Effect of various factors to ammonia biodegradation by two stage biofiltration system

[Abstract] An autotrophic ammonia-biodegrading PNNS association was isolated from the biological activated sludge of the fish factory wastewater treatment plant and used in the two-stage biofiltration system with the ammonia load 0.78 g/m3h ensured the total removal efficiency up to 0.69 g/m3h as the result of the denitrification process. Additional investigations were made to study physiological and biochemical properties of individual strains of the PNNS association in order to control their growth under various cultivation conditions with the aim to find out the most optimal conditions for biomass preparation and immobilisation. Individual strains of the association can be revealed and counted because of their different colony morphology using selected medium. Cultivation of individual strains of the PNNS association under aerobic conditions revealed a stimulation effect of (NH4)2SO4 in the concentration range of 0.21 – 4.45 g N/l to their growth. Addition of saccharose, glucose, fructose and/or cabbage leaf extract (CLE) in various combinations to agarized medium resulted in the growth stimulation of individual strains of the PNNS association, i.e. Pseudomonas sp., Nitrosomonas sp., Nitrobacter sp. and Sarcina sp. The whole association was cultivated in the liquid mineral medium with amendments mentioned above. Stimulation of the growth in the presence of CLE and some reducing sugars was observed. The results obtained in these experiments will be used for further optimisation of the two-stage biofiltration system using the PNNS association

Revised Distribution for Otomops martiensseni (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in Southern Africa

We provide new data on the distributional range and abundance of the giant mastiff bat,Otomops martiensseni for which information on distribution and ecology are sorely needed. Because this species can forage at high altitudes, it is difficult to capture and most observations have been from caves and buildings. With the advent of new sonar gathering devices and analysis software, recording of echolocation calls can give unprecedented information on evasive bat species. Previous records from South Africa were restricted to the Durban area where several colonies in buildings were documented. No published records were available for Botswana. Our data expand the range of O. martiensseni in South Africa about 870km northward. However, this species’ relative occurrence continues to be rare, composing \u3c0.74% of all our recorded call sequences across the region. We provide the first evidence of O. martiensseni in Kruger National Park (KNP) and Mapungubwe National Park (MNP) in South Africa and from Molema Bush Camp in the Tuli Block of Botswana. Of the 13,449 call sequences analyzed in our study, 91 were determined to be from O. martiensseni and of these, 84 occurred in KNP. Our data show that O. martiensseni is more widely distributed in eastern South Africa than previously thought; however, this species is rare throughout the region and thus faces an uncertain future

Drug use and barriers to and facilitators of drug treatment for homeless youth

In the United States, homeless youth are becoming increasingly entrenched in problem substance use, including high prevalence of alcohol abuse and injection use. A total of 54 substance-using homeless youth (18–25 years) participated in focus groups in order to provide their perspectives on barriers to and facilitators of seeking treatment. Participants were recruited from shelters in Hollywood, CA, and from a street-based, drop-in site in Santa Monica, CA. Participants identified personal barriers to treatment, but reported that facilitators of treatment tended to be more systematic. Homeless youth used and abused substances to dim the psychological effects of living on the streets. They appreciated programs that facilitated treatment and rehabilitation such as mentoring, support groups, and alternative choices to substance use. Implications point to the need for further development and research on culturally-appropriate, age-sensitive programs for homeless youth. The experiences of these youth underscore the need for strategic interventions

Use Of Plants To Remediate Soil Polluted With Oil

In the present investigation the growing and development ability of various annual and perennial plants to grow on model peat substrate artificially polluted with oil products in the range of concentrations from 1 to 5% was evaluated. The highest tolerance towards peat contamination by oil products has been demonstrated by three annual crops (maize, oat and lupine). These plants were tested for phytoremediation of polluted black soil from the area of oil refinery plant (Mazeikiai, Lithuania), which was treated by association of oil oxidizing bacteria up to residual concentration of the oil products of 4.5 %. The maize plants revealed the highest remediation ability: oil content in the soil decreased by ~ 1.5 times in one month plant vegetation

The timing of reproduction in the fruit bat Haplonycteris fischeri (Pteropodidae): geographic variation and delayed development

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72984/1/j.1469-7998.1988.tb02396.x.pd

Henipavirus Neutralising Antibodies in an Isolated Island Population of African Fruit Bats

Isolated islands provide valuable opportunities to study the persistence of viruses in wildlife populations, including population size thresholds such as the critical community size. The straw-coloured fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, has been identified as a reservoir for henipaviruses (serological evidence) and Lagos bat virus (LBV; virus isolation and serological evidence) in continental Africa. Here, we sampled from a remote population of E. helvum annobonensis fruit bats on Annobón island in the Gulf of Guinea to investigate whether antibodies to these viruses also exist in this isolated subspecies. Henipavirus serological analyses (Luminex multiplexed binding and inhibition assays, virus neutralisation tests and western blots) and lyssavirus serological analyses (LBV: modified Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralisation test, LBV and Mokola virus: lentivirus pseudovirus neutralisation assay) were undertaken on 73 and 70 samples respectively. Given the isolation of fruit bats on Annobón and their lack of connectivity with other populations, it was expected that the population size on the island would be too small to allow persistence of viruses that are thought to cause acute and immunising infections. However, the presence of antibodies against henipaviruses was detected using the Luminex binding assay and confirmed using alternative assays. Neutralising antibodies to LBV were detected in one bat using both assays. We demonstrate clear evidence for exposure of multiple individuals to henipaviruses in this remote population of E. helvum annobonensis fruit bats on Annobón island. The situation is less clear for LBV. Seroprevalences to henipaviruses and LBV in Annobón are notably different to those in E. helvum in continental locations studied using the same sampling techniques and assays. Whilst cross-sectional serological studies in wildlife populations cannot provide details on viral dynamics within populations, valuable information on the presence or absence of viruses may be obtained and utilised for informing future studies

Determination of γ-BHC in breast milk of Kenyan women

Bull.Chem.Soc.Ethiop.,2(1), 39 - 44 (1988)