Application of bacteria involved in the biological sulfur cycle for paper mill effluent purification

In anaerobic wastewater treatment, the occurrence of biological sulfate reduction results in the formation of unwanted hydrogen sulfide, which is odorous, corrosive and toxic. In this paper, the role and application of bacteria in anaerobic and aerobic sulfur transformations are described and exemplified for the treatment of a paper mill wastewater. The sulfate containing wastewater first passes an anaerobic UASB reactor for bulk COD removal which is accompanied by the formation of biogas and hydrogen sulfide. In an aeration pond, the residual COD_organic and the formed dissolved hydrogen sulfide are removed. The biogas, consisting of CH₄ (80-90 vol.%), CO₂ (10-20 vol.%) and H₂S (0.8-1.2 vol.%), is desulfurised prior to its combustion in a power generator thereby using a new biological process for H₂S removal. This process will be described in more detail in this paper. Biomass from the anaerobic bioreactor has a compact granular structure and contains a diverse microbial community. Therefore, other anaerobic bioreactors throughout the world are inoculated with biomass from this UASB reactor. The sludge was also successfully used in investigation on sulfate reduction with carbon monoxide as the electron donor and the conversion of methanethiol. This shows the biotechnological potential of this complex reactor biomass.     

Genome-Wide Association Analysis and Genomic Prediction of Thyroglobulin Plasma Levels

Thyroglobulin (Tg) is an iodoglycoprotein produced by thyroid follicular cells which acts as an essential substrate for thyroid hormone synthesis. To date, only one genome-wide association study (GWAS) of plasma Tg levels has been performed by our research group. Utilizing recent advancements in computation and modeling, we apply a Bayesian approach to the probabilistic inference of the genetic architecture of Tg. We fitted a Bayesian sparse linear mixed model (BSLMM) and a frequentist linear mixed model (LMM) of 7,289,083 variants in 1096 healthy European-ancestry participants of the Croatian Biobank. Meta-analysis with two independent cohorts (total n = 2109) identified 83 genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the ST6GAL1 gene (p<5×10−8). BSLMM revealed additional association signals on chromosomes 1, 8, 10, and 14. For ST6GAL1 and the newly uncovered genes, we provide physiological and pathophysiological explanations of how their expression could be associated with variations in plasma Tg levels. We found that the SNP-heritability of Tg is 17% and that 52% of this variation is due to a small number of 16 variants that have a major effect on Tg levels. Our results suggest that the genetic architecture of plasma Tg is not polygenic, but influenced by a few genes with major effects.     

The heat treatment and the gelation are strong determinants of the kinetics of milk proteins digestion and of the peripheral availability of amino acids

This study aimed to determine the kinetics of milk protein digestion and amino acid absorption after ingestion of four dairy matrices by six minipigs: unheated or heated skim milk and corresponding rennet gels. Digestive contents and plasma samples were collected over a 7 h-period after meal ingestion. Gelation of milk slowed down the outflow of the meal from the stomach and the subsequent absorption of amino acids, and decreased their bioavailability in peripheral blood. The gelled rennet matrices also led to low levels of milk proteins at the duodenum. Caseins and β-lactoglobulin, respectively, were sensitive and resistant to hydrolysis in the stomach with the unheated matrices, but showed similar digestion with the heated matrices, with a heat-induced susceptibility to hydrolysis for β-lactoglobulin. These results suggest a significant influence of the meal microstructure (resulting from heat treatment) and macrostructure (resulting from gelation process) on the different steps of milk proteins digestion.     

Dissemination of the Coping Power program: Importance of intensity of counselor training.

This study examined an important but rarely investigated aspect of the dissemination process: the intensity of training provided to practitioners. Counselors in 57 schools were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: Coping Power–training plus feedback (CP-TF), Coping Power–basic training (CP-BT), or a comparison condition. CP-TF counselors produced reductions in children’s externalizing behavior problems and improvements in children’s social and academic skills in comparison to results for target children in both the comparison and the CP-BT conditions. Training intensity was critical for successful dissemination, although the implementation mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear, as condition effects were not significant for completion of session objectives but were significant for the quality of counselors’ engagement with children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reduction of folic acid during baking and implications for mandatory fortification of bread

A pilot scale study designed to quantify the reduction of folic acid during bread baking in Ireland was undertaken. Flour was fortified with different concentrations of folic acid and used to make four different types of commercial bread. The dispersal of folic acid in flour on a pilot scale was variable but better homogeneity would have been achieved in the final bread due to batch size and thorough mixing of the dough. Generally, the heat degradation of folic acid during baking was between 21.9% and 32.1%. Whilst the percentage degradation of folic acid in white pan loaves, white baguettes and brown soda bread were similar the result in wholemeal bread was found to be significantly higher than in other bread types tested. Taking into account all variables affecting folic acid concentration during baking, a concentration of c. 225 μg 100 g^?1 folic acid would be needed in flour to deliver commercial bread in Ireland with an average folic acid content of 120 μg 100 g^?1 in line with Government requirements.     

Application of the Water Poverty Index at Different Scales: A Cautionary Tale

Abstract

The Water Poverty Index is an integrated tool developed on the basis of extensive consultation with a range of scientists, practitioners and policymakers. It is primarily designed for use at the community level to enable more holistic water-resource assessments on a site-specific basis. It can however be applied at different scales to suit different needs. One of the motivations to design such a tool was an attempt to move away from the conventional, purely deterministic, approaches to water assessment, relying primarily on models and large-scale data. In today's world such an approach is inappropriate, ill representing the complexities of modern water-allocation decisions where economic, political and social issues all have a powerful role to play. This paper highlights some applications of the Water Poverty Index at different spatial scales and discusses the implications of applying indicators at these different scales.     

Growth and characterization of l-phenylalanine nitric acid, a new organic nonlinear optical material

A new organic nonlinear optical material L-phenylalanine nitric acid [2C₉H₁₁NO₂.H⁺. NO₃⁻] (LPN), was synthesized in mixed solvent of deionised water and methanol and single crystals of LPN was grown by slow evaporation method. Transparent crystals upto 2.9 × 0.3 × 0.05 cm³ were obtained. The grown crystals have been subjected to powder X-ray diffraction studies to identify the crystalline nature. Single crystal X-ray diffractometer was utilized to measure unit cell parameters and to confirm the crystal structure. The modes of vibration of different molecular groups present in LPN were identified by FTIR spectral analysis. Transmission spectra reveals that the crystal has low UV cutoff of 295 nm and has a good transmittance in the entire visible region enabling its use in optical applications. Thermal properties of the crystals have been investigated using thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analyses (DTA), which indicate that the material does not decompose before melting. The existence of second harmonic generation signals was observed using Nd:YAG laser with fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm.