Heterogeneous photosensitization for water reuse in cellars: evaluation of silica, spongin, and chitosan as carrier material

Photosensitization, a powerful oxidation reaction, offers significant potential for wastewater treatment in the context of industrial process water reuse. This environmentally friendly process can be crucial in reducing water consumption and industrial pollution. The ultimate goal is to complete process water reuse, creating a closed-loop system that preserves the inherent value of water resources. The photosensitized oxidation reaction hinges on three essential components: the photosensitizer, visible light, and oxygen. In this study, we assess the performance of three distinct materials-silica, chitosan, and spongin-as carrier materials for incorporating the phthalocyanine photosensitizer (ZnPcS4) in the heterogenous photosensitization process. Among the three materials under study, chitosan emerged as the standout performer in reactor hydrodynamic performance. In the photooxidation process, the photosensitizer ZnPcS4 exhibited notable efficacy, resulting in a significant reduction of approximately 20 to 30% in the remaining COD concentration of the cellar wastewater. Chitosan demonstrated exceptional hydrodynamic characteristics and displayed a favorable response to pH adjustments within the range of 8 to 10, outperforming the other two carrier materials. To further enhance the efficiency of continuous operation, exploring methods for mitigating photosensitizer bleaching within the reaction medium and investigating the impact of different pH values on the process optimization would be prudent.

Antihelminthic action of the Anethum graveolens essential oil on Haemonchus contortus eggs and larvae

Gastrointestinal nematodes are responsible for great economic losses in sheep raising, and their control has long been carried out almost exclusively by the administration of anthelmintics, which have led to serious resistance problems. In the search for alternative control measures, phytotherapic research is highlighted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the action of Anethum graveolens (dill) essential oil on different stages of Haemonchus contortus life cycle, as well its cytotoxicity MDBK (Madin-Darby bovine kidney) cells. H. contortus larvae and eggs were obtained from infected sheep feces, and essential oil extracted from plant seeds through the Clevenger apparatus. 9.4, 4.7, 2.35, 1.17. 0.58 and 0.29 mg/mL concentrations were evaluated. The Egg Hatch Inhibition (HI), Larval Development Inhibition (LDI) and Larval Migration Inhibition (LMI) techniques were used. Thybendazole 0.025 mg/mL in HI and Levamisole 0.02 mg/mL in the LDI and LMI tests were used as positive controls, while distilled water and a Tween 80 solution were used as positive negative controls. The inhibition results obtained for the highest oil concentration were: HI 100%, LDI 98.58% and LMI 63.7%, differing (𝑝 <0.05) from negative controls. Main A. graveolens oil components present in 95.93% of the total oil were Dihydrocarvone (39.1%), Carvone (22.24%), D-Limonene (16.84%), Apiol (10.49%) and Trans-dihydrocarvone (7.26%). Minimum A. graveolens essential oil concentrations required to inhibit 50% (IC50) of egg hatching, larval development and larval migration were 0.006 mg/mL, 2.536 mg/mL and 3.963 mg/mL, respectively. Cell viability in MDBK (Madin-Darby bovine kidney) cells, when incubated with A. graveolens essential oil, was 86% for the highest (9.4 mg/mL) and 99% for the lowest concentration (0.29 mg/mL). A. graveolens essential oil, according to the results obtained in this study, is a promising alternative in sheep gastrointestinal nematode control.

Genomewide association mapping and pathway analysis of meat tenderness in Polled Nellore cattle

Brazil is one of the world's largest beef exporters, although the product has a low price due to quality issues. The meat exported by Brazil is considered medium and low quality by international buyers, mainly due to lack of tenderness. The predominant Zebu breeds (80% Nellore) are known for producing tougher beef than taurine breeds. Nonetheless, some studies have shown that there is substantial genetic variability for tenderness within the Nellore breed, although it is a difficult trait to improve by conventional selection methods. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a genomewide association study (GWAS) and a gene set enrichment analysis to identify genomic regions and biologically relevant pathways associated with meat tenderness in Polled Nellore cattle. Data consisted of Warner-Bratzler shear force values of LM from 427 Polled Nellore animals divided into 3 experimental slaughters (years 2005, 2008, and 2010). The animals were genotyped with either the Illumina BovineHD BeadChip (777k, on 61 samples) or the GGP Indicus HD chip (77k, on 366 samples). Single nucleotide polymorphisms were excluded when the call rate was <90%, the Hardy-Weinberg proportions -value was <1% (Fisher exact test, Bonferroni adjusted), and the minor allele frequency was <1%. Imputation from the GGP Indicus HD chip to the Illumina BovineHD BeadChip was performed using the FImput program. Genomewide association analysis was performed using the Efficient Mixed Model Association eXpedited (EMMAx) and the population parameters previously determined (P3D) methods. The GWAS was complemented with a gene set enrichment analysis performed using the FatiGO procedure. Significant markers ( < 0.0001) explaining a larger proportion of variation than other significant SNPs were located on chromosomes 3, 13, 17, 20, 21, and 25, indicating QTL associated with meat tenderness throughout the genome. Additionally, gene set analysis identified 22 Gene Ontology functional terms and 2 InterPro entries that showed significant enrichment of genes associated with tenderness. The functional categories included protein tyrosine and serine/threonine kinase activity, calcium ion binding, lipid metabolic process, and growth factors, among others. These results help to elucidate the genetic architecture and metabolic pathways underlying this trait, which is of extreme economic and social importance to Brazil, because Nellore is the dominant beef cattle breed in the country.

Quantitative image analysis of polyhydroxyalkanoates inclusions from microbial mixed cultures under different SBR operation strategies

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) produced from mixed microbial cultures (MMC), regarded as potential substitutes of petrochemical plastics, can be found as intracellular granules in various microorganisms under limited nutrient conditions and excess of carbon source. PHA is traditionally quantified by laborious and time-consuming chromatography analysis, and a simpler and faster method to assess PHA contents from MMC, such as quantitative image analysis (QIA), is of great interest. The main purpose of the present work was to upgrade a previously developed QIA methodology (as reported by Mesquita et al. (Anal Chim Acta 770:36-44, 2013a, Anal Chim Acta 865:8-15, 2015)) for MMC intracellular PHA contents quantification, increase the studied intracellular PHA concentration range, and extend to different sequencing batch reactor (SBR) operation strategies. Therefore, the operation of a new aerobic dynamic feeding (ADF) SBR allowed further extending the studied operating conditions, dataset, and range of the MMC intracellular PHA contents from the previously reported anaerobic/aerobic cycle SBR. Nile Blue A (NBA) staining was employed for epifluorescence microscope visualization and image acquisition, further fed to a custom developed QIA. Data from each of the feast and famine cycles of both SBR were individually processed using chemometrics analysis, obtaining the correspondent partial least squares (PLS) models. The PHA concentrations determined from PLS models were further plotted against the results obtained in the standard chromatographic method. For both SBR, the predicted ability was higher at the end of the feast stage than for the famine stage. Indeed, an independent feast and famine QIA data treatment was found to be fundamental to obtain the best prediction abilities. Furthermore, a promising overall correlation (R ² of 0.83) could be found combining the overall QIA data regarding the PHA prediction up to a concentration of 1785.1 mg L^-1 (37.3 wt%). Thus, the results confirm that the presented QIA methodology can be seen as promising for estimating higher intracellular PHA concentrations for a larger reactors operation systems and further extending the prediction range of previous studies.

Quality of the Solimões River water for domestic use by the riverine community situated in Manacapuru-Amazonas-Brazil

The Amazon has the largest watershed in the world, with abundant fresh water reserves. Such abundance contrasts with the quality of the water consumed in the riverine communities. This work highlights the importance of assessing the quality of water of the Solimões River in the stretch situated opposite the Community Nossa Senhora das Graças-Costa do Pesqueiro, in front of the town of Manacapuru-Amazonas-Brazil. The research aimed to evaluate environmental indicators for the quality of the river water as well as in households in this community, according to the regional seasonality. The monitored parameters such as conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, color, pH, nitrate, nitrite, and sulfate were compared with the water quality standards in force in Brazil. Values well above the maximum level allowed (MLA) for color and turbidity parameters were found in some households, indicating that the water collected from the river is not getting appropriate treatment. The analysis of the correlation matrix of the parameters in the flood period of the river evidenced high correlation among dissolved oxygen (D.O), NO3 (-), Cl(-), SO4 (2-), and color. In this study, by principal component analysis (PCA), it was observed that the characteristics of the water, obtained from the river to be consumed in the households, in the flood period showed similarities with the river water samples, indicating absence of efficient treatment for human consumption.

Quantum spin-1 anisotropic ferromagnetic Heisenberg model in a crystal field: a variational approach

A variational approach based on Bogoliubov inequality for the free energy is employed in order to treat the quantum spin-1 anisotropic ferromagnetic Heisenberg model in the presence of a crystal field. Within the Bogoliubov scheme an improved pair approximation has been used. The temperature-dependent thermodynamic functions have been obtained and provide much better results than the previous simple mean-field scheme. In one dimension, which is still nonintegrable for quantum spin-1, we get the exact results in the classical limit, or near-exact results in the quantum case, for the free energy, magnetization, and quadrupole moment, as well for the transition temperature. In two and three dimensions the corresponding global phase diagrams have been obtained as a function of the parameters of the Hamiltonian. First-order transition lines, second-order transition lines, tricritical and tetracritical points, and critical endpoints have been located through the analysis of the minimum of the Helmholtz free energy and a Landau-like expansion in the approximated free energy. Only first-order quantum transitions have been found at zero temperature. Limiting cases, such as isotropic Heisenberg, Blume-Capel, and Ising models, have been analyzed and compared to previous results obtained from other analytical approaches as well as from Monte Carlo simulations.

Connexin36, an essential element in the rod pathway, is highly expressed in the essentially rodless retina of Gallus gallus

Electrical coupling provided by connexins (Cx) in gap junctions (GJ) plays important roles in both the developing and the mature retina. In mammalian nocturnal species, Cx36 is an essential component in the rod pathway, the retinal circuit specialized for night, scotopic vision. Here, we report the expression of Cx36 in a species (Gallus gallus) that phylogenetic development endows with an essentially rodless retina. Cx36 gene is very highly expressed in comparison with other Cxs previously described in the adult retina, such as Cx43, Cx45, and Cx50. Moreover, real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence all revealed that Cx36 expression massively increased over time during development. We thoroughly examined Cx36 in the inner and outer plexiform layers, where this protein was particularly abundant. Cx36 was observed mainly in the off sublamina of the inner plexiform layer rather than in the on sublamina previously described in the mammalian retina. In addition, Cx36 colocalized with specific cell markers, revealing the expression of this protein in distinct amacrine cells. To investigate further the involvement of Cx36 in visual processing, we examined its functional regulation in retinas from dark-adapted animals. Light deprivation markedly up-regulates Cx36 gene expression in the retina, resulting in an increased accumulation of the protein within and between cone synaptic terminals. In summary, the developmental regulation of Cx36 expression results in particular circuitry-related roles in the chick retina. Moreover, this study demonstrated that Cx36 onto- and phylogenesis in the vertebrate retina simultaneously exhibit similarities and particularities.

[Preparation and analysis of dehydrated mixtures of vegetables and underutilized fish species flours: I. Dehydrated mixtures of cereal-fish]

For the purpose of providing possible solutions to the malnutrition problems affecting those populations where cereals and tubers form an important portion of their daily intake, products were prepared from dehydrated mixtures of cereals and under-utilized fish, but which contain high-quality protein. Two cereals were selected for our experiments: rice and corn, and a marine under-utilized fish species (Macrodon ancyclodon). The minced fish muscle recovered by mechanical deboning was mixed with the cereal, obtaining mixtures with 5%, 10% and 15% fish on a dry basis. Feeding experiments using Wistar weaning rats were then carried out to evaluate the most important characteristics. An amino acid profile which reflected high-quality protein was obtained, as evidenced by the excellent PER, NPU, NPR and digestibility values determined. The dehydrated mixtures of fish/cereal flour prepared with 5% and up to 10% fish (dry basis), did not present any odour, but as of the 15% level, fish odour was perceived. Therefore, the use of dehydrated mixtures of fish/cereal flours with up to 10% fish in preparing food products, is recommended, since these would be of great help in solving the scarcity of good-quality protein, particularly in the developing countries.