, the dominant species forming cyanobacterial blooms, from -26 mv to -10 mv and remove 73% and 60% of algal cells in 30 min, respectively. The limited improvement of removal efficiency was due to the small flocs (< 60 μm) formed by charge neutralization, which need more than 90 min to settle in static condition. However, when the small flocs were linked and bridged by the other modifier, chitosan with long polymer chain, large flocs of about 800 μm and 300 μm were fomed and more than 80% of algal cells were removed in 5 min and 30 min by lysozyme-chitosan modified soil and bromelain-chitosan modified soil, respectively. The lower removal ability of bromelain-modified soil was due to the lower charge density leading to less powerful in destabilization of algal cells. Depending on the bi-component modification mechanism including charge neutralization of proteins with high pI and netting and bridging function of chitosan with long polymer chain, it is possible to flocculate cyanobacterial blooms in natural waters effectively using locally available materials

Evolutionism and Historical Particularism at the St. Petersburg Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography

The paper describes the early 20th century debates between several leading Russian anthropologists, including Lev Shternberg, on the best way of displaying artifacts in the newly refurbished Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology in St. Petersburg. These debates revealed major tensions and contradictions between evolutionism and historical particularism, as well as universalism and nationalism within Russian anthropology of that era

Der jüdische Traum von einer Republik auf der Krim. Juden und jüdisches Nationalbewußtsein in der spätstalinistischen Sowjetunion

Grüner F. Der jüdische Traum von einer Republik auf der Krim. Juden und jüdisches Nationalbewußtsein in der spätstalinistischen Sowjetunion. In: Tuchtenhagen R, Gassenschmidt C, eds. Ethnische und soziale Konflikte im neuzeitlichen Osteuropa. Festschrift für Heinz-Dietrich Löwe zum 60. Geburtstag. Schriftenreihe Studien zur Geschichtsforschung der Neuzeit . Vol 37. Hamburg: Dr. Kovač; 2004: 61-112

Die Juden und die jüdische Religion im bolschewistischen Rußland

Löwe H-D, Grüner F. Die Juden und die jüdische Religion im bolschewistischen Rußland. In: Gassenschmidt C, Tuchtenhagen R, eds. Staat und Religion in der Sowjetunion 1917-1941. Schriften zur Geistesgeschichte des östlichen Europa. Vol 23. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz; 2001: 167-205

The use of Moringa oleifera as a natural coagulant in surface water treatment

Moringa oleifera (MO) seed is a natural plant with active bio-coagulate compounds that can be used for water clarification since it reduces the use of chemical-based coagulants. This study aims to evaluate the impact of Moringa oleifera (MO) seeds and MO seeds with a reduced amount of oil as coagulants in conventional water treatment to remove cyanobacteria from different natural surface waters. Tests were performed for waters with low (5-10 NTU) and high (30-60 NTU) initial turbidity with and without Microcystis aeruginosa cells and for MO integral powder, MO oil-extracted with ethanol and with a pressurized technique, and MO extracted with NaCI. The results show that MO oil-extraction is not necessary when using MO seeds as a coagulant in coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation (CF/S). Chlorophyll a and turbidity removals were up to 85% for high-turbidity waters, with 50 mg.L-1 MO obtained, for MO integral powder and for all of the MO extraction methods used. Therefore, for these waters, integral powder (without any extraction) can be used. For low-turbidity waters and using a 1 M saline extraction of the active coagulant compound, chlorophyll a and turbidity removals were approximately 60%. It was also demonstrated that MO is capable of removing some of the organic matter present in water, namely, aromatic organic matter, between 40 and 50% when using MO extracted with NaCI. However, dissolved organic matter results showed an increase independent of the type of MO extraction used. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Expression of a plant-derived peptide harboring water-cleaning and antimicrobial activities.

Drinking water is currently a scarce world resource, the preparation of which requires complex treatments that include clarification of suspended particles and disinfection. Seed extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam., a tropical tree, have been proposed as an environment-friendly alternative, due to their traditional use for the clarification of drinking water. However, the precise nature of the active components of the extract and whether they may be produced in recombinant form are unknown. Here we show that recombinant or synthetic forms of a cationic seed polypeptide mediate efficient sedimentation of suspended mineral particles and bacteria. Unexpectedly, the polypeptide was also found to possesses a bactericidal activity capable of disinfecting heavily contaminated water. Furthermore, the polypeptide has been shown to efficiently kill several pathogenic bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant isolates of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Legionella species. Thus, this polypeptide displays the unprecedented feature of combining water purification and disinfectant properties. Identification of an active principle derived from the seed extracts points to a range of potential for drinking water treatment or skin and mucosal disinfection in clinical settings