This paper indicates that activated sludge under certain conditions can achieve levels of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) accumulation which would enable the economic recovery of this precursor of biodegradable plastics. The effects of C/N ratio and temperature on polyhydroxyalkanoates production were evaluated. Acetate uptake, ammonium consumption, oxygen uptake and PHA production were studied und...

Potential ecophysiological responses to nitrogen deposition, which is considered to be one of the leading causes for global biodiversity loss, were studied for the endangered endemic Mexican epiphytic orchid, Laelia speciosa, via a shadehouse dose-response experiment (doses were 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) in order to assess the potential risk facing this orchid given impendi...

Background Successful engraftment and reconstitution of the innate and adaptive immune system are associated with improved outcomes in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A clinically meaningful and simple biomarker of immunosuppression could potentially assist clinicians in their decision-making. We aimed to determine the relationship between T-cell product...

In this study, the benefits of using the first Iranian made GnRHa[D-Ala6 des Gly10] mGnRH ethylamide, to induce spermiation in male rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were evaluated, In addition, its effect on acceleration and synchronization, quality and quantity of milt and the plasma Testosterone (T) fluctuations were examined. For these purposes, 40 non-spermiating male rainbow trouts were...

BACKGROUND Protein-energy wasting is a common complication and an important predictive factor for mortality in chronic dialysis patients. Therefore, nutritional status needs to be regularly assessed in these patients, by using several methods, and, if malnutrition is present, its possible causes should be thoroughly searched for and properly treated. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 149 prevalent haem...

Arsenic (As) contamination in agricultural soils causes adverse influences on crop growth and yield, serious human health issues. The objectives of this study were to (a) verify the change chemical properties under different As contaminated soils, (b) compare yield rice grown concentrations As-contaminated soil, (c) investigate relationship between total phytoavailable soil accumulated polished...

The form and opener configuration used to apply phosphorus fertilizer can influence its effectiveness crop response. A growth chamber study was conducted examine the response of (canola, wheat, pea grown in rotation) soil P (monoammonium phosphate struvite), spread (narrow versus wide), rate treatments 0, 20, 40, 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 added canola (B. napus) seed-row, followed by wheat without fertil...

Microbial mats are complex but stable, multi-layered and multi-functional biofilms, which are the most frequent bacterial formations in nature. The functional strategies and physiological versatility of the bacterial populations growing in microbial mats allow bacteria to resist changing conditions within their environment. One of these strategies is the accumulation of carbon- and energy-rich ...