Platelet count and MCHC as independent prognostic markers for feline mammary carcinomas.

Mammary neoplasms are common in felines species and represent a significant disease for its unfavorable prognosis. Changes in the blood count and serum biochemical profile of these patients have potential as non-invasive prognostic markers prior to mastectomy, however, they are poorly described in literature. In this study univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using these factors to determine the effect of each parameter on the one-year survival time after the surgical procedure in these animals. The median overall survival (OS) and the disease-free survival (DFS) were 365 and 242 days, respectively. In univariate analysis, values within the reference range of monocyte, platelet and creatinine counts were identified as significant prognostic factors for OS and only creatinine was significant for DFS (P < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, platelets and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) remained independent prognostic factors for OS. The results presented suggest that monocytes, platelets and creatinine may be important non-invasive pre-surgical prognostic markers, and that platelet count and MCHC are independent prognostic markers for feline mammary carcinomas (FMC). The correlation between such alterations is of important relevance for veterinary oncology, and prospective studies are needed to validate their clinical use and that platelet count and MCHC are independent prognostic markers for FMC. The results found in this study can also be studied in human medicine, regarding blood markers in human breast cancer (HBC).

The Role of Quorum Sensing in the Development of Microcystis aeruginosa Blooms: Gene Expression.

Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) is the dominant cyanobacterial species causing harmful algal blooms in water bodies worldwide. The blooms release potent toxins and pose severe public health hazards to water bodies, animals, and humans who are in contact with or consume this water. The interaction between M. aeruginosa and heterotrophic bacteria is thought to contribute to the development of the blooms. This study strives to provide a specific answer to whether quorum sensing is also a potential mechanism mediating the interaction of different strains/species and the expression by gene luxS or gene mcyB in M. aeruginosa growth. The luxS gene in M. aeruginosa PCC7806 is associated with quorum sensing and was tested by q-PCR throughout a 30-day growth period. The same was performed for the mcyB gene. Heterotrophic bacteria were collected from local water bodies: Cibolo Creek and Leon Creek in San Antonio, Texas. Results revealed that in algal bloom scenarios, there is a similar concentration of gene luxS that is expressed by the cyanobacteria. Gene mcyB, however, is not directly associated with algal blooms, but it is related to cyanotoxin production. Toxicity levels increased in experiments with multiple algal strains, and the HSL treatment was not effective at reducing microcystin levels.

Kinetic modelling of total organic carbon degradation in dairy wastewater.

Several treatment strategies have been proposed to minimize the environmental impact of dairy wastewaters. However, their complex and variable composition makes it difficult to predict the degradation kinetics of organic compounds. In this study, we used a mathematical approach to describe the kinetics of total organic carbon degradation in real dairy wastewater by photo-Fenton oxidation. The reactions were conducted under different ultraviolet light intensities, pH, temperature and Fenton reagent concentrations, obtaining a maximum TOC removal of 90.84%. The kinetic model was developed based on well-established photo-Fenton reactions. The present approach considers that account that small and large molecules of unknown contaminants are present in the effluent, and the smaller molecules are consumed first. The specific degradation rate (kd) was considered as an exponential function of total organic carbon conversion, comprising this effect of molecular size distribution on the treatment process. Fitting of experimental data to model predictions provided mean R2 values of 0.843-0.953.

Adjustment of the Operational Parameters of an Unconventional Integrated and Illuminated Internally Photobioreactor (ILI-PBR) for the Batch Autotrophic Cultivation of the Chlorella minutissima, Using the Taguchi Method.

Microalgae crops targeting biotechnological applications are conducted in photobioreactors, which allow the adjustment and control of parameters of luminosity, agitation and mixing in the cultivation medium to promote better cell growth and accumulation of metabolites. In this sense, the present work used the Taguchi method to find the best adjustment of the operational parameters of an unconventional photobioreactor denominated internally illuminated integrated photobioreactor (ILI-PBR) with LED light aiming at elevating the biomass concentration, volumetric biomass productivity, and volumetric lipid productivity of Chlorella minutissima microalgae cultivated under autotrophic regime. The effects of the factors were evaluated: illumination (blue, white and red); photoperiod (12 h light:12 h dark, 1 h light:1 h dark, and 24 h clear:0 h dark); aeration (0, 3 vvm, 0.4 vvm, and 0.5 vvm); and recirculation flow rate of cultivation medium (5 L min-1, 6.5 L min-1, and 9 L min-1) on the variable responses: biomass concentration, biomass volumetric productivity, lipid content, and volumetric lipid productivity. The use of the Taguchi method allowed the increase of biomass concentration, volumetric biomass productivity, and volumetric lipid productivity in the biomass of Chlorella minutissimain 8.6%, 42%, and 143%, respectively, with the adjustment of the operational parameters of the photobioreactor used.

Optimization of treating phenol from wastewater through the TiO2-catalyzed advanced oxidation process and response surface methodology.

The use of dispersed catalysts in aqueous medium inside reactors in advanced oxidative processes is common among researchers. However, due to the difficult separation of these species after treatment, in many cases, the treatment process is unfeasible. In this context, the main target of the work was the evaluation of degradation of the phenolic solution by ozonation titanium dioxide (TiO2/P25), supported on zeolite spheres. The process was investigated through the response surface methodology (RSM) and optimized by the generalized reduced gradient (GRG) algorithm. The effects of various operating parameters including pH, power ozone (O3) generation, flow rate, and treatment time were investigated, using as a response to removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD). It was made in optimum conditions the ratio of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)/chemical oxygen demand to check the increasing biodegradability, aiming ozonation as preliminary treatment, with the possibility of subsequent biological treatments. There was an increase in this ratio from 0.17 to 0.50 in 48 min, which would facilitate the use of the subsequent biological process. The proposed model showed good fit to the experimental data with R2 and R2adj correlation coefficients of 0.9964 and 0.9932, respectively.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of red mud-supported catalysts in combination with ozone and TiO2 in the treatment of solution containing benzene, toluene, and xylene.

Ozone and a Fe2+/TiO2-based catalyst were examined in the degradation of a synthetic solution of benzene toluene and xylene (BTX) in an advanced oxidation process (AOP). The catalyst beads were made from the slurry waste of aluminum production process, by inserting the TiO2 content and subsequent calcination. The reduction of the BTX concentration load was monitored by the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and BTX concentration. Different levels were used on factors: pH, time of treatment, initial concentration of BTX, and percentage of TiO2. The process was conducted in a bubble column reactor with the insertion of catalyst beads. A response surface methodology technique (CCD) was used to build a model based on COD reduction results. The model was optimized using the normal-boundary intersection (NBI) algorithm to maximize COD reduction and minimize the variance attributed to the process. Optimization led to COD reductions of 80% in 2 h of experiment. Correlation analysis of coefficient models from experimental data R2adj was 0.9966, showing a good fit of model data. In the optimized conditions, the possible increase of the biodegradability ratio of the BTX solution, through the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and COD, was also analyzed. Under pre-treatment conditions, the BOD/COD ratio was 0.13. After the treatment, it increased to 0.56. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Normal boundary intersection applied as multivariate and multiobjective optimization in the treatment of amoxicillin synthetic solution.

Amoxicillin is a useful antibiotic to combat bacterial infections. However, this drug can cause serious problems when discarded in waterways due to its great bioaccumulation potential. This compound can be treated via advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), which are capable of converting amoxicillin into carbon dioxide and water. In this context, the use of ozone as an oxidizer has excelled in amoxicillin degradation. This paper aims at treating a synthetic solution of amoxicillin (0.1 g L-1) in a reactor with ozone bubbling. A Design of Experiment (DoE) with a response surface known as Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to optimize the treatment process. In addition, a Normal Boundary Intersection (NBI) method was used in the construction of a Pareto boundary chart. Results after 1-h treatment showed a reduction of 53% of the initial organic matter from a designed model using factors, such as pH, ozone generator power, and O3 flow. A model was built from the CCD with score of 0.9929. Thus, the model was able to represent the real scenario with confidence.