Impacts of restoration of an uncontrolled phosphogypsum dumpsite on the seasonal distribution of abiotic variables, phytoplankton, copepods, and ciliates in a man-made solar saltern

International audienceThe restoration of an uncontrolled phosphogypsum landfill was investigated for its effects on the seasonal distribution of phytoplankton, ciliates, and copepods. Sampling was carried out monthly from September 2007 to August 2008 at four ponds of increasing salinity (A1, 41 psu; A5, 46 psu; A16, 67 psu; and C31, 77 psu) in the Sfax solar saltern (southeastern Tunisia). Physicochemical and biological analyses were carried out using standard methods. Results showed drastic reduction of phosphate input and greater diversity of phytoplankton, ciliates, and copepods than before restoration. Pennate diatoms and new ciliates, considered bio-indicators of less-stressed marine ecosystems, proliferated in the A1 pond for the first time after restoration. Copepods appeared to feed on a wide range of prey. Economically, removal of the 1.7 million m3 of phosphate improved the quality of the site's salt production, enabling the salt company to receive the quality ISO 9001 accreditation

Bring the life stages into the domain of basic and clinical pharmacology

Completely distinct physiological conditions and immune responses exist among different human life stages. Age is not always consistent with the life stage. We proposed to incorporate the concept of the life stages into basic and clinical pharmacology, including clinical trials, drug labels, and drug usage in clinical practice. Life-stage-based medical treatment is the application of medicine according to life stages such as prepuberty, reproductive, and aging. A large number of diseases are life-stage-dependent. Many medications and therapy have shown various age effects but not been recognized as life-stage-dependent. The same dosage and drug applications used in different life stages lead to divergent outcomes. Incorporating life stages in medicine and drug usage will enhance the efficacy and precision of the medication in disease treatment

Toward a Country-Based Prediction Model of COVID-19 Infections and Deaths Between Disease Apex and End: Evidence From Countries With Contained Numbers of COVID-19

The complexity of COVID-19 and variations in control measures and containment efforts in different countries have caused difficulties in the prediction and modeling of the COVID-19 pandemic. We attempted to predict the scale of the latter half of the pandemic based on real data using the ratio between the early and latter halves from countries where the pandemic is largely over. We collected daily pandemic data from China, South Korea, and Switzerland and subtracted the ratio of pandemic days before and after the disease apex day of COVID-19. We obtained the ratio of pandemic data and created multiple regression models for the relationship between before and after the apex day. We then tested our models using data from the first wave of the disease from 14 countries in Europe and the US. We then tested the models using data from these countries from the entire pandemic up to March 30, 2021. Results indicate that the actual number of cases from these countries during the first wave mostly fall in the predicted ranges of liniar regression, excepting Spain and Russia. Similarly, the actual deaths in these countries mostly fall into the range of predicted data. Using the accumulated data up to the day of apex and total accumulated data up to March 30, 2021, the data of case numbers in these countries are falling into the range of predicted data, except for data from Brazil. The actual number of deaths in all the countries are at or below the predicted data. In conclusion, a linear regression model built with real data from countries or regions from early pandemics can predict pandemic scales of the countries where the pandemics occur late. Such a prediction with a high degree of accuracy provides valuable information for governments and the public

First evidence of cell deformation occurrence during a Dinophysis bloom along the shores of the Gulf of Tunis (SW Mediterranean Sea)

Never before observed or cited in Dinophysis studies, deformations in Dinophysis acuminata and Dinophysis sacculus are reported throughout their cellular division phases (cytokinesis, and sulcal list regeneration) in 5 in situ cell cycle studies in the Punic harbors of Carthage (northern Tunisia). Two types of deformation were observed: invaginations in the ventral and dorsal margin and protuberances at the base of the left sulcal list. No virus or bacteria were detected with Syber green stain. In situ division rates (m) varied among seasons and stations for the same species. D. acuminata exhibited moderate (0.22 day 1) to high (0.68 day 1) m rates which were however very low (0.02–0.17 day 1) for D. sacculus in autumn and moderate (0.21–0.35 day 1) in late spring. In 2009 the seasonal distribution of Dinophysis indicates maximum Dinophysis cf. ovum abundance in March and a high number of D. acuminata in early June, while in 2010 maximum abundance of the same species was found in mid-June. Molecular and genetic studies and staining with specific fluorescent strains should be addressed to hopefully explain these Dinophysis cell deformations during their in situ division.Postprin

Editorial Board of Harmful Algae

International audienc

Prolonged aerobic degradation of shredded and pre-composted municipal solid waste: report from a 21-year study of leachate quality characteristics

International audienceThe objective of this study was to assess the degree of long-term waste maturation at a closed landfill (Etueffont, France) over a period of 21 years (1989-2010) through analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of leachates as well as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and metal content in waste. The results show that the leachates, generated in two different sections (older and newer) of the landfill, have low organic, mineral, and metallic loads, as the wastes were mainly of household origin from a rural area where sorting and composting were required. Based on pH and BOD/COD assessments, leachate monitoring in the landfill's newer section showed a rapid decrease in the pollution load over time and an early onset of methanogenic conditions. The closing of the older of the two sections contributed to a significant decline for the majority of parameters, attributable to degradation and leaching. A gradual decreasing trend was observed after waste placement had ceased in the older section, indicating that degradation continued and the waste mass had not yet fully stabilized. At the end of monitoring, leachates from the two landfill linings contained typical old leachates in the maturation period, with a pH ≥ 7 and a low BOD/COD ratio indicating a low level of waste biodegradability. Age actually contributes to a gradual removal of organic, inorganic, and metallic wastes, but it is not the only driving factor behind advanced degradation. The lack of compaction and cover immediately after deposit extended the aerobic degradation phase, significantly reducing the amount of organic matter. In addition, waste shredding improved water infiltration into the waste mass, hastening removal of polluting components through percolation

Microbiome Dynamics: A Paradigm Shift in Combatting Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases have long posed a significant threat to global health and require constant innovation in treatment approaches. However, recent groundbreaking research has shed light on a previously overlooked player in the pathogenesis of disease—the human microbiome. This review article addresses the intricate relationship between the microbiome and infectious diseases and unravels its role as a crucial mediator of host–pathogen interactions. We explore the remarkable potential of harnessing this dynamic ecosystem to develop innovative treatment strategies that could revolutionize the management of infectious diseases. By exploring the latest advances and emerging trends, this review aims to provide a new perspective on combating infectious diseases by targeting the microbiome

Intérêts de l'étude des paramètres hydrogéologiques et hydrobiologiques pour la compréhension du fonctionnement de la station de traitement des lixiviats de la décharge d'ordures ménágères d'Etueffont (Belfort, France)

La décharge d'ordures ménagères du SICTOM du Pays sous Vosgien possède un mode d'exploitation par régalage des déchets broyés sans compactage, afm de faciliter la dégradation aérobie prolongée. Ce mode d'exploitation entraîne la production de lixiviat qui s'écoule dans quatre lagunes de décantation avant leur rejet dans le milieu naturel. On connaît très peu l'influence des conditions atmosphériques dans la composition chimique des lixiviats de décharges d'ordures ménagères. La mobilité des éléments traces dans le milieu naturel est essentiellement réglée par des phénomènes de sorption (échanges d'ions, adsorption). Cependant, ces mécanismes sont mal connus. La matière organique est non négligeable dans les lixiviats. Un des rôles des lagunes de décantation est de permettre la dégradation de cette matière organique par les micro-organismes. Par contre, les interactions entre les sédiments (boues de décantation), les lixiviats et les micro-organismes ont rarement été étudiés. L'objet de ce travail scientifique est de déterminer les mécanismes qui gouvernent la composition physico-chimique des lixiviats d' Etueffont, d'évaluer l'efficacité du traitement par lagunage naturel, de caractériser les types de peuplements planctoniques qui se développent dans ces types d'écosystème et d'étudier l'impact probable de la décharge sur les eaux souterraines et superficielles. L'amélioration de la qualité des eaux, issues de la lixiviation des déchets broyés, lors du passage dans les 4 lagunes successives a été analysée en confrontant les résultats physico-chimiques et hydrobiologiques entre l'entrée en amont de la 1 ère lagune et la sortie de la dernière lagune.BESANCON-BU Sciences Staps (250562103) / SudocNANCY/VANDOEUVRE-INPL (545472102) / SudocSudocFranceF