Developed fungal–bacterial biofilms as a novel tool for bioremoval of hexavelant chromium from wastewater

Remediation measures for hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] are required for a safe environment. As a recent development in microbiology, bacterial biofilms are being studied as effective bioremediation agents. When bacteria are in fungal surface-attached biofilm mode, they are called fungal–bacterial biofilms (FBBs). They have not been tested for bioremediation so far. Hence, this study was conducted to develop FBBs and glass-wool-attached bacterial biofilms (BBs), and to evaluate Cr(VI) tolerability and removal of bacterial monocultures, BBs and FBBs. FBBs showed a significantly high level of Cr(VI) tolerance and resistance compared with its BBs or monocultures. After 10 days, up to 90% of Cr(VI) had been removed, which was significantly higher than that of BBs or its monocultures. Thus, it is clear that FBBs can be used as a novel tool to decontaminate Cr(VI) both in situ and ex situ.     

Prenatal diagnosis of Schwartz–Jampel syndrome with early manifestation

A mother who had given birth to a child with Schwartz–Jampel syndrome (SJS) with neonatal manifestations (myotonia, congenital contractures, bowing of femora and tibiae) underwent ultrasonic fetal examination during the 17th and 19th week of her second pregnancy. Moderately decreased fetal motor activity and constant flexion of the fingers were observed at both examinations. In addition, there was mild bowing and shortening of the femora. At birth, the child presented with the characteristic pattern of SJS similar to her older brother. Prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of Schwartz–Jampel syndrome is possible, at least for the form with neonatal onset of myotonia and contractures.     

Meckel–Gruber syndrome: Ultrasonographic diagnosis at 13 weeks' gestational age in an at-risk case

A case of early diagnosis at 13 weeks' gestational age of Meckel–Gruber syndrome by ultrasound is reported in a patient with a 25 percent recurrence risk. The usefulness of genetic counselling and aimed echographic examination is discussed.     

Survey of mercury,cadmium and lead content of household batteries

The objective of this work was to provide updated information on the development of the potential impact of heavy metal containing batteries on municipal waste and battery recycling processes following transposition of the new EU Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC. A representative sample of 146 different types of commercially available dry and button cells as well as lithium-ion accumulators for mobile phones were analysed for their mercury (Hg)-, cadmium (Cd)- and lead (Pb)-contents. The methods used for preparing the cells and analysing the heavy metals Hg, Cd, and Pb were either developed during a former study or newly developed. Several batteries contained higher mass fractions of mercury or cadmium than the EU limits. Only half of the batteries with mercury and/or lead fractions above the marking thresholds were labelled. Alkaline–manganese mono-cells and Li-ion accumulators, on average, contained the lowest heavy metal concentrations, while zinc–carbon batteries, on average, contained the highest levels.     

Influence of aeration modes on leachate characteristic of landfills that adopt the aerobic–anaerobic landfill method

As far as the optimal design, operation, and field application of the Aerobic–Anaerobic Landfill Method (AALM) are concerned, it is very important to understand how aeration modes (different combinations of aeration depth and air injection rate) affect the biodegradation of organic carbon and the transformation of nitrogen in landfill solid waste. Pilot-scale lysimeter experiments were carried out under different aeration modes to obtain detailed information regarding the influence of aeration modes on leachate characteristics. Results from these lysimeter experiments revealed that aeration at the bottom layer was the most effective for decomposition of organic carbon when compared with aeration at the surface or middle layers. Moreover, the air injection rate led to different nitrogen transformation patterns, unlike the lesser influence it has on organic carbon decomposition. Effective simultaneous nitrification and denitrification were observed for the aeration mode with a higher air injection rate (=1.0 L/min). On the other hand, the phenomenon of sequenced nitrification and denitrification could be observed when a low air injection rate (=0.5 L/min.) was employed. Finally, it is concluded that, for AALM, air injection with a higher air injection rate at the deepest layer near the leachate collection pipe tends to accelerate the stabilization of landfill waste as defined in terms of the enhancement of denitrification as well as organic carbon decomposition.     

Non-biodegradable landfill leachate treatment by combined process of agitation,coagulation, SBR and filtration

This study describes the complete treatment of non-biodegradable landfill leachate by combined treatment processes. The processes consist of agitation as a novel stripping method used to overcome the ammonia toxicity regarding aerobic microorganisms. The NH₃-N removal ratio was 93.9% obtained at pH 11.5 and a gradient velocity (G) 150 s^?1 within a five-hour agitation time. By poly ferric sulphate (PFS) coagulation followed the agitation process; chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD₅) were removed at 70.6% and 49.4%, respectively at an optimum dose of 1200 mg L^?1 at pH 5.0. The biodegradable ratio BOD₅/COD was improved from 0.18 to 0.31 during pretreatment step by agitation and PFS coagulation. Thereafter, the effluent was diluted with sewage at a different ratio before it was subjected to sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treatment. Up to 93.3% BOD₅, 95.5% COD and 98.1% NH₃-N removal were achieved by SBR operated under anoxic–aerobic–anoxic conditions. The filtration process was carried out using sand and carbon as a dual filter media as polishing process. The final effluent concentration of COD, BOD₅, suspended solid (SS), NH₃-N and total organic carbon (TOC) were 72.4 mg L^?1, 22.8 mg L^?1, 24.2 mg L^?1, 18.4 mg L^?1 and 50.8 mg L^?1 respectively, which met the discharge standard. The results indicated that a combined process of agitation-coagulation-SBR and filtration effectively eliminated pollutant loading from landfill leachate.     

Rapid estimation of compost enzymatic activity by spectral analysis method combined with machine learning

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using visible near-infrared (VisNIR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) as an easy, inexpensive, and rapid method to predict compost enzymatic activity, which traditionally measured by fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (FDA-HR) assay. Compost samples representative of five different compost facilities were scanned by DRS, and the raw reflectance spectra were preprocessed using seven spectral transformations for predicting compost FDA-HR with six multivariate algorithms. Although principal component analysis for all spectral pretreatments satisfactorily identified the clusters by compost types, it could not separate different FDA contents. Furthermore, the artificial neural network multilayer perceptron (residual prediction deviation = 3.2, validation r² = 0.91 and RMSE = 13.38 μg g^?1 h^?1) outperformed other multivariate models to capture the highly non-linear relationships between compost enzymatic activity and VisNIR reflectance spectra after Savitzky–Golay first derivative pretreatment. This work demonstrates the efficiency of VisNIR DRS for predicting compost enzymatic as well as microbial activity.     

Prenatal diagnosis of a new syndrome: Holoprosencephaly with hypokinesia

Markedly decreased fetal activity (akinesia/hypokinesia) is usually readily apparent to experienced mothers, and frequently this concern leads to attempts at prenatal diagnosis. We report prenatal diagnosis of two fetuses with congenital contractures, markedly decreased fetal movement, and microcephaly due to severe holoprosencephaly. Such familial recurrence to phenotypically normal parents suggests a newly recognized autosomal recessive or X-linked syndrome that is readily detectable by prenatal ultrasonography.     

Stable isotope signatures reflect competitiveness between trees under changed CO2/O3 regimes

Here we synthesize key findings from a series of experiments to gain new insight on inter-plant competition between juvenile beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies) under the influence of increased O₃ and CO₂ concentrations. Competitiveness of plants was quantified and mechanistically interpreted as space-related resource investments and gains. Stable isotopes were addressed as temporal integrators of plant performance, such as photosynthesis and its relation to water use and nitrogen uptake. In the weaker competitor, beech, efficiency in space-related aboveground resource investment was decreased in competition with spruce and positively related to Δ¹³C, as well as stomatal conductance, but negatively related to δ¹⁸O. Likewise, our synthesis revealed that strong belowground competition for water in spruce was paralleled in this species by high N assimilation capacity. We suggest combining the time-integrative potential of stable isotopes with space-related investigations of competitiveness to accomplish mechanistic understanding of plant competition for resources.     

Using a geographical information system for monitoring space shuttle launches: Determining cumulative distribution of deposition and an empirical test of a spatial model

Space shuttle launches produce localized hydrochloric acid deposition. The interaction of solid rocket motor exhaust and deluge water released on the pad at the time of launch results in the formation of an exhaust cloud. The spatial pattern and extent of deposition from the launch cloud are predicted by the rocket exhaust effluent diffusion (REED) model. The actual pattern of deposition has been mapped by field surveys for each shuttle launch since 1981. In this paper we use a geographical information system (GIS) to compare model predictions with ground patterns for 49 shuttle launches. We also compile cumulative maps of deposition patterns needed to consider long-term impacts. The direction of launch cloud movement did not differ significantly from model predictions. The REED model overpredicted both the area that received deposition and the maximum distance from the launch pad that deposition occurred. Severe vegetation damage was restricted to near-field deposition areas within 1980 m north of each launch pad. Total area impacted from launches has been 87.0 ha around pad 39A and 52.9 ha around pad 39B. Far-field deposition has caused leaf spotting from acid droplets or aluminum oxide over a wider and more variable area than near-field. A total of 19,397 ha has received deposition, but 63.6% of this area has received deposition only one time and 92.2% not more than three times. GIS techniques provide means to test spatial models and compile information useful for assessing cumulative impacts.