Anaerobic treatment of dairy wastewaters

Bu makalede, süt endüstrisi atıksularının laboratuvar, pilot ve tam ölçekli havasız arıtımı konusunda son yıllarda yapılan araştırmaların bir özeti sunulmaktadır. Makalede süt endüstrisi atıksularının tek ve iki kademeli havasız arıtımı irdelenerek; aerobik ve anaerobik proseslerin birlikte kullanımı detaylı olarak incelenmiş ve bu konuda daha fazla araştırma yapılması gereken alanlar belirtilmiştir. Süt endüstrisi atıksularının arıtımında, fiziksel-kimyasal ve aerobik metotlara göre daha önemli avantajlara sahip olmaları nedeni ile konvansiyonel (tek kademeli) ve iki kademeli havasız (anaerobik) arıtma prosesleri kullanılmaktadır. Bu prosesler içinde, özellikle yukarı akışlı çamur yatağı havasız reaktörlerden sıkça faydalanılmaktadır, çünkü bu reaktörler kısa zaman içinde yüksek miktarda atıksu arıtabilme kapasitesine sahiptirler. Süt endüstrisi atıksularında mevcut, yüksek miktarda lipid ve askıda katı madde miktarı özellikle tek kademeli havasız arıtma sistemlerinin performanslarını olumsuz biçimde etkilemektedir. Bu yüzden, iki kademeli havasız arıtma prosesleri süt endüstrisi atıksularının arıtımında önemli bir alternatif olarak değerlendirilebilir. Süt endüstrisi atıksularının iki kademeli havasız arıtımı, özellikle asit kademesinin mikrobiyolojisi ve de metan fazının performansı açısından daha detaylı incelenmelidir. Ayrıca havasız arıtma prosesleri metan ve hidrojen gibi yenilenebilir enerji kaynakları üretimi çok önemli potansiyele sahip olduklarından, yüksek organik yüke sahip süt endüstrisi atık sularından biyogaz üretimi de üzerinde durulması gereken bir konudur. İlgili yönetmelikler çerçevesinde belirlenen atıksu deşarj limitlerine ulaşmak için süt endüstrisi atıksularının arıtımında aerobik prosesler de anaerobik prosesler ile beraber sıkça kullanılmaktadır. Özellikle azot ve fosfor giderimi açısından bu proseslerin performansları çok önem taşımaktadır ve bu konuda güncel çeşitli çalışmalar mevcuttur. Anahtar kelimeler: Süt endüstrisi atıksuyu, havasız arıtma, aerobik, biyogaz.For treatment of dairy wastewaters, biological conventional single and high-rate two-phase anaerobic treatment processes are commonly used, since they have more important advantages than physical-chemical and other biological methods. In this review article, a summary of recent laboratory, pilot and full-scale research activities on anaerobic treatment of dairy wastewaters are presented. In the article, single and two-phase anaerobic treatment of dairy wastewaters are firstly evaluated; combined use of aerobic and anaerobic processes are investigated in detail and areas where further research required are determined. In single-phase anaerobic treatment of dairy wastewaters, anaerobic filter and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors are commonly used. Anaerobic filters usually provide higher chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals around 90 %. Generally, anaerobic filters are operated in an organic loading rate range of between 5 to 10 kg COD/m3/day. However, low suspended solids (SS) and lipid concentrations in dairy effluents are key factors of success in anaerobic filter treatment. UASB reactors are another imperative alternatives for biological treatment of dairy waste effluents, since these reactors can treat larger volumes of wastewater, relatively at lower hydraulic retention times (HRT). Higher organic loading rates (OLR) are therefore applicable. However, biogranulation mechanism is the key parameter in UASB reactor systems, to attain a higher process efficiency and stability, independent of the wastewater type to be treated. UASB reactor systems are able to provide more than 90 % COD removal and can be operated in an OLR range up to 22 kg COD/m3/day. More research is particularly required on the microbiology of UASB reactor systems, to understand the mechanism of granulation clearly, so that the rates, when operated in an OLR range from 6 to 11 y can extensively be used in biological treatment of dairy and other seasonal industrial wastewaters. In addition to anaerobic filter and UASB reactor systems, hybrid reactors and anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBR) are also employed in anaerobic biological treatment of dairy wastewaters. Both processes are able to provide higher than 90 % removal rates, when operated in an OLR range from 6 to 11 kg COD/m3/day. Two-phase anaerobic treatment systems are also important alternatives for anaerobic treatment of dairy wastewaters. During two-phase anaerobic treatment processes, the performance of the first phase -acidogenesis- is of paramount importance. The most appropriate substrate should be provided in the acidogenic phase, to the subsequent methanogenic phase, for successful conversion to methane during methanogenesis. High-rate two-phase anaerobic treatment systems seem quite useful for treating dairy effluents, which contain particularly high concentrations of COD, suspended solids and lipids. For two-phase anaerobic processes, COD removals vary between 90 and 95 %. The flow rate and the nature of the particular dairy waste stream, the concentrations of suspended solids, lipids and proteins, and the variations in production cycles are the most important parameters, which affect the stability and performance of both conventional single-phase and high-rate two-phase anaerobic treatment systems. Two-phase anaerobic treatment processes seem more convenient for dairy streams with a high content of SS and lipids. Besides, there must be a sufficient amount of alkalinity present in anaerobic reactors for a stable operation. Anaerobic treatment systems also generate biogas, a valuable source of renewable and clean energy. Hydrogen and methane are produced via conventional single and two-phase anaerobic treatment of dairy wastewaters, since particular dairy waste streams contain a high organic load. In addition to anaerobic treatment processes outlined above, combined aerobic-anaerobic treatment systems are commonly used, to treat dairy wastewaters. The primary objectives in these treatment systems are to reduce the concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) released, and to achieve the high effluent discharge limits currently enforced by regulations. Finally, two-phase anaerobic treatment of dairy waste effluents, combined aerobic-anaerobic biological treatment systems, and production of renewable biogas from dairy wastewaters are particular areas, where further and more detailed attention should be directed towards in near future. Keywords: Dairy wastewater, anaerobic treatment, aerobic, biogas

The socio-cultural perception of death in Turkish society recorded in lament epics (1955-1975)

This study explores the socio-cultural perception of death among Turkish people. For this reason, 210 published lament epics written by Turkish folk singers across all of Turkey concerning deaths between 1955 and 1975 were selected for analysis. These epics were published on single pages and were sold. The statistical analysis based on detailed content analysis was done at the univariate, bivariate, and multivariate levels. The results of the study provide a full picture of perception of cases of death in Turkish society. These results show Turkish society is especially sensitive to cases of death at young age and to the murdered. Further, a clear perception of the working of fate is encountered in deaths resulting from disaster and accidents; but the desire for vengeance is recorded in those laments concerning martyrs and the murdered. The statistical data show that most commonly cited reasons for death after road accidents, were a consequence of relationships with the opposite sex and from a sense of honor. © 2014, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc

Cystic fibrosis mutations and associated haplotypes in Turkish cystic fibrosis patients

Identification of mutations causing cystic fibrosis (CF) in the Turkish population is essential for assessment of the molecular basis of CF in Turkey and the development of strategies for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. Here, we present an updated report of mutations found in the Turkish CF population from an extensive screening study of the entire coding region, including exon-intron boundaries and the promoter region. Cases for which mutations could not be identified were also screened for previously defined large alterations and (TG) mT n-M470V loci. This study revealed a total of 27 different mutations accounting for almost 60% of disease genes in the Turkish population. In this study, we also identified the haplotypes associated with 17 mutations and those associated with unknown mutations. The mutation spectrum of CF in Turkey and its associated haplotypes indicated the presence of a major Mediterranean component in the contemporary Turkish population.published_or_final_versio

Combined effect of CCND1 and COMT polymorphisms and increased breast cancer risk

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Estrogens are crucial tumorigenic hormones, which impact the cell growth and proliferation during breast cancer development. Estrogens are metabolized by a series of enzymes including COMT, which converts catechol estrogens into biologically non-hazardous methoxyestrogens. Several studies have also shown the relationship between estrogen and cell cycle progression through activation of CCND1 transcription.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we have investigated the independent and the combined effects of commonly occurring CCND1 (Pro241Pro, A870G) and COMT (Met108/158Val) polymorphisms to breast cancer risk in two independent Caucasian populations from Ontario (1228 breast cancer cases and 719 population controls) and Finland (728 breast cancer cases and 687 population controls). Both COMT and CCND1 polymorphisms have been previously shown to impact on the enzymatic activity of the coded proteins.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we have shown that the high enzymatic activity genotype of CCND1^High(AA) was associated with increased breast cancer risk in both the Ontario [OR: 1.3, 95%CI (1.0–1.69)] and the Finland sample [OR: 1.4, 95%CI (1.01–1.84)]. The heterozygous COMT^Medium(MetVal) and the high enzymatic activity of COMT^High(ValVal) genotype was also associated with breast cancer risk in Ontario cases, [OR: 1.3, 95%CI (1.07–1.68)] and [OR: 1.4, 95%CI (1.07–1.81)], respectively. However, there was neither a statistically significant association nor increased trend of breast cancer risk with COMT^High(ValVal) genotypes in the Finland cases [OR: 1.0, 95%CI (0.73–1.39)]. In the combined analysis, the higher activity alleles of the COMT and CCND1 is associated with increased breast cancer risk in both Ontario [OR: <b>2.22</b>, 95%CI (1.49–3.28)] and Finland [OR: <b>1.73</b>, 95%CI (1.08–2.78)] populations studied. The trend test was statistically significant in both the Ontario and Finland populations across the genotypes associated with increasing enzymatic activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Using two independent Caucasian populations, we have shown a stronger combined effect of the two commonly occurring CCND1 and COMT genotypes in the context of breast cancer predisposition.</p

Comprehensive association analysis of candidate genes for generalized vitiligo supports XBP1, FOXP3, and TSLP

We previously carried out a genome-wide association study of generalized vitiligo (GV) in non-Hispanic whites, identifying 13 confirmed susceptibility loci. In this study, we re-analyzed the genome-wide data set (comprising 1,392 cases and 2,629 controls) to specifically test association of all 33 GV candidate genes that have previously been suggested for GV, followed by meta-analysis incorporating both current and previously published data. We detected association of three of the candidate genes tested: TSLP (rs764916, P3.0E-04, odds ratio (OR)1.60; meta-P for rs38069333.1E-03), XBP1 (rs6005863, P3.6E-04, OR1.17; meta-P for rs22695779.5E-09), and FOXP3 (rs11798415, P5.8E-04, OR1.19). Association of GV with CTLA4 (rs12992492, P5.9E-05, OR1.20; meta-P for rs2317751.0E-04) seems to be secondary to epidemiological association with other concomitant autoimmune diseases. Within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), at 6p21.33, association with TAP1-PSMB8 (rs3819721, P5.2E-06) seems to derive from linkage disequilibrium with major primary signals in the MHC class I and class II regions

Iscador Qu inhibits doxorubicin-induced senescence of MCF7 cells

Chemotherapy in patients with inoperable or advanced breast cancer inevitably results in low-dose exposure of tumor-cell subset and senescence. Metabolically active senescent cells secrete multiple tumor promoting factors making their elimination a therapeutic priority. Viscum album is one of the most widely used alternative anti-cancer medicines facilitating chemotherapy tolerance of breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to model and investigate how Viscum album extracts execute additive anti-tumor activity with low-dose Dox using ER + MCF7 breast cancer cells. We report that cotreatment of MCF7 with Viscum album and Dox abrogates G2/M cycle arrest replacing senescence with intrinsic apoptotic program. Mechanistically, this switch was associated with down-regulation of p21, p53/p73 as well as Erk1/2 and p38 activation. Our findings, therefore, identify a novel mechanistic axis of additive antitumor activity of Viscum album and low dose-Dox. In conclusion, ER + breast cancer patients may benefit from addition of Viscum album to low-dose Dox chemotherapy due to suppression of cancer cell senescence and induction of apoptosis

Screening and association testing of common coding variation in steroid hormone receptor co-activator and co-repressor genes in relation to breast cancer risk: the Multiethnic Cohort

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Only a limited number of studies have performed comprehensive investigations of coding variation in relation to breast cancer risk. Given the established role of estrogens in breast cancer, we hypothesized that coding variation in steroid receptor coactivator and corepressor genes may alter inter-individual response to estrogen and serve as markers of breast cancer risk.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We sequenced the coding exons of 17 genes (<it>EP300, CCND1, NME1, NCOA1, NCOA2, NCOA3, SMARCA4, SMARCA2, CARM1, FOXA1, MPG, NCOR1, NCOR2, CALCOCO1, PRMT1, PPARBP </it>and <it>CREBBP</it>) suggested to influence transcriptional activation by steroid hormone receptors in a multiethnic panel of women with advanced breast cancer (n = 95): African Americans, Latinos, Japanese, Native Hawaiians and European Americans. Association testing of validated coding variants was conducted in a breast cancer case-control study (1,612 invasive cases and 1,961 controls) nested in the Multiethnic Cohort. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios for allelic effects in ethnic-pooled analyses as well as in subgroups defined by disease stage and steroid hormone receptor status. We also investigated effect modification by established breast cancer risk factors that are associated with steroid hormone exposure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 45 coding variants with frequencies ≥ 1% in any one ethnic group (43 non-synonymous variants). We observed nominally significant positive associations with two coding variants in ethnic-pooled analyses (<it>NCOR2</it>: His52Arg, OR = 1.79; 95% CI, 1.05–3.05; <it>CALCOCO1</it>: Arg12His, OR = 2.29; 95% CI, 1.00–5.26). A small number of variants were associated with risk in disease subgroup analyses and we observed no strong evidence of effect modification by breast cancer risk factors. Based on the large number of statistical tests conducted in this study, the nominally significant associations that we observed may be due to chance, and will need to be confirmed in other studies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings suggest that common coding variation in these candidate genes do not make a substantial contribution to breast cancer risk in the general population. Cataloging and testing of coding variants in coactivator and corepressor genes should continue and may serve as a valuable resource for investigations of other hormone-related phenotypes, such as inter-individual response to hormonal therapies used for cancer treatment and prevention.</p

The association of polymorphisms in hormone metabolism pathway genes, menopausal hormone therapy, and breast cancer risk: a nested case-control study in the California Teachers Study cohort

Abstract Introduction The female sex steroids estrogen and progesterone are important in breast cancer etiology. It therefore seems plausible that variation in genes involved in metabolism of these hormones may affect breast cancer risk, and that these associations may vary depending on menopausal status and use of hormone therapy. Methods We conducted a nested case-control study of breast cancer in the California Teachers Study cohort. We analyzed 317 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 24 hormone pathway genes in 2746 non-Hispanic white women: 1351 cases and 1395 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by fitting conditional logistic regression models using all women or subgroups of women defined by menopausal status and hormone therapy use. P values were adjusted for multiple correlated tests (P ACT). Results The strongest associations were observed for SNPs in SLCO1B1, a solute carrier organic anion transporter gene, which transports estradiol-17β-glucuronide and estrone-3-sulfate from the blood into hepatocytes. Ten of 38 tagging SNPs of SLCO1B1 showed significant associations with postmenopausal breast cancer risk; 5 SNPs (rs11045777, rs11045773, rs16923519, rs4149057, rs11045884) remained statistically significant after adjusting for multiple testing within this gene (P ACT = 0.019-0.046). In postmenopausal women who were using combined estrogen-progestin therapy (EPT) at cohort enrollment, the OR of breast cancer was 2.31 (95% CI = 1.47-3.62) per minor allele of rs4149013 in SLCO1B1 (P = 0.0003; within-gene P ACT = 0.002; overall P ACT = 0.023). SNPs in other hormone pathway genes evaluated in this study were not associated with breast cancer risk in premenopausal or postmenopausal women. Conclusions We found evidence that genetic variation in SLCO1B1 is associated with breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, particularly among those using EPT

ERBB2 in Cat Mammary Neoplasias Disclosed a Positive Correlation between RNA and Protein Low Expression Levels: A Model for erbB-2 Negative Human Breast Cancer

Human ERBB2 is a proto-oncogene that codes for the erbB-2 epithelial growth factor receptor. In human breast cancer (HBC), erbB-2 protein overexpression has been repeatedly correlated with poor prognosis. In more recent works, underexpression of this gene has been described in HBC. Moreover, it is also recognised that oncogenes that are commonly amplified or deleted encompass point mutations, and some of these are associated with HBC. In cat mammary lesions (CMLs), the overexpression of ERBB2 (27%–59.6%) has also been described, mostly at the protein level and although cat mammary neoplasias are considered to be a natural model of HBC, molecular information is still scarce. In the present work, a cat ERBB2 fragment, comprising exons 10 to 15 (ERBB2_10–15) was achieved for the first time. Allelic variants and genomic haplotype analyses were also performed, and differences between normal and CML populations were observed. Three amino acid changes, corresponding to 3 non-synonymous genomic sequence variants that were only detected in CMLs, were proposed to damage the 3D structure of the protein. We analysed the cat ERBB2 gene at the DNA (copy number determination), mRNA (expression levels assessment) and protein levels (in extra- and intra protein domains) in CML samples and correlated the last two evaluations with clinicopathological features. We found a positive correlation between the expression levels of the ERBB2 RNA and erbB-2 protein, corresponding to the intracellular region. Additionally, we detected a positive correlation between higher mRNA expression and better clinical outcome. Our results suggest that the ERBB2 gene is post-transcriptionally regulated and that proteins with truncations and single point mutations are present in cat mammary neoplastic lesions. We would like to emphasise that the recurrent occurrence of low erbB-2 expression levels in cat mammary tumours, suggests the cat mammary neoplasias as a valuable model for erbB-2 negative HBC.POCI/CVT/62940/2004 and by the PhD grants (SFRH/BD/23406/2005 and SFRH/BD/31754/2006, of the Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) from Portugal