Application of bioenergetic principles to the stoichiometry of biological reactions in wastewater treatment processes

O tratamento biológico de águas residuárias é realizado por microrganismos que utilizam determinado substrato para obtenção de energia e crescimento celular através de reações de oxidação-redução e fermentação. Esses mecanismos podem ser expressos por meio de reações estequiométricas desenvolvidas a partir de princípios da termodinâmica. As reações são dependentes dos compostos doadores e aceptores de elétrons. As equações balanceadas resultantes permitem estimar as necessidades de nutrientes, a variação de pH/alcalinidade, a produção de biomassa e gases e o coeficiente de produção celular associados aos sistemas biológicos de tratamento. Esta nota técnica descreveu a metodologia para cálculo estequiométrico de reações bioquímicas usando princípios de bioenergética, apresentando exemplos para diferentes substratos e aceptores de elétrons.Biological wastewater treatment is performed by microorganisms by means of oxidation-reduction and fermentation reactions that release energy for growth and maintenance. These processes can be represented by stoichiometric reactions developed based on thermodynamic principles. Reactions are dependent on the compounds used as electron donor and acceptor. The overall stoichiometric reactions allow estimations of nutrient requirements, alkalinity/pH changes, biomass and gas production, and yield coefficient. This article described a methodology for stoichiometry calculations using bioenergetic principles, presenting examples with different substrates and electron acceptors

Occurrence of drugs and endocrine disruptors in the filters washing water from a water treatment plant in Belém (PA), Brazil

The present work aimed to investigate the occurrence of 24 drugs and endocrine disruptors in the filters washing water from the Bolonha Water Treatment Plant in Belém, State of Pará, Brazil, since these residues are often released into water courses. The correlation of these microcontaminants with physicochemical and biological characteristics investigated in the studied matrix was also evaluated. For the research, six sampling campaigns were carried out during the rainy season and six in the dry season. The compounds determination was performed by solid phase extraction and chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, gas chromatography for Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, 4-Nonylphenol, 4-Octylphenol, Bisphenol A, Gemfibrozil, Estrone, Estradiol, Ethinylestradiol, and Estriol, and in liquid phase for the other compounds. The compounds detected at higher concentrations than the others were Losartan (5.5 to 738.7 ng/L) and Bisphenol A (20.9 to 518.9 ng/L), also with the highest frequency. Multivariate analyzes showed that drugs and endocrine disruptors were more positively related to each other and to turbidity during the rainy season, with emphasis on 4-Octylphenol, Bisphenol A, Losartan and Loratadine, results that strengthen the hypothesis of precipitation’s influence on the variables studied.O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a ocorrência de 24 fármacos e desreguladores endócrinos na água de lavagem dos filtros da estação de tratamento de água (ETA) Bolonha, Belém, Pará, Brasil, uma vez que esses resíduos muitas vezes são lançados em cursos d ́água. Buscou-se avaliar também a correlação desses microcontaminantes com características físico-químicas e biológicas investigadas na matriz estudada. Para a pesquisa foram realizadas seis campanhas amostrais durante o período chuvoso e seis campanhas amostrais no período seco. A determinação dos compostos foi feita por extração em fase sólida e cromatografia acoplada à espectrometria de massas, cromatografia em fase gasosa para Ibuprofeno, Paracetamol, 4-Nonilfenol, 4-Cctilfenol, Bisfenol A, Genfibrozila, Estrona, Estradiol, Etinilestradiol e Estriol e em fase líquida para os demais compostos. Os compostos Losartan (5,5 a 738,7 ng/L) e Bisfenol A (20,9 a 518,9 ng/L) foram detectados com concentrações mais elevadas que os demais, sendo também os compostos com maior frequência de ocorrência. As análises multivariadas mostraram que os fármacos e desreguladores endócrinos estiveram mais relacionados positivamente entre si e com a turbidez durante o período chuvoso, com destaque ao 4-Octilfenol, Bisfenol A, Losartan e Loratadina, resultados que fortalecem a hipótese de influência da precipitação nas variáveis estudadas

Caracterização de contaminantes presentes em sistemas de tratamento de esgotos, por cromatografia líquida acoplada à espectrometria de massas tandem em alta resolução

This work shows results on the characterization, by liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-IT-TOF-MS) with electrospray ionization, of organic compounds present in raw and treated effluents from a combined sewage treatment systems (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket-trickling filter). The sewage samples were prepared by C18 solid phase extraction and the spectra obtained from the various extracts were submitted to principal component analysis to evaluate their pattern and identify the major deprotonated species. Some target compounds were submitted to semiquantitative analysis, using phenolphtalein as internal standard. The results showed the anaerobic step had little impact on the removal of anionic surfactants (LAS), fatty acids, and some contaminantes such as bisphenol A and bezafibrate, whereas the aerobic post-treatment was very efficient in removing these organics

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE: AN ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AMONG THE THREE LEVELS OF BM&FBOVESPA’S DIFFERENTIATED MARKET

La gobernanza corporativa, surgida con la intención de resolver o disminuir los conflictos deagencia, parece tener el beneficio adicional de incrementar el valor de mercado de las empresas que lapractican en elevados niveles. Estudios empíricos realizados en Brasil, Estados Unidos y Europa han dejadoen evidencia los beneficios de rendimiento económico obtenido por las empresas con buenas prácticas degobernanza en relación a aquellas que no las adoptan. Tomando una línea alternativa – y complementar –de investigación, este estudio analiza la relación entre los diferentes niveles de gobernanza corporativa delas empresas y el aumento de su valor de mercado, o sea, examina si para niveles más elevados degobernanza hay mejor rendimiento económico. Fueron analizadas las 182 empresas del mercadodiferenciado de la BM&FBOVESPA, por ser las que presentan los niveles más elevados de gobernanzacorporativa, agrupadas en los tres diferentes segmentos de la lista – Nuevo Mercado, Nivel 2 y Nivel 1 – yrelacionadas con su valor de mercado. Los datos fueron analizados con base en la estadística descriptiva yanálisis inferencial, testes de media y análisis de variancia. Se han obtenido evidencias de que las empresaslistadas en los niveles más elevados del mercado diferenciado poseen mejor rendimiento económico, medidoen términos de variación media del valor de mercado.Corporate governance, which emerged in order to solve or mitigate the agency conflicts, seems to havethe additional benefit of increasing the market value of the companies that practice it in higher levels.Empirical research developed in Brazil, United States and Europe have shown the benefits in economicperformance achieved by companies with good governance practices in relation to those that do not adoptthem. By taking an alternative and complementary line of inquiry, this study analyzes the relationshipbetween different levels of corporate governance of companies and the increase in their market value, thatis, if the higher corporate governance level means the higher increase in economic development. Wereanalyzed all the 182 companies present in BM&FBOVESPA’s differentiated market, for they present thehigher levels of corporate governance, distributed in three levels – “New Market”, “Level 2”, and “Level 1”– relating them to their market value. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferentialanalysis, applying average testes and variance analysis. We found evidences that companies listed in thehigher level of differentiated market present a better economic performance, measured in terms of marketvalue’s average variation.A governança corporativa, surgida com o intuito de resolver ou diminuir os conflitosde agência, pareceter o benefício adicional de incrementar o valor de mercado das empresas que a praticam em níveis elevados.Estudos empíricos realizados no Brasil, Estados Unidos e Europa têm evidenciado os benefícios dodesempenho econômico obtidos pelas empresas com boas práticas de governança em relação àquelas que nãoas adotam. Tomando uma linha alternativa – e complementar – de investigação, este estudo analisa arelaçãoentre os diferentes níveis de governança corporativa das empresas e o aumento do seu valor de mercado, ouseja, examina se para níveis mais elevados de governança há melhor desempenho econômico. Foramanalisadastodas as 182 empresas do mercado diferenciado da BM&FBOVESPA, por serem as queapresentam os níveis mais elevados de governança corporativa, agrupadas nos três diferentes segmentos delistagem – Novo Mercado, Nível 2 e Nível 1 – e relacionadas com seu valor de mercado. Os dados foramanalisados com base na estatística descritiva e em análises inferenciais, testes de média e análise devariância. Foram obtidas evidências de que as empresas listadas nos níveis mais elevados do mercado diferenciado possuem melhor desempenho econômico, medido em termos de variação média do valor de mercado

Chemical Constituents and Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Kielmeyera coriacea

Many essential oils (EOs) of different plant species possess interesting antimicrobial effects on buccal microorganisms and cytotoxic properties. EOs of Kielmeyera coriacea Mart. & Zucc. were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The EO from leaves is rich in sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The three major compounds identified were germacrene-D (24.2%), (E)-caryophyllene (15.5%), and bicyclogermacrene (11.6%). The inner bark EO is composed mainly of sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons and the major components are alpha-copaene (14.9%) and alpha-(E)-bergamotene (13.0%). The outer bark EO is composed mainly of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and long-chain alkanes, and the major components are alpha-eudesmol (4.2%) and nonacosane (5.8%). The wood EO is mainly composed of long-chain alkanes and fatty acids, and the major components are nonacosane (9.7%) and palmitic acid (16.2%). The inner bark EO showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against the anaerobic bacteria Prevotella nigrescens (minimum inhibitory concentration-MIC of 50 µg mL−1). The outer bark and wood EOs showed MICs of 100 µg mL−1 for all aerobic microorganisms tested. The EOs presented low toxicity to Vero cells. These results suggest that K. coriacea, a Brazilian plant, provide initial evidence of a new and alternative source of substances with medicinal interest

Essential oil composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Campomanesia pubescens O. Berg, Native of Brazilian Cerrado

In this study, the essential oil composition, total contents of phenolics and proanthocyanidins, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities from different plant parts (root, stem, leaf and fruit) of Campomanesia pubescens (DC) O. Berg from Brazilian Cerrado are reported. The root essential oil is distinguished from others by having only one representative of monoterpenes (alpha-terpenylacetate). The aerial parts of C. pubescens are rich in volatile terpenes, as expected, especially in fruits whose essential oil contained approximately 80 % of monoterpenes. The essential oils showed antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens. The root essential oil showed the strongest inhibition against Fusobacterium nucleatum (ATCC 25586). The leaf extract presented the highest concentration of phenolic and proanthocyanidins compounds. The lowest concentration necessary for inhibition of DPPH to 50 % ranged between 6.6 ± 1.6 and 56.6 ± 2.3 μg/mL. The leaf extract exhibited the highest inhibition, close to BHT.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Ruminant fat intake improves gut microbiota, serum inflammatory parameter and fatty acid profile in tissues of Wistar rats

Research Areas: Science & Technology - Other TopicsThis study tested the hypothesis that naturally and industrially produced trans-fatty acids can exert distinct efects on metabolic parameters and on gut microbiota of rats. Wistar rats were randomized into three groups according to the diet: CONT-control, with 5% soybean oil and normal amount of fat; HVF-20% of hydrogenated vegetable fat (industrial); and RUM-20% of ruminant fat (natural). After 53 days of treatment, serum biochemical markers, fatty acid composition of liver, heart and adipose tissue, histology and hepatic oxidative parameters, as well as gut microbiota composition were evaluated. HVF diet intake reduced triglycerides (≈ 39.39%) and VLDL levels (≈ 39.49%). Transfatty acids levels in all tissue were higher in HVF group. However, RUM diet intake elevated amounts of anti-infammatory cytokine IL-10 (≈ 14.7%) compared to CONT, but not to HVF. Furthermore, RUM intake led to higher concentrations of stearic acid and conjugated linoleic acid in all tissue; this particular diet was associated with a hepatoprotective efect. The microbial gut communities were signifcantly diferent among the groups. Our results show that ruminant fat reversed the hepatic steatosis normally caused by high fat diets, which may be related to the remodelling of the gut microbiota and its anti-infammatory potential.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio