Two-step partial nitritation/Anammox process in granulation reactors: Start-up operation and microbial characterization.

A two-stage Partial Nitritation (PN)/Anammox process was carried out at lab-scale conditions to treat reject water from a municipal WWTP. PN was achieved in a granular SBR obtaining an effluent with a NH4(+)-N/NO2(-)-N molar ratio around 1.0. The microbial characterization of this reactor revealed a predominance of Betaproteobacteria, with a member of Nitrosomonas as the main autotrophic ammonium oxidizing bacterium (AOB). Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) were under the detection limit of 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing, indicating their effective inhibition. The effluent of the PN reactor was fed to an Anammox SBR where stable operation was achieved with a NH4(+)-N:NO2(-)-N:NO3(-)-N stoichiometry of 1:1.25:0.14. The deviation to the theoretical stoichiometry could be attributed to the presence of heterotrophic biomass in the Anammox reactor (mainly members of Chlorobi and Chloroflexi). Planctomycetes accounted for 7% of the global community, being members of Brocadia (1.4% of the total abundance) the main anaerobic ammonium oxidizer detected.

Comparison of aerobic granulation and anaerobic membrane bioreactor technologies for winery wastewater treatment.

An anaerobic membrane bioreactor and aerobic granulation technologies were tested at laboratory scale to treat winery wastewater, which is characterised by a high and variable biodegradable organic load. Both technologies have already been tested for alcohol fermentation wastewaters, but there is a lack of data relating to their application to winery wastewater treatment. The anaerobic membrane bioreactor, with an external microfiltration module, was started up for 230 days, achieving a biogas production of up to 0.35 L CH4L(-1)d(-1) when 1.5 kg COD m(-3)d(-1) was applied. Average flux was 10.5 L m(-2) h(-1) (LMH), obtaining a treated effluent free of suspended solids and a chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration lower than 100 mg COD L(-1). In contrast, the aerobic granular sequencing batch reactor coped with 15 kg COD m(-3)d(-1), but effluent quality was slightly worse. Aerobic granulation was identified as a suitable technique to treat this kind of wastewater due to excellent settleability, high biomass retention and a good ability to handle high organic loads and seasonal fluctuations. However, energy generation from anaerobic digestion plays an important role, favouring anaerobic membrane bioreactor application, although it was observed to be sensitive to sudden load fluctuations, which led to a thorough pH control and alkali addition.

Integrating the selection of PHA storing biomass and nitrogen removal via nitrite in the main wastewater treatment line.

A novel scheme was developed for the treatment of municipal wastewater integrating nitritation/denitritation with the selection of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) storing biomass under an aerobic/anoxic, feast/famine regime. The process took place in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and the subsequent PHA accumulation in a batch reactor. The carbon source added during the selection and accumulation steps consisted of fermentation liquid from the organic fraction of municipal solids waste (OFMSW FL) (Period I) and OFMSW and primary sludge fermentation liquid (Period II). Selection of PHA storing biomass was successful and denitritation was driven by internally stored PHA during the famine phase. Under optimum conditions of SBR operation ammonia removal was 93%, reaching a maximum nitrite removal of 98%. The treated effluent met the nitrogen limits, while PHA-storing biomass was successfully selected. The maximum accumulation of PHA was 10.6% (wt.) since the nutrients present in the carbon source promoted bacterial growth.

Dapsone as initial treatment in superficial pemphigus. Report of nine cases.

Nine cases of superficial pemphigus that were treated by dapsone as the initial mode of therapy are reported. Five patients, all having low or negative serum anti-intercellular cement substance antibody titers, responded dramatically, while the other four patients, showing high titers of anti-intercellular cement substance antibodies, did not respond to this treatment. Complications of therapy were observed in three cases.

Elemental analysis of two Egyptian iron ores and produced industrial iron samples by neutron activation analysis.

Elemental analysis of two iron ores and initial industrial iron production prepared by the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company of Helwan near Cairo were performed by the instrumental neutron activation analysis technique. Five samples of each type were irradiated for 48 h in a thermal neutron flux of 4 x 10(12) n/cm2 s in the first Egyptian research reactor ET-RR-1. Also, the Pneumatic Irradiation Rabbit System (PIRS), attached to the reactor ET-RR-1 in Inshass, was used to measure short-life elements. The gamma-ray spectra were obtained with a hyper pure germanium detection system. The concentration percentage values of major, minor and trace elements are presented. Implications of the elemental concentration values obtained are presented.

[Retinoids]. / Les rétinoïdes.

Retinoids are natural and synthetic analogues of vitamin A. They have a marked influence on the differentiation of epithelial tissues by modifying membrane glycoconjugates and by acting through cytosolic and nuclear mechanisms like steroid hormones. Their clinical and biological toxic effects are numerous, but they are usually benign and reversible. However the possibility of teratogenic effects requires close monitoring of female patients. Etretinate is particularly effective in disorders of keratinisation (psoriasis, ichthyosis) whereas isotretinoin is the best known therapy of severe acne. Moreover the possible role of retinoids in the prevention and treatment of certain cancers gives hopeful prospects.

An application of a simple computer program for neutron activation analysis.

A simple computer program is designed for estimation of elemental concentration values in complex samples by neutron activation analysis technique. The program is applied for an Egyptian cement sample which irradiated at the Egyptian Research Reactor-1(ET-RR-1). The data obtained is compared with the reported values. The time consumed for such calculations has a remarkable reduction in comparison with the routine work.

The affect of industrial activities on zinc in alluvial Egyptian soil determined using neutron activation analysis.

Thirty-two surface (0-20 cm) soil samples were collected from different locations in Egypt representing non-polluted, moderately and highly polluted soils. The aim of this study was to evaluate total Zn content in alluvial soils of Nile Delta in Egypt by using the delayed neutron activation analysis technique (DNAA), in the irradiation facilities of the first Egyptian research reactor (ET-RR-1). The gamma-ray spectra were recorded with a hyper pure germanium detection system. The well resolved gamma-ray peak at 1116.0 keV was efficiently used for 65Zn content determination. Zn content in non-polluted soil samples ranged between 74.1 and 103.8 ppm with an average of 98.5 +/- 5.1 ppm. Zn content in moderately polluted soils ranged between 136.0 and 232.5 ppm with an average of 180.1 +/- 32.6 ppm. The highest Zn levels ranging from 240.0 and 733.0 ppm with an average of 410.3 +/- 54.4 ppm, were observed in soil samples collected from, either highly polluted agricultural soils exposed to prolonged irrigation with industrial wastewater or surface soil samples from industrial sites.

Elemental analysis of some Egyptian ores and industrial iron samples by neutron activation analysis.

Elemental analysis of iron ore samples and first industrial iron production prepared by the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company of Helwan near Cairo were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis technique. Five samples from each kind were irradiated for a 48 hours at a thermal neutron flux of 4 x 10(12) n/(cm2.s) in the first Egyptian research reactor ET-RR-1. Also the Pneumatic irradiation Rabbit system (PIRS) attached to the reactor in Inshass, was used to measure the elements of short-life time. The gamma-ray spectra were recorded by means of the hyper pure germanium detection system. The concentration percentage values of major, minor and trace elements are presented. The long and short lived isotopes were considered. A comparative study and a discussion on the elemental concentration values are given.

Expression of c-Myc, c-Myb, c-Erb-B and c-H-Ras oncogene mRNAs in fibroblasts cultured from psoriatic patients.

The abnormally high rate of proliferation described in cultured psoriatic fibroblasts could result from inappropriate expression of cellular oncogenes (c-onc) associated to the control of cell division. Four c-onc (c-Myc, c-Myb, c-Erb-B, c-H-Ras) were studied in cultured fibroblasts from lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin (n = 6) and compared with normal subjects (n = 3). RNA was analyzed by hybridization with nick-translated cloned human DNA probes after extraction by the guanidinium thiocyanate/LiCl procedure, electrophoresis and transfer on nitrocellulose. No difference in the level of c-Myc and c-Myb mRNA could be detected in psoriatic skin compared with controls. N-Ras did not give a detectable signal and c-Erb-B exhibited individual variations which were not linked to the disease. These results do not rule out subtle qualitative changes of these genes; moreover, an abnormal mRNA expression of other c-onc remains possible in psoriasis.

Acute adaptative changes to unilateral nephrectomy in humans.

Renal function was monitored in 20, living-related kidney donors before and after uninephrectomy. Urinary protein excretion and retinoid metabolism respectively were studied in 10 and 6 of these donors. The functional adaptation was characterized by an increase in glomerular filtration rate and tubular function, which began in the first two days after uninephrectomy. Changes in tubular function were also demonstrated by significant increases in the urinary excretion of beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2M), retinol binding protein (RBP), kappa and lambda light chains of immunoglobulins. In addition, a protein identical to or homologous to cellular retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP), appeared in the urine after nephrectomy. We did not find CRABP in serum samples either before or after nephrectomy, suggesting that urinary CRABP was synthesized by the remaining kidney. Increases in serum levels of Vitamin A and RBP were also observed in the post-nephrectomy period. These modifications in retinol metabolism suggest that these substances could have a role as renotropic growth factors in compensatory hypertrophy.