Image analysis application for the study of activated sludge floc size during the treatment of synthetic and real fishery wastewaters

Background, aim, and scope  

Fishery wastewater treatment can be compromised due to seasonal production. The use of sequencing batch reactors is not completely successful, despite flexibility being one of the principal advantages. Most research on activated sludge is performed using synthetic wastewater to ensure a stable and constant feed. The current work compared biomass morphology and settling ability using image analysis of synthetic and real fishery wastewaters, with and without NaCl addition.     

Effect of long‐term exposure to aluminum and high‐fat diet on NTPDase and 5′‐nucleotidase activities in lymphocytes and platelets of rats

Aluminum is one of the most abundant metals in the earth's crust. Although it shows no known biological function, it is recognized as an adjuvant in vaccines for human and veterinary uses. This study aims to evaluate the role of lifestyle and environment in the promotion of chronic disease. In it, we associated two factors: chronic exposure to aluminum and high‐fat diets. Thus, we aimed to determine whether the association of long‐term exposure to aluminum and high‐fat diets affects the NTPDase and 5′‐nucleotidase activities in the blood platelets and lymphocytes obtained from the mesenteric lymph nodes of young rats. In fact, the ectonucleotidase activities were shown to be upregulated upon exposure to aluminum plus high‐fat diets. As a result, we can suggest that the progressive upregulation of ectonucleotidase activities that we observed could be controlling the extent of inflammation and immune response.     

Spring and autumn spatial distribution of zooplankton carbon requirement across the Mediterranean Sea

Zooplankton represents a key contributor to the ocean biological pump through its consumption of sinking and suspended carbon. A specific and highly sensitive method to evaluate zooplankton carbon requirement from the sinking flux is through the estimation of the activity of the electron transport system. The present study was carried out from samplings in 2006, and it was focused on the spatial 200–0?m zooplankton carbon demand across 24 sampling stations, along the Mediterranean Sea, from the island of Crete to the Strait of Gibraltar. Its potential day/night variability was evaluated. The zooplankton composition, abundance and biomass were investigated. The carbon demand per unit zooplankton biomass indicates geographical and diel differences among the sampling stations. A higher mean carbon demand was seen for the western Mediterranean with respect to the eastern Mediterranean, which can be justified through the observed ratio of gelatinous:crustacean taxa and the water temperatures recorded. Higher carbon demand was measured in samples collected during the dark hours. The relation to the presence and abundance of actively migrating euphausiids and copepods was discussed. A comparison with data from another of our study carried out in the same study area but in another seasonal period was done.     

Arsenic speciation in rice consumed in south-western Nigeria,and estimation of dietary intake of arsenic species through rice consumption

This study determined concentrations and speciation of arsenic (As) in rice samples obtained from the cities of Akure, Ore, Ondo and Ikare in Ondo State, south-western Nigeria. The estimated dietary intake of As from rice consumption for total As and the identified As species were compared with the As benchmark dose lower confidence limit. Analyses of rice from the four cities identified three As species: inorganic As, monomethylarsonic, acid and dimethylarsinic acid. Concentrations of total As and the As species differed significantly across the sampling locations (by a factor of 2.5 for total As). Mean levels (±S.D.) were 58.8 ± 0.7 µg/kg total As, 47.0 ± 0.6 µg/kg inorganic As, 0.33 ± 0.03 µg/kg monomethylarsonic acid, and 11.5 ± 0.1 µg/kg dimethylarsinic acid. The estimated mean dietary intakes were 4.1 µg/d total As, 3.3 µg/d inorganic As, 0.02 µg/d monomethylarsonic acid, and 0.8 µg/d dimethylarsinic acid. These values are below the benchmark dose lower confidence limit and comparable to, or lower than, those reported for other countries. Thus, consumption of rice cultivated in south-western Nigeria does not appear to have inherent As-associated health risks.     

Microalgae biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles for application in the control of agricultural pathogens

The occurrence of diseases in cultivars has caused significant losses in global food production. The advancement of nanobiotechnology makes it possible to obtain new products to be used in the control of pathogens in cultivars. Silver nanoparticles can be synthesized by microalgae and are widely known for their antimicrobial activity. In addition, the biomass produced in microalgal culture for the biosynthesis of the nanoparticles also demonstrates antimicrobial properties, as it can increase the antibacterial and antifungal potential of the silver nanoparticles. In this context, this article addresses the use of microalgae to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles simultaneously with biomass production. In addition, we demonstrate the antimicrobial potential of these nanomaterials, as well as of the microalgal biomass produced in biosynthesis, to use in the control of pathogens in agriculture.     

Resistant weeds were controlled by the combined use of herbicides and bioherbicides

The intensive and abundant use of synthetic herbicides has been questioned in recent decades due to the strong dependence and also the resistance effects that are identified in weeds. Several grain crops suffer from the weed control system because many of the weeds are already resistant to the main herbicides that are used. In recent years, there has been a large gap in the market without the addition of new synthetic herbicides with mechanisms of action that differ from those already existing. The objective of this short piece is to address and overcome this challenge and bring an innovative and alternative solution that proposes a synergistic action system between bioherbicides produced by the fungus Trichoderma koningiopsis and synthetic herbicides (2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, glyphosate, and ammonium glufosinate). The plants included in this study were Bidens pilosa (amor seco, or in the United States, beggar ticks or Spanish needle), Euphorbia heterophylla (adeus‐brasil), and Conyza bonariensis (margaridinha‐do‐campo, or, in the United States, hairy fleabane or asthmaweed). It was verified that, in the application of the biocomposites in the presence of chemical herbicides, potentiation of the phytotoxic action (100%) occurred under the target plants, emphasizing phytotoxicity to the weed, C. bonariensis, which is currently resistant to available herbicides. The bioherbicides studied have promising characteristics to be explored in the biocontrol of weeds.     

Poliovirus and Other Enteroviruses from Environmental Surveillance in Italy, 2009–2015

Within the initiatives for poliomyelitis eradication by WHO, Italy activated an environmental surveillance (ES) in 2005. ES complements clinical Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance for possible polio cases, detects poliovirus circulation in environmental sewage, and is used to monitor transmission in communities. In addition to polioviruses, the analyses comprised: (i) the monitoring of the presence of non-polio enteroviruses in sewage samples and (ii) the temporal and geographical distribution of the detected viruses. From 2009 to 2015, 2880 sewage samples were collected from eight cities participating in the surveillance. Overall, 1479 samples resulted positive for enteroviruses. No wild-type polioviruses were found, although four Sabin-like polioviruses were detected. The low degree of mutation found in the genomes of these four isolates suggests that these viruses have had a limited circulation in the population. All non-polio enteroviruses belonged to species B and the most frequent serotype was CV-B5, followed by CV-B4, E-11, E-6, E-7, CV-B3, and CV-B2. Variations in the frequency of different serotypes were also observed in different seasons and/or Italian areas. Environmental surveillance in Italy, as part of the ‘WHO global polio eradication program’, is a powerful tool to augment the polio surveillance and to investigate the silent circulation or the re-emergence of enteroviruses in the population.     

An Eco-balance of a Recycling Plant for Spent Lead–Acid Batteries

This study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to present an eco-balance of a recycling plant that treats spent lead–acid batteries. The recycling plant uses pyrometallurgical treatment to obtain lead from spent batteries. The application of LCA methodology (ISO 14040 series) enabled us to assess the potential environmental impacts arising from the recycling plants operations. Thus, net emissions of greenhouse gases as well as other major environmental consequences were examined and hot spots inside the recycling plant were identified. A sensitivity analysis was also performed on certain variables to evaluate their effect on the LCA study. The LCA of a recycling plant for spent lead–acid batteries presented shows that this methodology allows all of the major environmental consequences associated with lead recycling using the pyrometallurgical process to be examined. The study highlights areas in which environmental improvements are easily achievable by a business, providing a basis for suggestions to minimize the environmental impact of its production phases, improving process and company performance in environmental terms.     

Social and geographical inequalities in prenatal care in Italy

The purpose of this study was to find out possible differences in prenatal diagnosis (PD) by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling and ultrasound examination before 16 weeks' gestation (early ultrasound examination, EUE), according to area of residence and level of education of the mothers. Data come from a multicentre study in Italy involving 43 maternity hospitals (Mercurio project) and were collected through structured interviews a few days after delivery. Study subjects were 1541 mothers of single non-malformed infants born between April 1992 and March 1994. Overall, the incidence of PD and EUE was 5.8 and 80 per cent, respectively. After adjustment for maternal age and other possible confounders, the odds ratios for PD were 2.19 (95 per cent confidence interval (CI)=1.26–3.81) when women residing in the northern regions were compared with those residing in the southern regions, and 2.06 (95 per cent CI=1.12–3.79) and 4.08 (95 per cent CI=1.97–8.42) when women with medium and high levels of education were compared with those with low level. For EUE, the odds ratios were 1.77 (95 per cent CI=1.32–2.36) and 2.88 (95 per cent CI=1.56–5.29) when comparing women with medium and high levels of education with those with low level. No relationship was found between area of residence and EUE. These geographical and social inequalities in prenatal care in Italy should be taken into account for the organization, delivery, and evaluation of pregnancy services in the coming years.