Search

The European Commission's "Farm to Folk" strategy recommends reducing fertilizers by at least 20% by 2030. In this context, the aim of this study was to verify whether a 20 and 40% reduction of nitrogen (N) fertilization rate will be sufficient to maintain soil chemical features, fertility, and yields in monoculture maize cultivation in the no-tillage (NT) system versus the traditional plowing (PL) system. We also examined which tillage system (PL, NT) allows the reduction of fertilization while maintaining good yields of the tested soils. Two fields (10 ha each) were established for PL and NT maize cultivation, and soils (0–20 cm) were sampled twice per year—before maize sowing and after maize harvesting. A broad range of chemical and biological parameters were monitored (i.e., pH, forms of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon, content of selected macronutrients and humic substances, and respiration activity). It was concluded that the 20% reduction in N fertilization (after 4 years of use) did not have an adverse effect on the soil's chemical and biological features, which mainly depended on the season of the year. The maize yield seemed to be higher in the PL system, which was mostly the result of the tillage system rather than the N dose. The study will be continued in the next vegetation season to further verify our findings, especially with regard to the maize tillage system and yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal hyperaccumulator Azolla filiculoides is accompanied by a microbiome potentially supporting plant during exposition to heavy metals. We hypothesized that the microbiome exposition to selected heavy metals will reveal metal tolerant strains. We used Next Generation Sequencing technique to identify possible metal tolerant strains isolated from the metal-treated plant (Pb, Cd, Cr(VI), Ni, Au, Ag). The main dominants were Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria constituting together more than 97% of all reads. Metal treatment led to changes in the composition of the microbiome and showed significantly higher richness in the Pb-, Cd- and Cr-treated plant in comparison with other (95–105 versus 36–44). In these treatments the share of subdominant Actinobacteria (0.4–0.8%), Firmicutes (0.5–0.9%) and Bacteroidetes (0.2–0.9%) were higher than in non-treated plant (respectively: 0.02, 0.2 and 0.001%) and Ni-, Au- and Ag-treatments (respectively: <0.4%, <0.2% and up to 0.2%). The exception was Au-treatment displaying the abundance 1.86% of Bacteroidetes. In addition, possible metal tolerant genera, namely: Acinetobacter, Asticcacaulis, Anabaena, Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Burkholderia, Dyella, Methyloversatilis, Rhizobium and Staphylococcus, which form the core microbiome, were recognized by combining their abundance in all samples with literature data. Additionally, the presence of known metal tolerant genera was confirmed: Mucilaginibacter, Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Corynebacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Clostridium, Micrococcus, Achromobacter, Geobacter, Flavobacterium, Arthrobacter and Delftia. We have evidenced that A. filiculoides possess a microbiome whose representatives belong to metal-resistant species which makes the fern the source of biotechnologically useful microorganisms for remediation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of arable soil was quantified against non-cultivated soil on easily degradable carbon and other selected microbiological factors, i.e. soil microbial biomass, respiration activity, and dehydrogenase activity. The intent was to ascertain whether easily degradable carbo can be useful as a sensitive indicator of both soil biological degradation and microbial hotspots indication. As a result, it was found that soil respiration activity was significantly higher (p <0.0001) in all controls, ranging between 30-60 vs. 11.5-23.7 µmol CO2 kg d.m.-1 h-1 for the arable soils. Dehydrogenase activity was significantly lower in the arable soil (down to 35-40% of the control values, p <0.001) varying depending on the soil type. The microbial biomass was also significantly higher at the non-cultivated soil (512-2807 vs. 416-1429 µg g-1 d.m., p <0.001), while easily degradable carbon ranged between 620-1209 mg kg-1 non-cultivated soil and 497-877 mg kg-1 arable soil (p <0.0001). It was demonstrated that agricultural practices affected soil properties by significantly reducing the levels of the studied parameters in relation to the control soils. The significant correlations of easily degradable carbon-respiration activity (ρ = 0.77*), easily degradable carbon-dehydrogenase activity (ρ = 0.42*), and easily degradable carbon-microbial biomass (ρ = 0.53*) reveal that easily degradable carbon is a novel, suitable factor indicative of soil biological degradation. It, therefore, could be used for evaluating the degree of soil degradation and for choosing a proper management procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to assess the differences in the bacterial community physiological profiles in soils contaminated with heavy metals versus soils without metal contaminations. The study's contaminated soil originated from the surrounding area of the Szopienice non-ferrous metal smelter (Silesia Region, Poland). The control was soil unexposed to heavy metals. Metal concentration was appraised by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, whereas the the community-level physiological profile was determined with the Biolog EcoPlatesTM system. The soil microbiological activity in both sites was also assessed via dehydrogenase activity. The mean concentrations of metals (Cd and Zn) in contaminated soil samples were in a range from 147.27 to 12265.42 mg kg-1, and the heavy metal contamination brought about a situation where dehydrogenase activity inhibition was observed mostly in the soil surface layers. Our results demonstrated that there is diversity in the physiological profiles of microorganisms inhabiting contaminated and colntrol soils; therefore, for assessment purposes, these were treated as two clusters. Cluster I included colntrol soil samples in which microbial communities utilised most of the available substrates. Cluster II incorporated contaminated soil samples in which a smaller number of the tested substrates was utilised by the contained microorganisms. The physiological profiles of microorganisms inhabiting the contaminated and the colntrol soils are distinctly different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many lakes worldwide are exposed to high anthropogenic impacts including the influx of polluted surface water and groundwater, fish production and nutrient run-off from agriculture in the catchment. We selected the shallow Lake Bartków Ług in Poland, receiving eutrophic River Chodelka water and currently used for fish farming as a case study for decision support with respect to inexpensive ways to improve water quality and facilitate higher biodiversity after fish stock removal. We selected four scenarios: (1) complete isolation from eutrophic water, (2) inflow of P-stripped surface water, (3) temporary water table drawdown, and (4) in-lake P sequestration. For financial reasons, dredging was not an option. The study started with an ecohydrological field survey to investigate the first scenario: isolation from river water inflow and restoration of the discharge of nutrient-poor, Fe-rich groundwater. Although groundwater appeared to be much less eutrophic, it contained low concentrations of Fe and high concentrations of SO 4 2− , which would lead to higher risks of phosphate mobilization from the sediment. Moreover, local hydrology showed almost no discharge of groundwater with the exception of spring. To reduce the risk of failure and avoid high costs without benefits, we pre-tested the other three scenarios using small-scale laboratory experiments. The first experiment, which tested the effects of the influx of water stripped of P (scenario 2), showed that water quality would not improve due to high P-mobilization rates from the sediment to the water layer (internal eutrophication). We therefore investigated two alternative mitigation measures: temporary water table drawdown (scenario 3) and the addition of Fe (scenario 4), both in order to increase P-sorption in the sediment. Temporary lowering of the water table indeed decreased P concentrations in pore water, but not in surface water because sediment Fe concentrations were insufficient. The addition of Fe to the sediment strongly improved water quality by P sequestration leading to almost complete disappearance of P in both pore water and surface water. For the studied lake, successful improvement of the water quality and biodiversity can therefore only be achieved by scenario 4, internal P fixation, after the cessation of fish production. The removal of fish only will not lead to improvement, because of the strong mobilization of P in the sediment. We show that the combination of field research and small-scale laboratory feasibility tests strongly reduces the risks of failure, and avoids less efficient and more costly approaches based on trial and error in the field. We therefore recommend the inclusion of such tests in decision support systems for ecological engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency of summer flood events has strongly increased in Eastern Europe during the last decades. The creation of water storage areas to avoid flooding is often combined with the re-creation of more natural and biodiverse riverine systems. This urges the need to understand the consequences of summer inundation, when microbial activity is significantly higher than during winter inundation, for floodplain biogeochemistry. In order to test the interacting effects of temporal flooding, water quality and agricultural use we used a mesocosm design with sods including vegetation from an area along a tributary of the Vistula River, where water storage compartments have been planned. Concentrations of nitrate and sulphate in the flood water, expected to interfere with soil redox processes, were varied at environmentally relevant concentrations. Inundation led to increased nutrient mobilization in all treatments, particularly for phosphate which reached very high concentrations in both soil water (200–300 μmol l−1) and overlaying surface water (25–35 μmol l−1) as a result of iron reduction. The response was clearly linked to different soil characteristics like the Olsen P concentration, probably caused by varying kind of land use. Unexpectedly, the flood water quality played a less important role in the response to short-term flooding. This could partly be explained by the relatively low infiltration rate into these waterlogged soils, indicating the importance of local hydrology. The findings of this study are important to understand and predict the effects of (more frequent) summer flooding of Eastern European rivers. It also indicates that it is necessary to take into account the soil quality in assessing the consequences of planned measures on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Plants need different survival strategies in habitats differing in hydrological regimes. This probably has consequences for vegetation development when former floodplain areas that are currently confronted with soil flooding only, will be reconnected to the highly dynamical river bed. Such changes in river management are increasingly important, especially at locations where increased water retention can prevent flooding events in developed areas. It is therefore crucial to determine the responses of plant species from relatively low-dynamic wetlands to complete submergence, and to compare these with those of species from river forelands, in order to find out what the effects of such landscape-scale changes on vegetation would be. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• Feasibility of visual navigation in bronchoscopy validated on patient and ex-vivo data. • Visual navigation in bronchoscopy using depth estimation with adversarial networks. • Cycle Consistent Generative Adversarial Networks for single image depth estimation. • Airway depth map registration to the pre-operative lung Computed Tomography (CT). • Absolute tracking error was found to be the lowest in trachea and lobar bronchus. [Display omitted] [Background] Electromagnetically Navigated Bronchoscopy (ENB) is currently the state-of-the art diagnostic and interventional bronchoscopy. CT-to-body divergence is a critical hurdle in ENB, causing navigation error and ultimately limiting the clinical efficacy of diagnosis and treatment. In this study, Visually Navigated Bronchoscopy (VNB) is proposed to address the aforementioned issue of CT-to-body divergence. [Materials and Methods] We extended and validated an unsupervised learning method to generate a depth map directly from bronchoscopic images using a Three Cycle-Consistent Generative Adversarial Network (3cGAN) and registering the depth map to preprocedural CTs. We tested the working hypothesis that the proposed VNB can be integrated to the navigated bronchoscopic system based on 3D Slicer, and accurately register bronchoscopic images to pre-procedural CTs to navigate transbronchial biopsies. The quantitative metrics to asses the hypothesis we set was Absolute Tracking Error (ATE) of the tracking and the Target Registration Error (TRE) of the total navigation system. We validated our method on phantoms produced from the pre-procedural CTs of five patients who underwent ENB and on two ex-vivo pig lung specimens. [Results] The ATE using 3cGAN was 6.2 +/- 2.9 [mm]. The ATE of 3cGAN was statistically significantly lower than that of cGAN, particularly in the trachea and lobar bronchus (p < 0.001). The TRE of the proposed method had a range of 11.7 to 40.5 [mm]. The TRE computed by 3cGAN was statistically significantly smaller than those computed by cGAN in two of the five cases enrolled (p < 0.05). [Conclusion] VNB, using 3cGAN to generate the depth maps was technically and clinically feasible. While the accuracy of tracking by cGAN was acceptable, the TRE warrants further investigation and improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Azolla filiculoides L. is an aquatic fern with the potential for degradation and accumulation of pollutants. It is accompanied by microorganisms (a microbiome) that may participate in these processes. Microorganisms showing specific phenotypes may promote plant growth in the presence of pollutants. We intended to identify such beneficial strains by studying their potential for the degradation of given organic compounds and the production of hydrolytic enzymes and phytohormones under heavy metal stress (Pb, Cd, Cr (VI), Ni, Ag, and Au). We found 10 isolates displaying varying phenotypes depending on the stress factor. The most efficient was Delftia sp., which showed potential for both degradation of organics and plant growth promotion. Other strains were more efficient at metabolizing organics or exhibited enzymatic responses in the presence of the studied metals. These identified phenotypes made all strains beneficial in both supporting plants in unfavorable conditions and degradation of organic compounds. A biopreparation containing these strains may be valuable as both a biofertilizer and a bioremediation agent. As an adaptation to unfavorable conditions, microorganisms may represent different phenotypes. Azolla filiculoides L. is a hyperaccumulator of pollutants, but the functions of its microbiome have not been well recognized to date. We aimed to reveal the potential of the microbiome for degradation of organic compounds, as well as its potential to promote plant growth in the presence of heavy metals. We applied the BiologTM Phenotypic Microarrays platform to study the potential of the microbiome for the degradation of 96 carbon compounds and stress factors and assayed the hydrolytic potential and auxin production by the microorganisms in the presence of Pb, Cd, Cr (VI), Ni, Ag, and Au. We found various phenotype changes depending on the stress factor, suggesting a possible dual function of the studied microorganisms, i.e., in bioremediation and as a biofertilizer for plant growth promotion. Delftia sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Microbacterium sp. exhibited high efficacy in metabolizing organic compounds. Delftia sp., Achromobacter sp. and Agrobacterium sp. were efficient in enzymatic responses and were characterized by metal tolerant. Since each strain exhibited individual phenotype changes due to the studied stresses, they may all be beneficial as both biofertilizers and bioremediation agents, especially when combined in one biopreparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Sargassum latifolium (S. latifolium) n-hexane extract as a novel source for insecticidal bioactive compounds was investigated. The composition of the extract was identified by using GC-MS analysis. We performed the study on four types of insects and larvae sp (Sarcophaga bullata, Tribolium castaneum, Musca domestica, and Solenopsis invicta) which cause a deleterious impact on the crops and human health. We used scanning electron microscopy to show the destructive effects of S. latifolium extract on the exoskeleton. The treatment exhibited severe morphological changes and a high mortality rate. Also, different bioinformatic approaches were utilized to investigate the possible insecticidal mechanism of the extract. Molecular docking showed the potential of the compounds to be chitin synthase inhibitors. Besides, the toxicokinetic parameters of the most promising compounds were evaluated to assess the impact of using the extract as an insecticidal agent on human health. S. latifolium extract exhibited promising insecticidal activity and acceptable toxicokinetic properties as compared to other known pesticide groups. [Display omitted] • Sargassum latifolium extract has a promising insecticidal activity. • Utilization of the extract showed sever damage on the exoskeleton of the insects. • The compounds in the extract exhibited promising binding affinities with chitin synthase. • The identified compounds in the extract have safe toxicokinetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improper disposal of pharmaceutical drugs, including antibiotics, can affect the ecological system and generate serious health problems for living organisms. In this work, we have developed an electrochemical sensor based on a strontium manganese oxide/functionalized hexagonal boron nitride (SrMnO3/f-BN) electrocatalyst for the detection of the antibiotic drug furaltadone (FLD). Various analytical techniques were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of the as-prepared SrMnO3/f-BN composite. The as-fabricated SrMnO3/f-BN composite electrode showed excellent sensing activity towards FLD, with a wide linear range (0.01–152.11 µM) and low detection limit (2.0 nM). The sensor exhibited good selectivity towards FLD for detection in the presence of various interfering species (nitro compounds, metal ions, and biological compounds). Interestingly, real-time analysis using the proposed SrMnO3/f-BN composite was able to determine the FLD content in human urine and wastewater samples with good recovery. Hence, the as-developed SrMnO3/f-BN modified sensor could be viable in practical applications to target the antibiotic drug FLD in both human fluids and environmental samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the impact of soil agricultural usage on the abundance of ammonifying bacteria (AB) and their activity, expressed as arginine ammonification (AA). Five agriculturally exploited types of soils (FAO): Haplic Luvisol, Brunic Arenosol, Mollic Gleysol, Eutric Fluvisol, and Rendzina Leptosol were studied. The controls were non-agricultural soils of the same type located in close proximity to agricultural sites. The tested soils varied in terms of pH (4.18-7.08), total carbon (8.39-34.90 g kg), easily degradable carbon content (0.46-1.11 g kg), moisture (5.20-13.50 %), and nitrogen forms (mg kg): 1.68-27.17, 0.036-0.862, 0.012-3.389 for nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, and ammonia nitrogen, respectively. The AB abundance in agricultural soils ranged from 1.1 to 6.4 × 10 cfu g, while in the controls it was significantly higher-from 2.0 to 110 × 10 cfu g of soil. Also, AA in the controls was three-times higher than in the agricultural soils. Strong associations between AA and the abundance of AB in the control (r = 0.954***) and agricultural soils (r = 0.833***) were proved. In the agricultural soils, the AB abundance and AA were influenced by pH (r = 0.746*** and r = 0.520***) and carbon content (r = 0.488*** and r = 0.391***). The AB abundance was also affected by easily degradable carbon (r = 0.517**) and nitrite nitrogen (r = 0.376*), whilst ammonium nitrogen influenced AA (r = 0.451*). Our results indicate that the abundance of AB and AA may be good indicators of soil biological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Worldwide, fens and peat lakes that used to be peat-forming systems have become a significant source of C, N and P due to increased peat decomposition. To test the hypothesis that net nutrient mineralization rates may be uncoupled from decomposition rates, we investigated decomposition and net mineralization rates of nutrients in relation to sediment and pore water characteristics. We incubated 28 non-calcareous peat sediments and floating fen soils under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. We also tried to find a simple indicator to estimate the potential nutrient mobilization rates from peat sediments to the water layer by studying their relation with sediment and pore water characteristics in 44 Dutch non-calcareous peat lakes and ditches. Decomposition rates were primarily determined by the organic matter content, and were higher under aerobic conditions. However, highly decomposed peat sediments with low C:P and C:N ratios still showed high net nutrient mineralization rates. At Fe:PO4 ratios below 1molmol−1, PO4 mobilization from the sediment to the water layer was considerable and linearly related to the pore water PO4 concentration. At higher ratios, there was a strong linear correlation between the Fe:PO4 ratio and PO4 mobilization. Hence, measuring Fe and PO4 in anaerobic sediment pore water provides a powerful tool for a quick assessment of internal PO4 fluxes. Mobilization of mineral N was largely determined by diffusion. Total sediment Fe:S ratios gave an important indication of the amount of Fe that is available to immobilize PO4. Pore water Fe concentrations decreased at ratios <1molmol−1, whereas pore water PO4 concentrations and PO4 mobilization to the water layer increased. As PO4 mobilization rates from the sediment to the water layer contribute to almost half of the total P load in Dutch peat lakes and fens, it is of pivotal importance to examine the magnitude of internal fluxes. Dredging of the nutrient-rich upper sediment layer will only be a useful restoration measure if both the influx of P-rich water and its internal mobilization from the newly exposed, potentially more reactive peat layer are sufficiently low. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Given a uniform space and nonempty subsets and of , we introduce the concepts of some families of generalized pseudodistances on , of set-valued dynamic systems of relatively quasi-asymptotic contractions with respect to and best proximity points for in , and we describe the methods which we use to establish the conditions guaranteeing the existence of best proximity points for when is cyclic (i.e.  and ) or when is noncyclic (i.e.  and ). Moreover, we establish conditions guaranteeing that for each starting point each generalized sequence of iterations of these contractions (in particular, each dynamic process) converges and the limit is a best proximity point for in . These best proximity points for are determined by unique endpoints in for a map when is cyclic and for a map when is noncyclic. The results and the methods are new for set-valued and single-valued dynamic systems in uniform, locally convex, metric and Banach spaces. Various examples illustrating the ideas of our definitions and results, and fundamental differences between our results and the well-known ones are given. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The current study aimed on isolating thermotolerant, cellulolytic fungi from different tropical soil/waste materials samples such as wood waste, sawmill, decomposing straw and compost pit sites in Abraka, Southern Nigeria and assessing their applications in diverse cellulolytic processes. Fungal isolates were identified based on cultural, morphological, ITS-5.8S barcoding, reproductive structures and thereafter screened for thermotolerance and cellulolytic activities [carboxy methyl cellulase (CMC-ase) and filter paperase (FP-ase)] by cultivating at 45, 50, 60, 70, 80° and 45 °C, respectively. The highest fungal abundance (44.4%) was observed in the compost pit while the lowest (11.1%) was recorded for sawmill. Nine thermotolerant fungal isolates were identified: Aspergillusflavus (4), Blakeslea sp. (3), and Trichodermaasperellum (2). Among them only five, including three A. flavus, one Blakeslea sp. and one T. asperellum, exhibited cellulolytic activity ranging from 12.11 ± 0.01 to 18.42 ± 5.39 µg/mL and 0.36 ± 0.01–9.21 ± 2.52 µg/mL for CMC-ase and filter paperase FP-ase assay, respectively. The low Michaelis–Menten constants of 1.137 for CMC-ase and 1.195 for FP-ase were obtained, indicated a strong affinity for the substrate. The thermotolerance coupled with cellulolytic activity of these isolates make them attractive for potential application in industries where they can be of economic and environmental benefits as against the use of chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoride (F) in high concentration is very hazardous to human health. The efficacy of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) was investigated in this research as an adsorbent for the elimination of fluoride from aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration of F, and adsorbent dosage on the performance of NiO NPs in the removal of fluoride from aqueous solutions were investigated at room temperature. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Koble-Corrigan, and Redlich-Peterson adsorption isotherms were employed for the analysis of the adsorption process. Maximum adsorption was achieved at 60 min at pH 5, an adsorbent dosage of 0.02 g/L, and an initial fluoride concentration of 20 mg/L. The results also showed that fluoride adsorption by NiO NPs was more compatible with the Freundlich isotherm (R² = 0.999). and that the process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic, Ho (type I) (R² = 0.9999 and R² = 0.9997 at 20 and 25 mg/L fluoride concentrations, respectively). From the results obtained, it can be concluded that NiO NPs can be used with high efficiency for fluoride removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of the study was to determine new metagenomic indicators demonstrating sensitivity to soil fatigue as an effect of long-term agricultural use as well as new metagenomic indicators demonstrating bacterial resistance to human agricultural activity. Thirty-one soil samples (agriculturally exploited soil and wastelands – serving as controls) were taken for the study, in the south-eastern part of Poland. For determination of biodiversity, next generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA metagenomic amplicons were used with the Ion Torrent™ technology. Bacterial sequences were clustered into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on a 99% similarity threshold. The correlation matrix was constructed to assess the relationships between bacterial families and genera and the environmental data. In the studied soils, 118 families and 305 genera were identified. Among them, 10 families were recommended as sensitive indicators of soil fatigue: Sphingomonadaceae  >  Chitinophagaceae  >  Flavobacteriaceae  >  Oxalobacteraceae  >  Acetobacteraceae  >  Myxococcaceae  >  Comamonadaceae  >  Pseudomonadaceae  >  Burkholderiaceae  >  Rhodanobacteraceae . Analogically, 8 bacterial genera sensitive to agricultural practices were found: Pelomonas  >  Ramlibacter  >  Flavobacterium  >  Rhizobacter  >  Steroidobacter  >  Cellvibrio  >  Halliangium  >  Pseudomonas . Their sensitivity was confirmed by a decrease in the number of OTUs in the agricultural soils, in comparison to the wastelands. In contrast, 5 bacterial genera that should be considered as indicators of resistance to agricultural land use were proposed: Nitrosospira  >  Rhodanobacter  >  Aquicella  >  Burkholderia  >  Mucilaginibacter . Statistical tests demonstrated that the most important factors for the abundances of bacterial families and genera included soil acidity (pH), easily degradable carbon (EDC), total carbon (TC), nitrite nitrogen (N-NO 2 ), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) content, and soil moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial coal gasification is of great interest due to the necessity to develop more environmentally friendly methods of energy production. The two main lignite deposits in Poland (Bełchatów and Turów) have been studied for their natural methanogenic potential. The biological origin of gases occurring in the investigated strata was confirmed by carbon stable isotope fractionation. Methanogenesis was examined via long-term anaerobic microcosm incubations which were performed using coal extracted from upper- and lower- most parts of the deposits at 10 to 40 °C. Present-day methane formation was distinguished from physical desorption by application of 2-bromoethane sulphonate (BES), an inhibitor of terminal methane formation steps. Furthermore, glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs), were used to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental conditions and explain how the lignite environment affects the methanogenic consortia. The data obtained reveal that microbial degradation of lignite occurs in the uppermost layers of the coal seam at the Bełchatów lignite mine. Methane release was up to 0.064 ng CH 4 g −1  day −1 at 30 °C. Biomarker analysis shows high abundance of GDGT-0 confirming the presence of methanogenic Archaea and implies that pH was an important factor regulating the development and activity of organic matter-degrading microbiota under neutral conditions as the most favourable for the methanogens. Inactivation of methanogenic pathways by BES led to stimulation of bacterial respiration, which suggests the presence of an active bacterial community, putatively involved in the decomposition of lignin. The biomarker analysis, depicting metabolic capabilities of the microbiota (especially GDGT-0 and GDGT-0/crenarchaeol ratio) and recognition of palaeoenvironmental conditions, is a useful tool to determine the methanogenic potential of coals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine the Bacteroidetes community structure in arable soils versus wastelands in order to assess their sensitivity to agricultural soil usage. Twelve arable soils (A) and the same number of wastelands, serving as controls (C), were grouped on the basis of the soil origin as: autogenic (AG) − formed from loess material, represented by Albic Luvisols , Haplic Luvisols , and Brunic Arenosols , hydrogenic (HG) − formed under the influence of stagnant water, represented by Haplic Chernozem , Mollic Gleysol , and Gleyic Umbrisol and lithogenic (LG) − formed from limestone, represented by Calcaric Cambisols . Additionally, the soils were classified into orders ( Luvisols , Arenosols , Chernozems , Cambisols ) according to the WRB classification rules. Statistical analyses were performed to gain the knowledge about soil chemical factors directly affecting the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of Bacteroidetes in the soil environment. The composition of Bacteroidetes was analysed with the next generation sequencing Ion Torrent™ technology. The sequences were clustered into OTUs based on a 99% similarity threshold. An average of 2516 OTUs belonging to Bacteroidetes per C soil and 1568 OTUs per A soils were evidenced. It was found that Flavobacterium was the dominant genus in both C and A soils; however, its numbers significantly decreased in A soils, which proves its sensitivity to agricultural practices. Pedobacter and Mucilaginibacter were subdominants. Our results emphasised that, besides agricultural practices, soil genesis is an essential factor for the abundance of Bacteroidetes . They were found to prefer colonising the non-cultivated AG and HG soils rather than the LG soils. Importantly, the sensitivity to agricultural soil usage was similar irrespective of the soil classification system (genesis or orders), as reduction of Bacteroidetes OTUs in arable soils was revealed in both cases. Therefore, we recommend the Bacteroidetes phylum a sensitive biological indicator of agricultural soil usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of the study was to determine the diversity of the potential nitrogen-fixing (PNF) bacteria inhabiting agricultural (A) soils versus wastelands serving as controls (C). The soils were classified into three groups based on the formation process: autogenic soils ( Albic Luvisols, Brunic Arenosols, Haplic Phaeozem) formed on loess material, hydrogenic soils ( Mollic Gleysols, Eutric Fluvisol, Eutric Histosol) formed under the effect of stagnant water and lithogenic soils ( Rendzina Leptosols) formed on limestone. In order to determine the preferable conditions for PNF bacteria, the relationships between the soil chemical features and bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were tested. Additionally, the nitrogen content and fertilisation requirement of the lithogenic (LG), autogenic (AG) and hydrogenic (HG) soils were discussed. The composition of the bacterial communities was analysed with the next-generation sequencing (NGS) by the Ion Torrent™ technology. The sequences were clustered into OTU based on a 99 % similarity threshold. The arable soils tested were distinctly dominated by β- Proteobacteria representatives of PNF bacteria belonging to the genus Burkholderia. Bacteria from the α- Proteobacteria class and Devosia genus were subdominants. A free-living Cyanobacteria population dominated in A rather than in C soils. We have found that both soil agricultural management and soil formation processes are the most conducive factors for PNF bacteria, as a majority of these microorganisms inhabit the AG group of soils, whilst the LG soils with the lowest abundance of PNF bacteria revealed the need for additional mineral fertilisation. Our studies have also indicated that there are close relationships between soil classification with respect to soil formation processes and PNF bacteria preference for occupation of soil niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon (C), geologically sequestered in coal, is gradually released to the atmosphere as CH4and CO2. Recent anthropogenic activity (coal mining) has rapidly increased the rate of C reallocation from coal deposits into the atmosphere, which has deleterious effect on the climate as both gases are effective infrared absorbers. In the current study we demonstrate that the coal bearing sedimentary rocks possess potential of biological methane oxidation. Viable methanotrophic bacteria, capable of methane oxidation at ambient air and a range of methane concentrations were found in coalbearing formations of the Upper Silesian (USCB) and Lublin Coal Basins (LCB). Factors controlling activity of the aerobic methanotrophic bacteria in the deep subsurface such as, depth, methane concentration, available electron acceptors, moisture and nutrients availability were investigated along with paleoenvironmental factors (temperature changes during and after burial and paleohydrological infiltration). The distribution and activity of the methanotrophic bacteria in the deep subsurface were found to be influenced by geological conditions among which evolution of paleotemperatures and paleohydrological conditions play a predominant role. The data presented along with analysis of molecular composition of the coalbed gases in various coal basins worldwide has led to the conclusion that aerobic methanotrophy may be a widespread process, which, to our knowledge, so far has not been included in investigations concerning C cycling in the subsurface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Since chromium(III) was demonstrated to have antioxidative action, we have decided to study the effect of this element on V-induced LPO in liver and kidney of rats. Outbred 2-month-old, albino male Wistar rats received daily, for a period of 12 weeks: group I (control), deionized water to drink; group II, sodium metavanadate (SMV) solution at a concentration of 0.100mgV/mL; group III, chromium chloride (CC) solution at a concentration of 0.004mgCr/mL and group IV, SMV–CC solution at a concentration of 0.100mgV and 0.004mgCr/mL. The particular experimental groups took up with drinking water about 8.6mgV/kgb.w./24h (group II), 0.4mgCr/kgb.w./24h (group III), 9mgV and 0.36mgCr/kgb.w./24h (group IV). The V- or Cr-treated groups had higher concentrations of these two elements in liver and kidney compared to the controls. The administration of vanadium alone caused a significant decrease in fluid intake and in body weight gain compared to the controls. In liver supernatants obtained from all tested rats a statistically significant increase in MDA concentration was demonstrated in spontaneous LPO in comparison with the control rats. Moreover, in rats intoxicated with vanadium alone a statistically significant increase in liver MDA level was observed in the presence of 100μM NaVO3. Instead, in supernatants of liver received from rats treated with chromium alone, a statistically significant increase in MDA concentration in comparison with the controls was found in the presence of 400μM NaVO3. In kidney supernatants obtained from rats treated with chromium alone, a statistically significant increase in lipid peroxidation was shown in the presence of 30μM FeSO4 and 400μM NaVO3. These results show that the tested doses of vanadium(V) and chromium(III) ingested by rats with their drinking water caused significant alterations in internal organs, especially in liver. Under the conditions of our experiment, Cr(III) did not demonstrate antioxidant action, it rather had an oxidant effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Methanotrophic bacteria (MB) are an important group of microorganisms, involved in the greenhouse gas (GHG) cycles. They are responsible for the utilization of methane, one of the main GHGs, which is released in large amounts (via biogenic and abiogenic processes) during coal formation. This study aimed to determine the main factors affecting the distribution of the MB in two lignite-bearing series of the Turów and Bełchatów coal basins. Distribution of MB in the lignite profiles was studied using methanotroph-specific lipid biomarkers such as amino-bacteriohopanepolyols (NH-BHPs) and C-3 methylated BHPs. BHP results were combined with physical and chemical properties of the studied sediments. In general, lignites were richer in BHPs than the mineral samples, which points to the important role of the intrinsic methane cycling. NH-BHP speciation confirmed that the methanotrophic community of the studied sediments was a combination of both type I and, especially, type II methanotrophs. Based on geological data, it was suggested that elevated temperature during diagenesis intensifies decomposition of methanotroph-specific biomarkers (aminopentol and 3-Me BHT). It was found that the tested BHPs can derive from both fossil and living MB. The presence of metabolically active methanotrophs should therefore be accounted for during studies aimed at using lignite deposits as a source of methane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonocatalytic degradation of RBB in the presence of Pr-CdWO 4 nanoparticles under ultrasonic irradiation. • Praseodymium-doped cadmium tungstate (Pr-CdWO 4) nanoparticles as catalysts. • Degradation of azo dye Remazol Black B (RBB). • Degradation of 93.9% (pH = 3, C = 100 mg/L, dosage = 0.35 g/L, T = 298 K and irr. time100 min) • The addition of the enhancers slightly increased the dye degradation. In the present work, praseodymium-doped cadmium tungstate (Pr-CdWO 4) nanoparticles were synthesized, characterized and used as catalysts in a sonocatalytic process to degrade the toxic synthetic azo dye Remazol Black B (RBB). RBB was degraded by 93.9% operating at optimal conditions (pH = 3, C = 100 mg/L, catalyst dosage = 0.35 g/L, T = 298 K and irradiation time100 min) under an ultrasonic bath at 60 kHz. Further, the addition of different radical scavengers and enhancers to the reaction was assessed. It was found that the addition of the radical scavengers sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, and sodium chloride decreased RBB degradation from 93.9% to 86.0%, 78.0%, and 71.2%, respectively. On the contrary, the addition of the enhancers potassium periodate, peroxydisulfate and hydrogen peroxide slightly increased the RBB degradation from 93.9% to 95.3%, 96.1%, and 98.7%, respectively. The sonocatalytic process resulted in higher RBB degradation than by applying separately sonolysis (34.7%) and the catalyst as an adsorbent (39.5%). The experimental data followed both the pseudo-first-order (PFO) and Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetics models. However, the PFO gave better fitting (R 2 = 0.993) than the L-H kinetic model (R 2 = 0.9025) at the same optimum experimental conditions. The obtained results pointed out the sonocatalytic process with Pr-doped CdWO 4 nanoparticles as a promising process for the degradation of azo dyes and other hazardous organic compounds existing in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal deposits comprise a huge proportion of carbon sequestered within the Earths crust. Many deposits are anthropogenically altered by mining operations. The changes in local hydrogeology include, first - water removal from the seam to enable excavations, second – restoration of natural water condition by cessation of water pumping. In each of these cases, there is a substantial change in the living conditions of microorganisms and coal sorption capacity towards gases. In the presented study, an attempt was made to connect results depicting structural changes (FT-IR), microbial community composition (NGS) and activity (GC) of four materials representing various stages of coalification upon hydratation. The issue is important as coal transformation often leads to generation of gases with high global warming potentials (CO 2 and CH 4). In all samples, hydratation led to coal dearomatization, decarboxylation and decompaction. The main gaseous product upon hydratation was carbon dioxide which was linked with both changes in coal sorption capacity upon hydratation and activity of the autochthonic microbiota. CO 2 release was higher in lignites than in the hard coals. Within the experimental timeframes of 450 days, methane production was rather marginal. Furthermore, microbial communities composition suggests intrinsic turnover of that gas by the methanotrophic bacteria. • Hydratation of hard coals and lignites led to reorganization of organic matrix. • Greenhouse gases emission was higher in hydrated lignites than hard coals. • Major greenhouse gas released from coals and lignites upon hydratation was CO 2. • Microbial communities composition was largely reshaped upon hydratation. • Intrinsic methane turnover by the autochthonic communities is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine the Actinobacteria structure in cultivated (C) versus non-cultivated (NC) soils divided into three groups (autogenic, hydrogenic, lithogenic) with consideration its formation process in order to assess the Actinobacteria sensitivity to agricultural soil use and soil genesis and to identify factors affecting their abundance. Sixteen C soil samples and sixteen NC samples serving as controls were taken for the study. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of the 16S rRNA metagenomic amplicons (Ion Torrent™ technology) and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) were applied for precise determination of biodiversity. Generally, greater abundance of Actinobacteria in the NC soils relative to the C soils was found. Moreover, it was indicated that the actinobacterial diversity depended on both the soil genesis and the land use; however, this effect directly depended on the particular family and genera. Two factors: redox potential (Eh) and total carbon (TC) seemed to had a significant effect on the diversity of Actinobacteria. More precisely, Actinobacteria from the NC soils displayed a greater affinity for each other and were clearly influenced by Eh, whilst those from the C soils were mostly influenced by TC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanogenesis occurs in many natural environments and is used in biotechnology for biogas production. The efficiency of methane production depends on the microbiome structure that determines interspecies electron transfer. In this research, the microbial community retrieved from mining subsidence reservoir sediment was used to establish enrichment cultures on media containing different carbon sources (tryptone, yeast extract, acetate, CO2/H2). The microbiome composition and methane production rate of the cultures were screened as a function of the substrate and transition stage. The relationships between the microorganisms involved in methane formation were the major focus of this study. Methanogenic consortia were identified by next generation sequencing (NGS) and functional genes connected with organic matter transformation were predicted using the PICRUSt approach and annotated in the KEGG. The methane production rate (exceeding 12.8 mg CH4 L−1 d−1) was highest in the culture grown with tryptone, yeast extract, and CO2/H2. The analysis of communities that developed on various carbon sources casts new light on the ecophysiology of the recently described bacterial phylum Caldiserica and methanogenic Archaea representing the genera Methanomassiliicoccus and Methanothrix. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that representatives of Caldiserica may support hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]