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Microalgae cultivation can be used to increase the sustainability of carbon emitting processes, converting the CO 2 from exhaust gases into fuels, food and chemicals. Many of the carbon emitting industries operate in a continuous manner, for periods that can span days or months, resulting in a continuous stream of gas emissions. Biogenic CO 2 from industrial microbiological processes is one example, since in many cases it becomes unsustainable to stop these processes on a daily or weekly basis. To correctly sequester these emissions, microalgae systems must be operated under continuous constant conditions, requiring photobioreactors (PBRs) that can act as chemostats for long periods of time. However, in order to optimize culture parameters or study metabolic responses, bench-scale setups are necessary. Currently there is a lack of studies and design alternatives using chemostat, since most works focus on batch assays or semi-continuous cultures. Therefore, this work focused on the development of a continuous bench-scale PBR, which combines a retention vessel, a photocollector and a degasser, with an innovative recirculation system, that allows it to operate as an autotrophic chemostat, to study carbon sequestration from a biogenic CO 2 -rich constant air stream. To assess its applicability, the PBR was used to cultivate the green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis using as sole carbon source the CO 2 produced by a coupled heterotrophic bacterial chemostat. An air stream containing ≈0.35 vol% of CO 2, was fed to the system, and it was evaluated in terms of stability, carbon fixation and biomass productivity, for dilution rates ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 d−1. The PBR was able to operate under chemostat conditions for more than 100 days, producing a stable culture that generated proportional responses to the stimuli it was subjected to, attaining a maximum biomass productivity of 183 mg/L/d with a carbon fixation efficiency of ≈39% at 0.3 d−1. These results reinforce the effectiveness of the developed PBR system, making it suitable for laboratory-scale studies of continuous photoautotrophic microalgae cultivation. [Display omitted] • A novel bench-scale PBR for continuous cultivation of microalgae was developed. • This PBR integrates three units and presents an innovative recirculation system. • This PBR operates as an autotrophic chemostat. • Steady states for dilution rates from 0.1 to 0.5 d−1 were studied in this PBR system. • Maximum productivity (Pv) of 183 mg/L/d, with a CFE of 39% at dilution rate of 0.3 d−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple expression is developed for covariance-matrix correction in stochastic model updating. The need for expensive forward propagation of uncertainty through the model is obviated by application of a formula based only on the sensitivity of the outputs at the end of a deterministic updating process carried out on the means of the parameters. Two previously published techniques are show to reduce to the same simple formula within the assumption of small perturbation about the mean. It is shown, using a simple numerical example, that deterministic updating of the parameter means can result in correct reconstruction of the output means even when the updating parameters are wrongly chosen. If the parameters are correctly chosen, then the covariance matrix of the outputs is correctly reconstructed, but when the parameters are wrongly chosen is found that the output covariance is generally not reconstructed accurately. Therefore, the selection of updating parameters on the basis of reconstructing the output means is not sufficient to ensure that the output covariances will be well reconstructed. Further theory is then developed by assessing the contribution of each candidate parameter to the output covariance matrix, thereby enabling the selection of updating parameters to ensure that both the output means and covariances are reconstructed by the updated model. This latter theory is supported by further numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physiological control to support the absence of O2 for long periods of diving, and oxidative damage impact caused by the whole process of hypoxia/reperfusion in freshwater turtles is well known. However, effects of contaminants may act as co-varying stressors and cause biological damage, disrupting the hypoxia/reperfusion oxidative damage control. In order to investigate the action of environmental stressors present in domestic or industrial wastewater effluent, we performed a biochemical analysis of biotransformation enzymes, oxidative stress, as well as neuromuscular, physiological and morphological parameters in Phrynops geoffroanus, an hypoxic-tolerant freshwater turtle endemic of South America, using animals sampled in urban area, contaminated by sewage and industrial effluents and animals sampled in control area. Here we demonstrate the physiological and biochemical impact caused by pollution, and the effect that these changes cause in antioxidant activity. Animals from the urban area exhibited higher EROD (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, CYP1A1), GST (glutathione S-transferase), G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate deshydrogenase), AChE (acetilcholinesterase) activities and also TEAC (trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity) and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) values. We examined whether two morphometric indices (K – condition factor and HIS – hepatosomatic index) which help in assessing the general condition and possible liver disease, respectively, were modified. The K of the urban animals was significantly decreased compared to the control animals, but the HIS value was increased in animals from the urban area, supporting the idea of an impact in physiology and life quality in the urban freshwater turtles. We propose that this freshwater turtle species have the ability to enhance its antioxidants defenses in order to protect from tissue damage caused by hypoxia and reperfusion, but also that caused by environmental contamination and that the oxidative damage control in hypoxic conditions has resulted in an adaptive condition in hypoxic-tolerant freshwater turtle species, in order to better tolerate the release of contaminated effluents resulting from human activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nowadays, the production of green transportation fuels is essential for a healthy life and environment. Effective and complete removal of organosulfur recalcitrant compounds from fuel oils is crucial to meet the stringent requirements of sulfur standards. However, the industry's solution (Hydrodesulfurization, HDS) is not effective in the removal of complex sulfur heterocyclic hydrocarbons. Thus, the development of more efficient and ecofriendly/sustainable desulfurization methods is critical, as either an alternative or a complement to HDS, foreseeing the production of ultra-low sulfur fuels (ULSF). Among the desulfurization techniques available, microbial desulfurization of organosulfur hydrocarbons (biodesulfurization, BDS) is attracting great attention. BDS is carried out at mild operation conditions, making it energetically cheaper and more ecofriendly, since it does not require hydrogen and produces far less greenhouse gases emission than HDS. In this context, the behavior of Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B, a desulfurizing bacterium and hyper-pigment producer, was evaluated in the presence of four sulfur sources common in fuel oils: dibenzothiophene (DBT); 4-mDBT; 4,6-dmDBT and 4,6-deDBT (single/mixed), in terms of both desulfurization rate and overall carotenoid production. Simultaneously, the influence of the carbon source used (fructose vs glucose) on the overall effectiveness of the coupled bioprocesses was also assessed. The results obtained highlight the potential of strain 1B to desulfurize all the tested recalcitrant compounds and simultaneously produce carotenoids. However, the highest BDS values were observed for 4,6-deDBT (5.75 μmol/g (DCW)/h) and for the mix of DBTs (5.20 μmol/g (DCW)/h), when fructose was used as carbon source. Indeed, when the mixture of DBTs ("model oil surrogate") was desulfurized by cells growing in fructose both desulfurization rate and total pigments amount were higher than those observed for glucose growing cells. Moreover, under these conditions, the strain 1B was able to produce high added-value carotenoids, namely astaxanthin, lutein and canthaxanthin. Hence, these results are promising when aiming to achieve a scale-up scenario. In fact, the inclusion of the production of high added-value products within a BDS process targeting ULSF may be a sustainable way to turn its scale-up economically viable. Image 1 • Production of carotenoids by G. alkanivorans 1 B: influence of S/C-sources. • 4,6-deDBT as the best S-source for lutein, canthaxanthin and astaxanthin production. • Highest BDS rates: 4,6-deDBT ⇒ 5.75 μmol/g/h and mix of DBTs ⇒ 5.20 μmol/g/h. • Strain 1 B is a promising microorganism for coupled BDS and carotenoid production. • G. alkanivorans 1 B is an auspicious microorganism towards ultra-low sulfur fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of selecting parameters for stochastic model updating is one that has been studied for decades, yet no method exists that guarantees the ‘correct’ choice. In this paper, a method is formulated based on global sensitivity analysis using a new evaluation function and a composite sensitivity index that discriminates explicitly between sets of parameters with correctly-modelled and erroneous statistics. The method is applied successfully to simulated data for a pin-jointed truss structure model in two studies, for the cases of independent and correlated parameters respectively. Finally, experimental validation of the method is carried out on a frame structure with uncertainty in the position of two masses. The statistics of mass positions are confirmed by the proposed method to be correctly modelled using a Kriging surrogate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The adsorption isotherms of Cr(VI) on kaolinite, montmorillonite, and alumina were adequately treated with Langmuir model showing behavior characteristic of single-layer adsorption. The efficiency of the adsorbents in removing Cr(VI) from water follows the order alumina > kaolinite > montmorillonite > silica. Speciation studies indicate that hydrogen chromate ions were the major adsorbed species and simultaneous adsorption of dichromate ion occurred at concentrations greater than approximately . It is most probable that the mechanism of adsorption of the hydrogen chromate ion at the surface of alumina is predominantly electrostatic adsorption, with outer sphere complex formation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • New compounds combine propargylamine and salicylic/cinnamic scaffolds. • The compounds exhibited dual inhibition of AChE, BuChE and MAO-B. • IC 50 values in micromolar and low micromolar range (from 3.95 µM). • Molecular docking studies provided insights into enzymes-inhibitors interactions. • In silico predictions indicate that the molecules can target central nervous system. A combination of several pharmacophores in one molecule has been successfully used for multi-target-directed ligands (MTDL) design. New propargylamine substituted derivatives combined with salicylic and cinnamic scaffolds were designed and synthesized as potential cholinesterases and monoamine oxidases (MAOs) inhibitors. They were evaluated in vitro for inhibition of acetyl- (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) using Ellman's method. All the compounds act as dual inhibitors. Most of the derivatives are stronger inhibitors of AChE, the best activity showed 5-bromo- N -(prop-2-yn-1-yl)salicylamide 1e (IC 50 = 8.05 µM). Carbamates (4-bromo-2-[(prop-2-yn-1-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl ethyl(methyl)carbamate 2d and 2,4-dibromo-6-[(prop-2-yn-1-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl ethyl(methyl)carbamate 2e were selective and the most active for BuChE (25.10 and 26.09 µM). 4-Bromo-2-[(prop-2-yn-1-ylimino)methyl]phenol 4a was the most potent inhibitor of MAOs (IC 50 of 3.95 and ≈10 µM for MAO-B and MAO-A, respectively) along with a balanced inhibition of both cholinesterases being a real MTDL. The mechanism of action was proposed, and binding modes of the hits were studied by molecular docking on human enzymes. Some of the derivatives also exhibited antioxidant properties. In silico prediction of physicochemical parameters affirm that the molecules would be active after oral administration and able to reach brain tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular ATP is a danger signal to the brain and contributes to neurodegeneration in animal models of Alzheimer's disease through its extracellular catabolism by CD73 to generate adenosine, bolstering the activation of adenosine A 2A receptors (A 2A R). Convulsive activity leads to increased ATP release, with the resulting morphological alterations being eliminated by A 2A R blockade. However, it is not known if upon convulsions there is a CD73-mediated coupling between ATP release and A 2A R overactivation, causing neurodegeneration. We now show that kainate-induced convulsions trigger a parallel increase of ATP release and of CD73 and A 2A R densities in synapses and astrocytes of the mouse hippocampus. Notably, the genetic deletion of CD73 attenuates neuronal degeneration but has no impact on astrocytic modifications in the hippocampus upon kainate-induced convulsions. Furthermore, kainate-induced convulsions cause a parallel deterioration of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and hippocampal-dependent memory performance, which is eliminated by knocking out CD73. This demonstrates the key role of the ATP release/CD73/A 2A R pathway to selectively control synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration following an acute brain insult, paving the way to consider CD73 as a new therapeutic target to prevent neuronal damage upon acute brain damage. • Convulsions lead to a sustained increase of ATP release from nerve terminals and astrocytes. • Convulsions upregulate synaptic and astrocytic CD73 and adenosine A 2A receptors. • CD73 knockout prevents convulsions-induced neurodegeneration and memory deficits. • ATP-CD73-A 2A receptor overfunction is a new pathway responsible for neuronal damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for vegetal species regarding effectiveness in the phytoremediation of soils is of great importance, mainly in function of the great environmental problems, such as soil contamination with heavy metals, the necessity of producing more food, among others that mankind face today. This work aimed (i) to evaluate phytoremediation capacity of Crambe abyssinica Hochst and its growth in soil artificially contaminated with Cd and Pb, and (ii) to evaluate the possible impacts of crambe cultivation in contaminated soil conditions, in order to evaluate, to test, and to question the Brazilian CONAMA 420, providing important information that can be useful for governmental and environmental purposes. Two simultaneous experiments were developed, one for each metal. The soils were contaminated with salts of CdCl 2 and PbCl 2 H 2 O in five doses based on the investigation values (IV) of CONAMA Resolution 420, resulting in 0; 1.5; 3; 9 and 30 mg kg−1 for Cd and 33; 90; 180; 540 and 1800 mg kg−1 for Pb. Gaseous exchange, development, nutritional composition and production of plant components, as well as phytoavailability of metals, were evaluated. The contamination with metals reduced photosynthesis, increased breathing as well as leading to a negative effect on the mineral nutrition and productivity in general; Plants cultivated in soil with Cd presented higher phytoavailability when compared to those cultivated in the Pb conditions, being found metals in all parts of the crambe plants from 1.5 mg kg− 1 of Cd in the soil; and Pb was retained only in roots, not being translocated in the plant. Cd showed higher phytoavailability, being found in all parts of the plant and Pb was retained only in the roots. Cd showed a higher phytoavailability when compared to Pb, also being found in all parts of crambe plants from dose 1.5 mg kg-1 of Cd in soil, which is an environmental problem, since in these concentrations the cultivation of crops is allowed by Brazilian legislation CONAMA 420. • Crambe plants have great potential for phytoextraction of cadmium and phytostabilization for lead. • Although the photosynthetic system is hampered by contamination, crambe removed significant amounts of metals from the soil. • Pb is accumulated in roots, while Cd is distributed among plant tissues, especially in aerial part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]