Critical review of technologies for the on-site treatment of hospital wastewater: From conventional to combined advanced processes

This review aims to assess different technologies for the on-site treatment of hospital wastewater (HWW) to remove pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) as sustances of emerging concern at a bench, pilot, and full scales from 2014 to 2020. Moreover, a rough characterisation of hospital effluents is presented. The main detected PhCs are antibiotics and psychiatric drugs, with concentrations up to 1.1 mg/L. On the one hand, regarding the presented technologies, membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are a good alternative for treating HWW with PhCs removal values higher than 80% in removing analgesics, anti-inflammatories, cardiovascular drugs, and some antibiotics. Moreover, this system has been scaled up to the pilot plant scale. However, some target compounds are still present in the treated effluent, such as psychiatric and contrast media drugs and recalcitrant antibiotics (erythromycin and sulfamethoxazole). On the other hand, ozonation effectively removes antibiotics found in the HWW (>93%), and some studies are carried out at the pilot plant scale. Even though, some families, such as the X-ray contrast media, are recalcitrant to ozone. Other advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), such as Fenton-like or UV treatments, seem very effective for removing pharmaceuticals, Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria (ARBs) and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs). However, they are not implanted at pilot plant or full scale as they usually consider extra reactants such as ozone, iron, or UV-light, making the scale-up of the processes a challenging task to treat high-loading wastewater. Thus, several examples of biological wastewater treatment methods combined with AOPs have been proposed as the better strategy to treat HWW with high removal of PhCs (generally over 98%) and ARGs/ARBs (below the detection limit) and lower spending on reactants. However, it still requires further development and optimisation of the integrated processes.Comunidad de Madri

Remodeling of cholinergic input to the hippocampus after noise exposure and tinnitus induction in Guinea pigs

Here, we investigate remodeling of hippocampal cholinergic inputs after noise exposure and determine the relevance of these changes to tinnitus. To assess the effects of noise exposure on the hippocampus, guinea pigs were exposed to unilateral noise for 2 hr and 2 weeks later, immunohistochemistry was performed on hippocampal sections to examine vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) expression. To evaluate whether the changes in VAChT were relevant to tinnitus, another group of animals was exposed to the same noise band twice to induce tinnitus, which was assessed using gap‐prepulse Inhibition of the acoustic startle (GPIAS) 12 weeks after the first noise exposure, followed by immunohistochemistry. Acoustic Brainstem Response (ABR) thresholds were elevated immediately after noise exposure for all experimental animals but returned to baseline levels several days after noise exposure. ABR wave I amplitude‐intensity functions did not show any changes after 2 or 12 weeks of recovery compared to baseline levels. In animals assessed 2‐weeks following noise‐exposure, hippocampal VAChT puncta density decreased on both sides of the brain by 20–60% in exposed animals. By 12 weeks following the initial noise exposure, changes in VAChT puncta density largely recovered to baseline levels in exposed animals that did not develop tinnitus, but remained diminished in animals that developed tinnitus. These tinnitus‐specific changes were particularly prominent in hippocampal synapse‐rich layers of the dentate gyrus and areas CA3 and CA1, and VAChT density in these regions negatively correlated with tinnitus severity. The robust changes in VAChT labeling in the hippocampus 2 weeks after noise exposure suggest involvement of this circuitry in auditory processing. After chronic tinnitus induction, tinnitus‐specific changes occurred in synapse‐rich layers of the hippocampus, suggesting that synaptic processing in the hippocampus may play an important role in the pathophysiology of tinnitus.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150542/1/hipo23058.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150542/2/hipo23058_am.pd

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1042-1111

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica, Cladosporium arenosum from marine sediment sand. Argentina, Kosmimatamyces alatophylus (incl. Kosmimatamyces gen. nov.) from soil. Australia, Aspergillus banksianus, Aspergillus kumbius, Aspergillus luteorubrus, Aspergillus malvicolor and Aspergillus nanangensis from soil, Erysiphe medicaginis from leaves of Medicago polymorpha, Hymenotorrendiella communis on leaf litter of Eucalyptus bicostata, Lactifluus albopicri and Lactifluus austropiperatus on soil, Macalpinomyces collinsiae on Eriachne benthamii, Marasmius vagus on soil, Microdochium dawsoniorum from leaves of Sporobolus natalensis, Neopestalotiopsis nebuloides from leaves of Sporobolus elongatus, Pestalotiopsis etonensis from leaves of Sporobolus jacquemontii, Phytophthora personensis from soil associated with dying Grevillea mccutcheonii. Brazil, Aspergillus oxumiae from soil, Calvatia baixaverdensis on soil, Geastrum calycicoriaceum on leaf litter, Greeneria kielmeyerae on leaf spots of Kielmeyera coriacea. Chile, Phytophthora aysenensis on collar rot and stem of Aristotelia chilensis. Croatia, Mollisia gibbospora on fallen branch of Fagus sylvatica. Czech Republic, Neosetophoma hnaniceana from Buxus sempervirens. Ecuador, Exophiala frigidotolerans from soil. Estonia, Elaphomyces bucholtzii in soil. France, Venturia paralias from leaves of Euphorbia paralias. India, Cortinarius balteatoindicus and Cortinarius ulkhagarhiensis on leaf litter. Indonesia, Hymenotorrendiella indonesiana on Eucalyptus urophylla leaf litter. Italy, Penicillium taurinense from indoor chestnut mill. Malaysia, Hemileucoglossum kelabitense on soil, Satchmopsis pini on dead needles of Pinus tecunumanii. Poland, Lecanicillium praecognitum on insects’ frass. Portugal, Neodevriesia aestuarina from saline water. Republic of Korea, Gongronella namwonensis from freshwater. Russia, Candida pellucida from Exomias pellucidus, Heterocephalacria septentrionalis as endophyte from Cladonia rangiferina, Vishniacozyma phoenicis from dates fruit, Volvariella paludosa from swamp. Slovenia, Mallocybe crassivelata on soil. South Africa, Beltraniella podocarpi, Hamatocanthoscypha podocarpi, Coleophoma podocarpi and Nothoseiridium podocarpi (incl. Nothoseiridium gen. nov.) from leaves of Podocarpus latifolius, Gyrothrix encephalarti from leaves of Encephalartos sp., Paraphyton cutaneum from skin of human patient, Phacidiella alsophilae from leaves of Alsophila capensis, and Satchmopsis metrosideri on leaf litter of Metrosideros excelsa. Spain, Cladophialophora cabanerensis from soil, Cortinarius paezii on soil, Cylindrium magnoliae from leaves of Magnolia grandiflora, Trichophoma cylindrospora (incl. Trichophoma gen. nov.) from plant debris, Tuber alcaracense in calcareus soil, Tuber buendiae in calcareus soil. Thailand, Annulohypoxylon spougei on corticated wood, Poaceascoma filiforme from leaves of unknown Poaceae. UK, Dendrostoma luteum on branch lesions of Castanea sativa, Ypsilina buttingtonensis from heartwood of Quercus sp. Ukraine, Myrmecridium phragmiticola from leaves of Phragmites australis. USA, Absidia pararepens from air, Juncomyces californiensis (incl. Juncomyces gen. nov.) from leaves of Juncus effusus, Montagnula cylindrospora from a human skin sample, Muriphila oklahomaensis (incl. Muriphila gen. nov.) on outside wall of alcohol distillery, Neofabraea eucalyptorum from leaves of Eucalyptus macrandra, Diabolocovidia claustri (incl. Diabolocovidia gen. nov.) from leaves of Serenoa repens, Paecilomyces penicilliformis from air, Pseudopezicula betulae from leaves of leaf spots of Populus tremuloides. Vietnam, Diaporthe durionigena on branches of Durio zibethinus and Roridomyces pseudoirritans on rotten wood. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes

Brainstem Afferents To The Hippocampal Formation: Comparative Inmunohistochemical Study In The Macaca Fascicularis Monkey

The neuroanatomical connections in the nonhuman primate of the brainstem structures to the Hippocampal Formation (HF, which includes the dentate gyrus -DG-, CA3, CA2, CA1, subiculum, pre-parasubiculum and the entorhinal cortex -EC-) are still unclear. Previous tracer studies in nonhuman primates show retrogradely labeled neurons in the brainstem including the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), Locus Coeruleus (LC) and Raphe Nuclei (RN), after deposits in the hippocampus (Amaral and Cowan, 1980), as well as in the EC (Insausti et al., 1987). In order to characterize the neurotransmitters associated to those projections (presumably dopaminergic -DA, VTA-, noradrenergic -NA, LC-, and serotoninergic -5-HT, RN-, respectively), and the topographic and laminar differences, we studied comparatively the innervation in the HF using immunohistochemical techniques. Inmunohistochemistry for DA (Tirosine Hidroxilase, TH), NA (Dopamine Beta Hidroxilase, DBH), and 5-HT showed: a) The DG molecular layer had TH-immunoreactive fibers, while the polymorphic layer contained positive 5-HT fiber labeling, b) CA3 pyramidal layer showed denser 5-HT labeling than TH, c) CA1 had scattered TH and 5-HT fibers, d) The superficial layer of the rostral EC (I and II) had TH- and 5-HT-labelled processes, e) TH and DBH positive cells were primarily found in the lateral subdivisions of the EC (ELR/ELc). The preferential location of these positive fibers in ELR/ELc, is significant, as this portion of the EC receives abundant unimodal and polymodal sensory input and innervates the body and tail of the hippocampus, and therefore it might be a crucial link in the consolidation of memory through the monoaminergic modulation of the HF

Brainstem afferents to the hippocampal formation: Comparative immunohistochemical study in the Macaca fascicularis monkey

The synaptic plasticity of the Hippocampal Formation (HF, which includes the dentate gyrus -DG-, CA3, CA2, CA1, subiculum, pre-parasubiculum and the entorhinal cortex -EC) is strongly influenced by neurotransmiters (presumably Dopaminergic -DA, Ventral Tegmental Area-VTA; Noradrenergic -NA, Locus Coeruleus-LC and Serotoninergic -5-HT, Raphe Nuclei- RN, respectively), (Otmakhova and Lisman, 1996; Katsuki et al., 1997), although the anatomical basis of the chemical modulation of memory in the HF is far from being understood. The neuroanatomical connections between the brainstem and in the HF in the nonhuman primate are still unclear. Previous tracer studies showed retrogradely labeled neurons in the brainstem areas including the VTA, LC and RN, after deposits in the hippocampus (Amaral and Cowan, 1980), as well as in the EC (Insausti et al., 1987). In order to characterize the neurochemical nature of those projections, as well as their topographic and laminar differences, we studied comparatively the distribution on those substances in the HF using immunohistochemical techniques. Immunohistochemistry for each DA (Tyrosine Hydroxylase, TH), NA (Dopamine Beta Hydroxylase -DBH-, and 5-HT) as well as double-immunohistochemical techniques using Alexa 488 (5-HT detection) and Alexa 568 (TH or DBH labeling) disclosed that: • The polymorphic layer of the DG had fibers with the three neurotransmitters, whereas the molecular layer showed only TH and 5-HT immunolabeling, without double-stained processes. • The pyramidal layer of CA3 showed denser 5-HT fiber labeling than TH; CA1 showed only scattered TH and 5-HT fibers, without double labeling profiles. • The subiculum and presubiculum showed fibers immunoreactive for TH, SER and BHD in the molecular layer. No double-labeled TH-5HT or DBH-5HT fibers were seen. • The superficial layers of the rostral EC (I and II) displayed TH- or 5-HT-labelled processes, while the most lateral subdivisions of EC (ELR/ELc) had TH- or DBH-positive fibers; they did not show co-localization. The preferential location of these positive fibers in ELR/ELc is significant, as this portion of the EC receives abundant unimodal and polymodal sensory input and innervates the body and tail of the hippocampus, and therefore it might be an important step for the monoaminergic modulation memory consolidation. Our preliminary anatomical results suggest that the HF function may be modulated independently by monoaminergic neurotransmitters

Frontal cortex afferents to the ventral tegmental area in the Macaca fascicularis monkey

The prefrontal cortico-midbrain pathway is thought to play an important role in the regulation of the firing pattern in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons. The understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the regulation of the midbrain dopamine neurons is critical to elucidate the reward system as well as certain pathological conditions such as drug addiction or schizophrenia. Descending prefrontal cortex (PFC) projections to the VTA have been primarily documented in the rodent brain (Maurice et al., 1999; Sesack and Carr, 2002). Furthermore, several anatomical studies based on the use of anterograde tracers in the nonhuman primate, have shown labeled fibers in the VTA that originated in the medial frontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex (areas 25, 32 and 24), orbitofrontal cortex (areas 11 and 14) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (area 9 and 46) (Chiba et al., 2001; Frankle et al., 2006). In order to complete the study of the direct inputs from the PFC to the VTA, the retrograde tracer 3 Fast Blue (FB) was placed in the mesencephalic ventral and dorsal tegmentum in Macaca fascicularis monkey, including the ventral tegmental area. We analyzed three cases injected with FB through a Hamilton syringe in the ventral mesencephalon. A magnetic resonance (MR) examination to localize the stereotaxic coordinates of the injection site was performed in all the animals used in this study. After 2 weeks survival, animals were deeply anesthetized and perfused through the heart with 4 paraformaldehyde. Several additional cases with 3H-aminoacid injections reported previously (Insausti and Amaral, 2008) were also available for analysis under dark field illumination. Our preliminary results showed labeled neurons in the deep layers of principally, the medial frontal and orbitofrontal cortices, including areas 24, 32 and 25, and the orbitofrontal cortex (areas 11, 13, 12 and 14). Comparatively, the dorsolateral prefrontal (area 10, 9, 46 and 6) cortex displayed far fewer labeled neurons. Most of the labeled neurons were situated at the level of the medial part of caudal area 9 and rostral area 6. The anterograde tracer experiments (5 cases with 3H-aminoacid deposits placed in the orbitofrontal cortex, and 3 cases in the medial frontal cortex) confirmed the existence of these projections, thus ruling out the contamination by fibers of passage at the retrograde tracer injection sites. Our data suggest that the influence of medial frontal and orbitofrontal cortices on the dopaminergic ascending projections is much higher than from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Fungal planet description sheets: 1042-1111

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica, Cladosporium arenosum from marine sediment sand. Argentina, Kosmimatamyces alatophylus (incl. Kosmimatamyces gen. nov.) from soil. Australia, Aspergillus banksianus, Aspergillus kumbius, Aspergillus luteorubrus, Aspergillus malvicolor and Aspergillus nanangensis from soil, Erysiphe medicaginis from leaves of Medicago polymorpha, Hymenotorrendiella communis on leaf litter of Eucalyptus bicostata, Lactifluus albopicri and Lactifluus austropiperatus on soil, Macalpinomyces collinsiae on Eriachne benthamii, Marasmius vagus on soil, Microdochium dawsoniorum from leaves of Sporobolus natalensis, Neopestalotiopsis nebuloides from leaves of Sporobolus elongatus, Pestalotiopsis etonensis from leaves of Sporobolus jacquemontii, Phytophthora personensis from soil associated with dying Grevillea mccutcheonii. Brazil, Aspergillus oxumiae from soil, Calvatia baixaverdensis on soil, Geastrum calycicoriaceum on leaf litter, Greeneria kielmeyerae on leaf spots of Kielmeyera coriacea. Chile, Phytophthora aysenensis on collar rot and stem of Aristotelia chilensis. Croatia, Mollisia gibbospora on fallen branch of Fagus sylvatica. Czech Republic, Neosetophoma hnaniceana from Buxus sempervirens. Ecuador, Exophiala frigidotolerans from soil. Estonia, Elaphomyces bucholtzii in soil. France, Venturia paralias from leaves of Euphorbia paralias. India, Cortinarius balteatoindicus and Cortinarius ulkhagarhiensis on leaf litter. Indonesia, Hymenotorrendiella indonesiana on Eucalyptus urophylla leaf litter. Italy, Penicillium taurinense from indoor chestnut mill. Malaysia, Hemileucoglossum kelabitense on soil, Satchmopsis pini on dead needles of Pinus tecunumanii. Poland, Lecanicillium praecognitum on insects’ frass. Portugal, Neodevriesia aestuarina from saline water. Republic of Korea, Gongronella namwonensis from freshwater. Russia, Candida pellucida from Exomias pellucidus, Heterocephalacria septentrionalis as endophyte from Cladonia rangiferina, Vishniacozyma phoenicis from dates fruit, Volvariella paludosa from swamp. Slovenia, Mallocybe crassivelata on soil. South Africa, Beltraniella podocarpi, Hamatocanthoscypha podocarpi, Coleophoma podocarpi and Nothoseiridium podocarpi (incl. Nothoseiridium gen. nov.) from leaves of Podocarpus latifolius, Gyrothrix encephalarti from leaves of Encephalartos sp., Paraphyton cutaneum from skin of human patient, Phacidiella alsophilae from leaves of Alsophila capensis, and Satchmopsis metrosideri on leaf litter of Metrosideros excelsa. Spain, Cladophialophora cabanerensis from soil, Cortinarius paezii on soil, Cylindrium magnoliae from leaves of Magnolia grandiflora, Trichophoma cylindrospora (incl. Trichophoma gen. nov.) from plant debris, Tuber alcaracense in calcareus soil, Tuber buendiae in calcareus soil. Thailand, Annulohypoxylon spougei on corticated wood, Poaceascoma filiforme from leaves of unknown Poaceae. UK, Dendrostoma luteum on branch lesions of Castanea sativa, Ypsilina buttingtonensis from heartwood of Quercus sp. Ukraine, Myrmecridium phragmiticola from leaves of Phragmites australis. USA, Absidia pararepens from air, Juncomyces californiensis (incl. Juncomyces gen. nov.) from leaves of Juncus effusus, Montagnula cylindrospora from a human skin sample, Muriphila oklahomaensis (incl. Muriphila gen. nov.) on outside wall of alcohol distillery, Neofabraea eucalyptorum from leaves of Eucalyptus macrandra, Diabolocovidia claustri (incl. Diabolocovidia gen. nov.) from leaves of Serenoa repens, Paecilomyces penicilliformis from air, Pseudopezicula betulae from leaves of leaf spots of Populus tremuloides. Vietnam, Diaporthe durionigena on branches of Durio zibethinus and Roridomyces pseudoirritans on rotten wood. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes