Phytoremediation performance of floating treatment wetlands with pelletized mine water sludge for synthetic greywater treatment

Buckets containing floating reed ( ) simulated floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) and were used to improve the remediation performance of synthetic greywater (SGW). The aim of the study was to investigate the behaviour of FTWs for treatment of key contaminants within artificial greywater. Pelletized ochre based on acid mine water sludge was introduced to selected FTWs, because of its capability in sequestration phosphorus and other trace elements. The impact of the following four operational variables were tested in the experimental set-ups of the FTWs (four replicates each): pollutant strength (high- (HC) and low- (LC) concentrations), treatment time (2- or 7-days of hydraulic retention time (HRT)), presence or absence of macrophytes ( ) and cement-ochre pellets. The results showed that 5 - day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demands (COD) were significantly (  < 0.05) reduced in all wetlands. Nitrate-nitrogen (NO -N) concentrations were significantly (  < 0.05) higher, and those measurements for PO -P were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the corresponding ones determined for the influent. The existence of ochre pellets with significantly (  < 0.05) decreased B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mg, Ni and Zn concentrations, but increased Al, Ca, Fe and K concentrations in the effluent, with the exception of sodium (Na). The FTW performances can be improved by utilising ochre-cement pellets to increase the pH of greywater. The presence of acts as a buffer to neutralise the pH of SGW. Rhizomes and biofilms mitigate increases in turbidity, TSS and colour values. [Abstract copyright: © The Author(s) 2019.

Impact of storage time on characteristics of synthetic greywater for two different pollutant strengths to be treated or recycled

Storage of greywater is controversial for environmental and health reasons. Artificial greywater was assessed after 2 and 7 days of storage time. Two different greywater pollutant strengths were statistically compared at each storage time. A negative significant (p < 0.05) correlation was evident with increasing storage time for the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand for more than 2 days. However, the concentrations of 5-day biochemical oxygen and chemical oxygen demands reduced significantly at 2 days of storage when compared with freshly prepared greywater. Biodegradability (5-day biochemical oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand ratio) decreased significantly after storage to between 0.14 and 0.39. The nitrification process was improved significantly with increasing storage time concerning low strength greywater with a significant increase in the removal of ammonia-nitrogen and a non-significant decrease in the removal of nitrate-nitrogen. The correlation was significantly positive between ammonia-nitrogen and 5-day biochemical oxygen demand for stored greywater, while it was significantly negative between total suspended solids and both 5-day biochemical oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen. Significant reductions in colour, total suspended solids and turbidity were correlated positively with storage time. Precipitation of dissolved metals was suspected to occur in storing greywater by binding the inorganic components with the sediment and collide surfaces through adsorption, allowing a significant drop in concentrations of dissolved and undissolved metals with increasing storage time through sedimentation. Synthetic greywater of low mineral pollution had significantly higher removals for almost all concentrations compared with those for high concentrations. More advanced technologies for high trace element removal are required

Assessment of capsicum annuum L. grown in controlled and semi-controlled environments irrigated with greywater treated by floating wetland systems

Accumulation of trace elements, including heavy metals, were evaluated in soil and fruits of chilli plants (Capsicum annuum L.) grown under both laboratory-controlled and semi-controlled greenhouse location conditions. Chilli plant biomass growth in different development stages and fruit productivity were evaluated and compared with each other for the impact of growth boundary conditions and water quality effects. Treated synthetic greywaters by different operational design set-ups of floating treatment wetland systems were recycled for watering chillies in both locations. Effluents of each individual group of treatment set-up systems were labelled to feed sets of three replicates of chilli plants in both locations. Results revealed that the treated synthetic greywater (SGW) complied with thresholds for irrigation water, except for high concentrations (HC) of phosphates, total suspended soils, and some trace elements, such as cadmium. Chilli plants grew in both locations with different growth patterns in each development stage. First blooming and high counts of flowers were observed in the laboratory. Higher fruit production was noted for greenhouse plants: 2266 chilli fruits with a total weight of 16.824 kg with an expected market value of GBP 176.22 compared to 858 chilli fruits from the laboratory with a weight of 3.869 kg and an estimated price of GBP 17.61. However, trace element concentrations were detected in chilli fruits with the ranking order of occurrence as: Mg > Ca > Na > Fe > Zn > Al > Mn > Cu > Cd > Cr > Ni > B. The highest concentrations of accumulated Cd (3.82 mg/kg), Cu (0.56 mg/kg), and Na (0.56 mg/kg) were recorded in chilli fruits from the laboratory, while greater accumulations of Ca, Cd, Cu, Mn, and Ni with concentrations of 4.73, 1.30, 0.20, 0.21, and 0.24 mg/kg, respectively, were linked to fruits from the greenhouse. Trace elements in chilli plant soils followed the trend: Mg > Fe > Al > Cr > Mn > Cd > Cu > B. The accumulated concentrations in either chilli fruits or the soil were above the maximum permissible thresholds, indicating the need for water quality improvements

Biochemical performance modelling of non-vegetated and vegetated vertical subsurface-flow constructed wetlands treating municipal wastewater in hot and dry climate

Wastewater treatment and subsequent effluent recycling for non-drinking purposes such as irrigation contributes to the mitigation of the pressure on freshwater resources. In this study, two vertical sub-surface flow constructed wetland (VSSF-CW) pilot plants were operated to treat municipal wastewater and their effluents were reused for irrigation purposes. One of the wetlands was vegetated with Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (common reed) to compare its efficiency of pollutant removals with the non-vegetated system, which had the same design. COMSOL Multiphysics 3.5a was operated for the Activated Sludge Model 2 (ASM2) to predict the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia-nitrogen (NH4-N) concentrations. The effluent quality of both treatment systems was assessed for several parameters. Computer simulations show a good compliance between the measured and predicted values of COD and NH4-N for the vegetated system. The calibrated model could be effectively used to predict the behaviours of those parameters as a function of time. Moreover, the effluents of both vegetated (VFp) and non-vegetated (VF) VSSF-CW were significantly (p <  0.05) improved compared to influent. Significant (p <  0.05) effects due to the presence of P. australis were observed for removals of total suspended solids (TSS), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), COD, NH4-N and ortho-phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P). However, significant increases (p <  0.05) were noted for electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) and sulphate (SO4) of both effluents compared to the raw wastewater. Except for EC, NH4-N and SO4, all water quality parameters complied with irrigation water standards

Predominant mechanisms for the removal of nickel metal ion from aqueous solution using cement kiln dust

The experimental methodology achieved in the present study signified that the adsorption and precipitation were mainly mechanisms occurred together in the removal of nickel from aqueous solutions by sorption using cement kiln dust (CKD) byproduct as sorbent. Finding the contribution of each mechanism in the removal process and derivation an analytical model for finding the portion of precipitation were the focal points of this work. Results proved that the pure precipitation was increased with the increase of CKD dosage and metal concentration where total removal (adsorption-precipitation) ranged from 45 to 100%. The SEM micrographs of the CKD sorbent before and after sorption process certified that there was a crystal precipitates on the surface of the CKD. Also, these graphs in combination with FT-IR tests proved that [Ni(OH2)n]+2 (n=4-6) species were bonded with CKD and insoluble hydroxide species may be precipitated onto the CaO surfaces by co-precipitation, while K-O, Si-O and Ca-O groups enhanced the adsorption mechanism

Neuronal circuitry for pain processing in the dorsal horn

Neurons in the spinal dorsal horn process sensory information, which is then transmitted to several brain regions, including those responsible for pain perception. The dorsal horn provides numerous potential targets for the development of novel analgesics and is thought to undergo changes that contribute to the exaggerated pain felt after nerve injury and inflammation. Despite its obvious importance, we still know little about the neuronal circuits that process sensory information, mainly because of the heterogeneity of the various neuronal components that make up these circuits. Recent studies have begun to shed light on the neuronal organization and circuitry of this complex region

Elastic modulus of tree frog adhesive toe pads

Previous work using an atomic force microscope in nanoindenter mode indicated that the outer, 10- to 15-μm thick, keratinised layer of tree frog toe pads has a modulus of elasticity equivalent to silicone rubber (5–15 MPa) (Scholz et al. 2009), but gave no information on the physical properties of deeper structures. In this study, micro-indentation is used to measure the stiffness of whole toe pads of the tree frog, Litoria caerulea. We show here that tree frog toe pads are amongst the softest of biological structures (effective elastic modulus 4–25 kPa), and that they exhibit a gradient of stiffness, being stiffest on the outside. This stiffness gradient results from the presence of a dense network of capillaries lying beneath the pad epidermis, which probably has a shock absorbing function. Additionally, we compare the physical properties (elastic modulus, work of adhesion, pull-off force) of the toe pads of immature and adult frogs

Proapoptotic activity of Ukrain is based on Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids and mediated via a mitochondrial death pathway

BACKGROUND: The anticancer drug Ukrain (NSC-631570) which has been specified by the manufacturer as semisynthetic derivative of the Chelidonium majus L. alkaloid chelidonine and the alkylans thiotepa was reported to exert selective cytotoxic effects on human tumour cell lines in vitro. Few clinical trials suggest beneficial effects in the treatment of human cancer. Aim of the present study was to elucidate the importance of apoptosis induction for the antineoplastic activity of Ukrain, to define the molecular mechanism of its cytotoxic effects and to identify its active constituents by mass spectrometry. METHODS: Apoptosis induction was analysed in a Jurkat T-lymphoma cell model by fluorescence microscopy (chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation), flow cytometry (cellular shrinkage, depolarisation of the mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase-activation) and Western blot analysis (caspase-activation). Composition of Ukrain was analysed by mass spectrometry and LC-MS coupling. RESULTS: Ukrain turned out to be a potent inducer of apoptosis. Mechanistic analyses revealed that Ukrain induced depolarisation of the mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspases. Lack of caspase-8, expression of cFLIP-L and resistance to death receptor ligand-induced apoptosis failed to inhibit Ukrain-induced apoptosis while lack of FADD caused a delay but not abrogation of Ukrain-induced apoptosis pointing to a death receptor independent signalling pathway. In contrast, the broad spectrum caspase-inhibitor zVAD-fmk blocked Ukrain-induced cell death. Moreover, over-expression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-x(L )and expression of dominant negative caspase-9 partially reduced Ukrain-induced apoptosis pointing to Bcl-2 controlled mitochondrial signalling events. However, mass spectrometric analysis of Ukrain failed to detect the suggested trimeric chelidonine thiophosphortriamide or putative dimeric or monomeric chelidonine thiophosphortriamide intermediates from chemical synthesis. Instead, the Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids chelidonine, sanguinarine, chelerythrine, protopine and allocryptopine were identified as major components of Ukrain. Apart from sanguinarine and chelerythrine, chelidonine turned out to be a potent inducer of apoptosis triggering cell death at concentrations of 0.001 mM, while protopine and allocryptopine were less effective. Similar to Ukrain, apoptosis signalling of chelidonine involved Bcl-2 controlled mitochondrial alterations and caspase-activation. CONCLUSION: The potent proapoptotic effects of Ukrain are not due to the suggested "Ukrain-molecule" but to the cytotoxic efficacy of Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids including chelidonine

Maternal Dietary Supplementation with Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin in Gestating/Lactating Rats Preserves Maternal Bone and Improves Bone Microarchitecture in Their Offspring

This study received financial support from Abbott Nutrition, a commercial company, and coauthors PBV, MM, JMLP and RR are employees of Abbott Nutrition. There are two patents related with the data presented (EP 2502507 A1 and EP 2745706 A1).Some of these results were presented in the 7th World Congress of DOHaD (2011) and in the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease (WCO-IOF-ESCEO) (2014).Nutrition during pregnancy and lactation could exert a key role not only on maternal bone, but also could influence the skeletal development of the offspring. This study was performed in rats to assess the relationship between maternal dietary intake of prebiotic oligofructose-enriched inulin and its role in bone turnover during gestation and lactation, as well as its effect on offspring peak bone mass/architecture during early adulthood. Rat dams were fed either with standard rodent diet (CC group), calcium-fortified diet (Ca group), or prebiotic oligofructose-enriched inulin supplemented diet (Pre group), during the second half of gestation and lactation. Bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC), as well as micro-structure of dams and offspring at different stages were analysed. Dams in the Pre group had significantly higher trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and smaller specific bone surface (BS/BV) of the tibia in comparison with CC dams. The Pre group offspring during early adulthood had an increase of the lumbar vertebra BMD when compared with offspring of CC and Ca groups. The Pre group offspring also showed significant increase versus CC in cancellous and cortical structural parameters of the lumbar vertebra 4 such as Tb.Th, cortical BMD and decreased BS/BV. The results indicate that oligofructose-enriched inulin supplementation can be considered as a plausible nutritional option for protecting against maternal bone loss during gestation and lactation preventing bone fragility and for optimizing peak bone mass and architecture of the offspring in order to increase bone strength.This study was funded by Abbott Nutrition R&D, and co-authors PBV, MM, JMLP and RR receive salary from Abbott Nutrition

Studying neuroanatomy using MRI

The study of neuroanatomy using imaging enables key insights into how our brains function, are shaped by genes and environment, and change with development, aging, and disease. Developments in MRI acquisition, image processing, and data modelling have been key to these advances. However, MRI provides an indirect measurement of the biological signals we aim to investigate. Thus, artifacts and key questions of correct interpretation can confound the readouts provided by anatomical MRI. In this review we provide an overview of the methods for measuring macro- and mesoscopic structure and inferring microstructural properties; we also describe key artefacts and confounds that can lead to incorrect conclusions. Ultimately, we believe that, though methods need to improve and caution is required in its interpretation, structural MRI continues to have great promise in furthering our understanding of how the brain works