Microplastics in granular sequencing batch reactors: Effects on pollutant removal dynamics and the microbial community.

This study investigated the relationship between microplastic (MP) presence and pollutant removal in granular sludge sequencing batch reactors (GSBRs). Two types of MPs, polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), were introduced in varying concentrations to assess their effects on microbial community dynamics and rates of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic compound removal. The study revealed type-dependent variations in the deposition of MPs within the biomass, with PET-MPs exhibiting a stronger affinity for accumulation in biomass. A 50 mg/L dose of PET-MP decreased COD removal efficiency by approximately 4 % while increasing P-PO4 removal efficiency by around 7 % compared to the control reactor. The rate of nitrogen compounds removal decreased with higher PET-MP dosages but increased with higher PE-MP dosages. An analysis of microbial activity and gene abundance highlighted the influence of MPs on the expression of the nosZ and ppk1 genes, which code enzymes responsible for nitrogen and phosphorus transformations. The study also explored shifts in microbial community structure, revealing alterations with changes in MP dose and type. This research contributes valuable insights into the complex interactions between MP, microbial communities, and pollutant removal processes in GSBR systems, with implications for the sustainable management of wastewater treatment in the presence of MP.

Compost-diatomite-based phytostabilization course under extreme environmental conditions in terms of high pollutant contents and low temperatures.

The effects of changes in environmental temperatures on the immobilization or removal of cationic potentially toxic elements (PTE) in heavily polluted soils are often poorly understood, although both are widely studied in the context of phytostabilization. To address this issue, a novel compost-diatomite hybrid (CDH) amendment was developed and applied for assisted phytostabilization at two external temperature regimes. (Cd/Ni/Cu/Zn)-extremely contaminated soils (unenriched and CDH-enriched) were cultivated with perennial ryegrass and native soil microbiome under greenhouse conditions and then transferred to freeze-thaw conditions (FTC). The decrease in metal potential toxicity in soils undergoing phytostabilization following both temperature treatments was characterized by a combination of sequential extraction and atomic absorption measurements. The soil microbiome was characterized by high-throughput sequencing. In a relative comparison, the greatest decrease in the content of all different PTEs in CDH-enriched soil (compared to unenriched soil) was highest in FTC. Furthermore, under the influence of FTC, in a relative comparison between two CDH-enriched soils (exposed-, and not-exposed- to FTC) and two unenriched soils (exposed-, and not-exposed- to FTC), the content of all PTEs decreased more sharply in the CDH-enriched series than in the unenriched series. The largest redistribution into four sequentially extracted fractions in CDH-enriched soil was found for Zn. Based on the distribution pattern, Zn immobilization was greater in CDH-enriched soil in FTC. CDH increased species richness in the soil, while FTC stimulated the growth of Bacteroidia, Alphaproteobacteria, Theromomicrobia, and Gammaproteobacteria. Analysis of the functionalities of the microbiome indicated enhanced metal transportation and defense systems in samples exposed to FTC. The current research is crucial for understanding how extreme environmental conditions in the form of high contaminant levels and low temperatures affect the movement and transformation of PTEs in polluted soils during phytostabilization.

Abnormalities in the KRAS Gene and Treatment Options for NSCLC Patients with the G12C Mutation in This Gene-A Literature Review and Single-Center Experience.

Mutations in the KRAS gene are among the most common mutations observed in cancer cells, but they have only recently become an achievable goal for targeted therapies. Two KRAS inhibitors, sotorasib and adagrasib, have recently been approved for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with the KRAS G12C mutation, while studies on their efficacy are still ongoing. In this work, we comprehensively analyzed RAS gene mutations' molecular background, mutation testing, KRAS inhibitors' effectiveness with an emphasis on non-small cell lung cancer, the impact of KRAS mutations on immunotherapy outcomes, and drug resistance problems. We also summarized ongoing trials and analyzed emerging perspectives on targeting KRAS in cancer patients.

Tire materials disturb transformations of nitrogen compounds and affect the structure of biomass in aerobic granular sludge reactors.

Tire materials (TMs) present a notable hazard due to their potential to release harmful chemicals and microplastics into the environment. They can infiltrate wastewater treatment plants, where their effects remain inadequately understood, raising concerns regarding their influence on treatment procedures. Thus, this study investigated the impact of TMs in wastewater (10, 25, 50 mg/L) on wastewater treatment efficiency, biomass morphology, and microbial composition in aerobic granular sludge (AGS) reactors. TM dosage negatively correlated with nitrification and denitrification efficiencies, reducing overall nitrogen removal, but did not affect the efficiency of chemical-oxygen-demand removal. The presence of TMs increased the diameter of the granules due to TM incorporation into the biomass. The most frequently leached additives from TMs were N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, benzothiazole (BTH), and 2-hydroxybenzothiazole. In the treated wastewater, only BTH and aniline were detected in higher concentrations, which indicates that tire additives were biodegraded by AGS. The microbial community within the AGS adapted to TMs and their chemicals, highlighting the potential for efficient degradation of tire additives by bacteria belonging to the genera Rubrivivax, Ferruginibacter, and Xanthomonas. Additionally, our research underscores AGS's ability to incorporate TMs into biomass and effectively biodegrade tire additives, offering a promising solution for addressing environmental concerns related to TMs.

Effect of freeze-thaw manipulation on phytostabilization of industrially contaminated soil with halloysite nanotubes.

The latest trends in improving the performance properties of soils contaminated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) relate to the possibility of using raw additives, including halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) due to eco-friendliness, and inexpensiveness. Lolium perenne L. was cultivated for 52 days in a greenhouse and then moved to a freezing-thawing chamber for 64 days. HNT addition into PTE-contaminated soil cultivated with grass under freezing-thawing conditions (FTC) was tested to demonstrate PTE immobilization during phytostabilization. The relative yields increased by 47% in HNT-enriched soil in a greenhouse, while under FTC decreased by 17% compared to the adequate greenhouse series. The higher PTE accumulation in roots in HNT presence was evident both in greenhouse and chamber conditions. (Cr/Cd and Cu)-relative contents were reduced in soil HNT-enriched-not-FTC-exposed, while (Cr and Cu) in HNT-enriched-FTC-exposed. PTE-immobilization was discernible by (Cd/Cr/Pb and Zn)-redistribution into the reducible fraction and (Cu/Ni and Zn) into the residual fraction in soil HNT-enriched-not-FTC-exposed. FTC and HNT facilitated transformation to the residual fraction mainly for Pb. Based on PTE-distribution patterns and redistribution indexes, HNT's role in increasing PTE stability in soils not-FTC-exposed is more pronounced than in FTC-exposed compared to the adequate series. Sphingomonas, Acidobacterium, and Mycobacterium appeared in all soils. HNTs mitigated FTC's negative effect on microbial diversity and increased Planctomycetia abundance.

Does biochar in combination with compost effectively promote phytostabilization of heavy metals in soil under different temperature regimes?

The article presents the effect of a combined amendment, i.e., biochar+compost (BC), on the process of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn immobilization in soil cultivated with L. perenne under freezing and thawing conditions (FTC). In particular, the speciation analysis of the examined elements in phytostabilized soils based on their response using the sequential extraction, and the variability of the soil microbiome using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing were systematically assessed. Metal stability in soils was evaluated by the reduced distribution index (Ir). Plants were grown in pots for 52 days under greenhouse conditions. After termination, phytostabilization was continued in a temperature chamber for 64 days to provide FTC. As a result, it was noted that biomass yield of L. perenne was promoted by BC (39 % higher than in the control pots) and reduced by FTC (45 % lower than in the BC-enriched soil not exposed to FTC). An efficacious level of phytostabilization, i.e., higher content of heavy metals in plant roots, was found in the BC-enriched soil, regardless of the changes in soil temperature conditions. BC improved soil pH before applying FTC more than after applying FTC. BC had the greatest impact on increasing Cu stability by redistributing it from the F1 and F2 fractions to the F3 and F4 fractions. For most metals, phytostabilization under FTC resulted in an increase in the proportion of the F1 fraction and a decrease in its stability. Only for Pb and Zn, FTC had greater impact on their stability than BC addition. In all soil samples, the core genera with about 2-3 % abundances were Sphingomonas sp. and Mycobacterium sp. FTC favored the growth of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria in soil. Microbial taxa that coped well with FTC but only in the absence of BC were Rhodococcus, Alkanindiges sp., Flavobacterium sp., Williamsia sp. Thermomonas sp.

Anode Modification with Fe2O3 Affects the Anode Microbiome and Improves Energy Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells Powered by Wastewater.

This study investigated how anode electrode modification with iron affects the microbiome and electricity generation of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) fed with municipal wastewater. Doses of 0.0 (control), 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 g Fe2O3 per the total anode electrode area were tested. Fe2O3 doses from 0.05 to 0.2 g improved electricity generation; with a dose of 0.10 g Fe2O3, the cell power was highest (1.39 mW/m2), and the internal resistance was lowest (184.9 Ω). Although acetate was the main source of organics in the municipal wastewater, propionic and valeric acids predominated in the outflows from all MFCs. In addition, Fe-modification stimulated the growth of the extracellular polymer producers Zoogloea sp. and Acidovorax sp., which favored biofilm formation. Electrogenic Geobacter sp. had the highest percent abundance in the anode of the control MFC, which generated the least electricity. However, with 0.05 and 0.10 g Fe2O3 doses, Pseudomonas sp., Oscillochloris sp., and Rhizobium sp. predominated in the anode microbiomes, and with 0.2 and 0.4 g doses, the electrogens Dechloromonas sp. and Desulfobacter sp. predominated. This is the first study to holistically examine how different amounts of Fe on the anode affect electricity generation, the microbiome, and metabolic products in the outflow of MFCs fed with synthetic municipal wastewater.

Multi-faceted analysis of thermophilic anaerobic biodegradation of poly(lactic acid)-based material.

Currently, the production of bio-based polymeric materials, of which poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is the most popular, has been increasing, causing the growth of PLA waste in municipal waste. Thus, it is necessary to develop sustainable methods for treating it. Methane production, resulting from anaerobic digestion (AD), is a potential end-of-life scenario for PLA waste that needs to be investigated. To obtain high efficiency of AD, thermophilic fermentation was applied, and to overcome low rates of biodegradation, hydrothermal (HT) and alkaline (A) pretreatments were used. For a deep insight into the process, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and microscopic and microbial analyses (based on 16S rDNA) were applied. For both untreated (PLA) and pretreated (PLAHT, PLAA) samples a high maximal methane production (MP) of 453 L/kg volatile solids (VS) was obtained, almost 100 % of the theoretical methane yield from PLA. The use of pretreatment allowed shortening of the time for obtaining maximal MP, especially the hydrothermal pretreatment, which shortened the overall time of MP 1.3-fold, and methane was produced at an almost 10 % higher rate (8.35 vs 7.79 L/(kg VS·d)). However, DSC and microscopic analyses revealed that, in all cases, methane was intensively produced i) after the reduction of the molecular mass of the PLA material and ii) also when PLA pieces were not visible. This should be considered when designing the operational time for the AD process. Parallel to the gradual biodegradation of PLA, the abundances of Firmicutes, Thermotogae, and Euryarcheota increased. With PLAHT, Syntrophobacteraceae, Thermoanaerobacteraceae, and methanogens were identified as potential key thermophilic PLA biodegraders.

Alginate-like polymers from full-scale aerobic granular sludge: content, recovery, characterization, and application for cadmium adsorption.

Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is a proven resource for the recovery of biopolymers like alginate-like polymers (ALP). This is the first report on the dynamics of ALP produced by AGS (ALP-AGS) in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), optimization of ALP recovery from AGS, and adsorption of cadmium (Cd2+) by ALP. Recovery of ALP was highest when using 120 mL of 0.2 M Na2CO3 at 70 °C for 45 min. Seasonal (1.5 years, over 3100 cycles) and intra-cycle changes in ALP-AGS in the WWTP were monitored. The ALP content in AGS increased in the transition period between winter and spring, reaching over 150 mg/g MLSS. In the batch reactor cycle, the ALP-AGS level peaked 2 h after the start of aeration (mean peak level: 120 mg/g MLSS), then decreased about two-fold by the end of the cycle. The ALP-AGS had a small surface area and a lamellar structure with crystalline outgrowths. The optimal conditions of Cd2+ adsorption with ALP were a dosage of 7.9 g d.m./L, a pH of 4-8, and an equilibrium time of 60 min. Carboxyl and hydroxyl groups were the key functional groups involved in Cd2+ adsorption. According to the Sips model, the maximum Cd2+ adsorption capacity of ALP-AGS was 29.5 mg/g d.m., which is similar to that of commercial alginate. AGS is a richer source of ALP than activated sludge, which ensures the cost-effectiveness of ALP recovery and increases the sustainability of wastewater treatment. Information on the chemical properties and yields of ALP from full-scale WWTPs is important for downstream applications with the recovered ALP.

Coagulation and Flocculation before Primary Clarification as Efficient Solutions for Low-Density Microplastic Removal from Wastewater.

Microplastic (MP) removal from wastewater was investigated using various types and doses of commercial coagulants (PIX, PAX) and flocculants (FPM, PEL, FCT) before primary clarification in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Dosing with FPM, PIX, and PEL caused small MPs (180-212 µm) to be transferred mainly to the settled sludge (up to 86.4% of MP at a dose of 5 mL FMP/m3), while dosing of FCT and PAX caused these MPs to be transferred to the floated sludge (up to 64% MP at a dose of 5 mL PAX/m3). The efficiency of MP removal from wastewater was the highest (90%) with 2.5 mL PAX/m3; the generated primary sludge had a low MP content and could be safely managed in subsequent stages of sludge treatment. At the highest doses, PIX significantly increased the removal of P-PO4 (up to 94%) and COD (up to 73%). FPM and FCT resulted in over 40% efficiency of ammonium removal-such disturbance in wastewater composition may negatively affect further biological treatment. Effective removal of MP in the mechanical part of WWTP resulting from coagulation and flocculation enables the safe use of the excess sludge for agricultural purposes.

New approach strategy for heavy metals immobilization and microbiome structure long-term industrially contaminated soils.

The progress of engineering technologies highly influences the development of methods that lead to the condition improvement of areas contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). The aided phytostabilization fits into this trend, and was used to evaluate HM-immobilization effectiveness in phytostabilized soils under variable temperatures by applying 16 freezing-thawing cycles (FTC). Diatomite amendment and Lolium perenne L., also were applied. Cd/Ni/Cu/Pb/Zn each total content in phytostabilized soils were determined, along with the verification for each metal of its distribution in four extracted fractions (F1 ÷ F4) from soils. Based on changes in HM distribution, each metal's stability was estimated. Moreover, HM accumulation in plant roots and stems and soil microbial composition were investigated. Independently of the experimental variant (no-FTC-exposure or FTC-exposure), the above-ground biomass yields in the diatomite-amended series were higher as compared to the corresponding control series. The evident changes in Pb/Zn-bioavailability were observed. The metal stability increase was mainly attributed to metal concentration decreasing in the F1 fraction and increasing in the F4 fraction, respectively. Diatomite increased Cd/Zn-stability in not-FTC-exposed-phytostabilized soils. FTC-exposure favorably influenced Pb/Zn stability. Diatomite increased soil pH values and Cd/Ni/Cu/Zn-bioaccumulation (except Pb) in roots than in stems (in both experimental variants). FTC-exposure influenced soil microbial composition, increasing bacteria abundance belonging to Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Sphingobacteria. At the genus level, FTC exposure significantly increased the abundances of Limnobacter sp., Tetrasphaera sp., Flavobacterium sp., and Dyella sp. Independently of the experimental variant, Sphingomonas sp. and Mycobacterium sp., which have a tolerance to HM contamination, were core bacterial groups, comprising about 6 ÷ 7% of all soil bacteria.

Polyethylene microplastics increase extracellular polymeric substances production in aerobic granular sludge.

Wastewater treatment plants act as microplastic (MPs) sinks and secondary MP pollution sources. Little is known about the effect of MPs on biomass and the efficiency of biological wastewater treatment. This study assessed the impact of polyethylene (PE) MPs concentrations (1, 10, 50 mg/L) in wastewater on biological conversions and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production (including alginate) in aerobic granular sludge (AGS). PE MPs did not worsen the efficiency of biological treatment but stimulated the production of EPS and alginate in AGS. The alginate content increased from 238.7 ± 4.4 mg/g MLSS in control to 441.6 ± 13.8 mg/g MLSS at the highest PE load in wastewater. The presence of MP changed AGS morphology and worsened the settling properties of biomass, causing biomass washout from the reactors. At the highest PE load in wastewater, the biomass concentration in the reactor effluent was over 2.8 times higher than in the control.

The fate of microplastic in sludge management systems.

Sewage sludge (SS) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is commonly used as a soil amendment on agricultural land; however, this sludge contains microplastics (MPs) which harm soil ecosystems and can leach into aquatic environments. This review aims to assess the fate of MPs in SS systems and, in the context of a changing agricultural scene, present alternatives for sustainable SS disposal that are consistent with the practices of a clean, circular economy. Anaerobic digestion and composting, which are commonly used to stabilize SS before land application, were not reported to substantially affect MP removal, although process efficiency and the microbiome were affected by MPs. Alternatively, MPs can be destroyed or removed by mono-incineration or combustion, but unfortunately, some MPs may remain in the ash after these processes. Therefore, the most desirable solutions would prevent MPs from entering the environment and remove them before they enter the biological part of a WWTP, where they build up in SS. Additionally, the management of MP-containing sludge must be adapted to the geographical context and the local economy, and it should begin with legislation addressing MPs in SS. The information presented here will help to develop good practices in waste management for preventing or decreasing the transfer of MPs into the environment.

Effect of Biochar on Metal Distribution and Microbiome Dynamic of a Phytostabilized Metalloid-Contaminated Soil Following Freeze-Thaw Cycles.

In the present paper the effectiveness of biochar-aided phytostabilization of metal/metalloid-contaminated soil under freezing-thawing conditions and using the metal tolerating test plant Lolium perenne L. is comprehensively studied. The vegetative experiment consisted of plants cultivated for over 52 days with no exposure to freezing-thawing in a glass greenhouse, followed by 64 days under freezing-thawing in a temperature-controlled apparatus and was carried out in initial soil derived from a post-industrial urban area, characterized by the higher total content of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, As and Hg than the limit values included in the classification provided by the Regulation of the Polish Ministry of Environment. According to the substance priority list published by the Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Agency, As, Pb, and Hg are also indicated as being among the top three most hazardous substances. The initial soil was modified by biochar obtained from willow chips. The freeze-thaw effect on the total content of metals/metalloids (metal(-loid)s) in plant materials (roots and above-ground parts) and in phytostabilized soils (non- and biochar-amended) as well as on metal(-loid) concentration distribution/redistribution between four BCR (community bureau of reference) fractions extracted from phytostabilized soils was determined. Based on metal(-loid)s redistribution in phytostabilized soils, their stability was evaluated using the reduced partition index (Ir). Special attention was paid to investigating soil microbial composition. In both cases, before and after freezing-thawing, biochar increased plant biomass, soil pH value, and metal(-loid)s accumulation in roots, and decreased metal(-loid)s accumulation in stems and total content in the soil, respectively, as compared to the corresponding non-amended series (before and after freezing-thawing, respectively). In particular, in the phytostabilized biochar-amended series after freezing-thawing, the recorded total content of Zn, Cu, Pb, and As in roots substantially increased as well as the Hg, Cu, Cr, and Zn in the soil was significantly reduced as compared to the corresponding non-amended series after freezing-thawing. Moreover, exposure to freezing-thawing itself caused redistribution of examined metal(-loid)s from mobile and/or potentially mobile into the most stable fraction, but this transformation was favored by biochar presence, especially for Cu, Pb, Cr, and Hg. While freezing-thawing greatly affected soil microbiome composition, biochar reduced the freeze-thaw adverse effect on bacterial diversity and helped preserve bacterial groups important for efficient soil nutrient conversion. In biochar-amended soil exposed to freezing-thawing, psychrotolerant and trace element-resistant genera such as Rhodococcus sp. or Williamsia sp. were most abundant.

Valorization of full-scale waste aerobic granular sludge for biogas production and the characteristics of the digestate.

Despite the dynamic development of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) technology in wastewater treatment, there is limited data on how the different properties of AGS and activated sludge (AS) translate into differences in waste sludge management. Waste sludge generated in both AGS and AS technology is the biggest waste stream generated in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study aimed to assess biogas production from waste AGS from a full-scale system. Additionally, the properties of the digestate were investigated in terms of its management in line with the assumptions of a circular economy. Both aspects are important because the characteristics of AGS differ from those of AS. Its dense, extracellular-polymer-rich granule structure makes the susceptibility of AGS to anaerobic stabilization lower than that of AS. Given the advantages of AGS for sustainable wastewater treatment and its increasing popularity, waste AGS management will pose a serious challenge for WWTP operators. Therefore, AGS from a full-scale municipal WWTP was valorized for biogas production by increasing the accessibility of the organics in the sludge by homogenization or ultrasound pretreatment. Ultrasound pretreatment released about an order of magnitude more organics from the biomass than homogenization and significantly improved the production of methane-rich biogas (455 L/kg VS, about 66% of CH4). The digestion time of pretreated AGS was reduced by 25% in comparison with that of untreated AGS making anaerobic digestion of AGS a feasible solution for sludge management. The AGS digestate was rich in Ca (77.0 g/kg TS), Mg (10.9 g/kg TS), N (35.1 g/kg TS) and P (32.4 g/kg TS), whereas its heavy metal levels and biochemical methane potential were low. AGS digestate is not only environmentally safe, but it can serve as a rich source of organics and elements essential for soil fertility and stability.

Unravelling gradient layers of microbial communities, proteins, and chemical structure in aerobic granules.

Most bacteria live in microbial assemblages like biofilms and granules, and each layer of these assemblages provides a niche for certain bacteria with specific metabolic functions. In this study, a gentle (non-destructive) extraction approach based on a cation exchange resin and defined shear was employed to gradually disintegrate biomass and collect single layers of aerobic granules from a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant. The microbial community composition of granule layers was characterized using next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeting the 16S rRNA gene, and protein composition was investigated using metaproteomics. The chemical composition of eroded layers was explored using Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy. On the surface of the granules, the microbial structure (flocculation-supporting Nannocystis sp.) as well as composition of extracellular polymers (extracellular DNA) and proteome (chaperonins and binding proteins) favored microbial aggregation. Extracellular polymeric substances in the granules were composed of mostly proteins and EPS-producers, such as Tetrasphaera sp. and Zoogloea sp., were evenly distributed throughout the granule structure. The interior of the granules harbored several denitrifiers (e.g., Thauera sp.), phosphate-accumulating denitrifiers (Candidatus Accumulibacter, Dechloromonas sp.) and nitrifiers (Candidatus Nitrotoga). Proteins associated with glycolytic activity were identified in the outer and middle granule layers, and proteins associated with phosphorus conversions, in the deeper layers. In conclusion, the use of an existing cation-exchange resin for gradual biomass disintegration, combined with NGS and metaproteomic analysis was demonstrated as a promising approach for simultaneously investigating the identity and functions of microbes in multilayered biofilm structures.

Chemical and microbiological changes on the surface of microplastic after long term exposition to different concentrations of ammonium in the environment.

The increasing production of plastic in the world has resulted in the widespread pollution of the environment with microplastics (MP). MP enter facilities such as wastewater treatment plants or landfills characterized by various ammonium concentrations. The aim of this study was to determine the structure of the microbial community on MP surfaces at various concentrations of ammonium nitrogen, and in particular, to identify microorganisms capable of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degradation. Moreover, changes in the chemical characteristics of the MP surface resulting from microbial activity were also investigated, and the potential of MP to serve as a vector for pollutants was determined. The tests were carried out in a reactor filled with PET for a period of 260 days. The experiment was carried out in 3 phases: in I and III phase, the concentration of N-NH4 was about 70 mg/L, while in II phase, it was about 430 mg/L. On the MP surface, biofilm-forming microorganisms from the genera Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas and Xantomonas were identified at the lower ammonium concentration. At this concentration, MP-degraders belonging to genera Acidovorax, Gordonia, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, and Sphingopyxis were identified in the biofilm. At the higher N-NH4 concentration, the biomass was enriched with bacteria from genera Nitrosospira, Nitrosomonas and Terrimonas, and the number of microorganisms with the potential to degrade MP decreased. Analysis of the MP surface during the experiment has showed the loss of carbonyl groups and formation of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, which indicated the degradation of MP. Independent of the ammonium concentration in the environment, MP was a carrier of pathogenic microorganisms from the genera Mycobacterium, Enterobacter and Brevundimonas.

Clinical and Prognostic Value of Antigen-Presenting Cells with PD-L1/PD-L2 Expression in Ovarian Cancer Patients.

The latest literature demonstrates the predominant role of the programmed cell death axis (PD-1/PD-L1/PD-L2) in ovarian cancer (OC) pathogenesis. However, data concerning this issue is ambiguous. Our research aimed to evaluate the clinical importance of PD-L1/PD-L2 expression in OC environments. We evaluated the role of PD-L1/PD-L2 in OC patients (n = 53). The analysis was performed via flow cytometry on myeloid (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and monocytes/macrophages (MO/MA) in peripheral blood, peritoneal fluid (PF), and tumor tissue (TT). The data were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of OC patients. The concentration of soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1) and PD-1 in the plasma and PF were determined by ELISA. We established an accumulation of PD-L1+/PD-L2+ mDCs, pDCs, and MA in the tumor microenvironment. We showed an elevated level of sPD-L1 in the PF of OC patients in comparison to plasma and healthy subjects. sPD-L1 levels in PF showed a positive relationship with Ca125 concentration. Moreover, we established an association between higher sPD-L1 levels in PF and shorter survival of OC patients. An accumulation of PD-L1+/PD-L2+ mDCs, pDCs, and MA in the TT and high sPD-L1 levels in PF could represent the hallmark of immune regulation in OC patients.

Assessment of Language Functions in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness Using an Alternative Communication Tool.

This study aimed to describe the percentage of tasks involving language functions that were completed by patients diagnosed with disorders of consciousness, as observed during neurorehabilitation conducted for different periods of time using an alternative communication tool. The project involved six participants, who were observed for 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year. The patients were asked to solve tasks involving language functions with the use of an eye-controlled device. The language functions were evaluated on the basis of the average number of tasks performed by the patients, which was 70.45% for the whole subject group. It is not entirely clear what determined the changes in language functions during the research. It is crucial that patients performed the presented tasks even though their state of consciousness, as confirmed through medical documentation (unresponsive wakefulness syndrome), did not suggest the possibility of establishing any contact with them.