A dynamic land use/land cover input helps in picturing the Sahelian paradox: Assessing variability and attribution of changes in surface runoff in a Sahelian watershed.

In Sahelian landscapes, land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics and climate variability are already known to affect the water cycle. In its current practice however, hydrological modelling does not account for LULC changes. This issue pertains to rapidly evolving watersheds and might result in critical inaccuracies in the simulated processes. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to simulate surface runoff in the small Sahelian watershed of Tougou, which underwent significant LULC changes between 1952 and 2017. Based on rainfall/runoff data acquired from 2004 to 2018, the SWAT model was calibrated under two scenarios: a static land use scenario (SLU) using a single LULC map (in 1999) and a dynamic land use scenario (DLU) integrating 3 LULC maps (1999, 2009 and 2017). The DLU scenario estimated with higher accuracy surface runoff, deep aquifer infiltration and actual evapotranspiration processes. Based on the calibrated parameters, surface runoff was simulated during the historical period 1952-2003 under four scenarios with static LULC maps (in 1952, 1973, 1986 and 1999) opposed to a fifth scenario integrating these LULC maps dynamically. The DLU scenario was found to be more effective at picturing the so-called Sahelian paradox (i.e. the increase in surface runoff despite the decrease in rainfall), reported in the literature for small watersheds in the Sahel. The analysis of variability revealed that fluctuations in surface runoff were both influenced by rainfall and LULC changes. Furthermore, the isolated contributions of climate variability and LULC changes on surface runoff showed that LULC conditions played a dominant role (ηlulc = +393.1%) in the runoff increase over climate (ηcl = -297%) during the historical period. These results highlight the importance of accounting for LULC dynamics in hydrological modelling and advocate the development of integrated modelling frameworks for hydrologists and water resource managers.

Enhancement of micropollutant degradation at the outlet of small wastewater treatment plants.

The aim of this work was to evaluate low-cost and easy-to-operate engineering solutions that can be added as a polishing step to small wastewater treatment plants to reduce the micropollutant load to water bodies. The proposed design combines a sand filter/constructed wetland with additional and more advanced treatment technologies (UV degradation, enhanced adsorption to the solid phase, e.g., an engineered substrate) to increase the elimination of recalcitrant compounds. The removal of five micropollutants with different physico-chemical characteristics (three pharmaceuticals: diclofenac, carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, one pesticide: mecoprop, and one corrosion inhibitor: benzotriazole) was studied to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed system. Separate batch experiments were conducted to assess the removal efficiency of UV degradation and adsorption. The efficiency of each individual process was substance-specific. No process was effective on all the compounds tested, although elimination rates over 80% using light expanded clay aggregate (an engineered material) were observed. A laboratory-scale flow-through setup was used to evaluate interactions when removal processes were combined. Four of the studied compounds were partially eliminated, with poor removal of the fifth (benzotriazole). The energy requirements for a field-scale installation were estimated to be the same order of magnitude as those of ozonation and powdered activated carbon treatments.

Proteomic analyses of amniotic fluid: potential applications in health and diseases.

Amniotic fluid (AF) is a potential source of biomarkers for many disorders which may occur during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the place of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) technologies to compare AF in both normal and pathological situations. Two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE; Ettan DIGE) as well as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and silver staining followed by image analysis were used. Differentially expressed proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. This approach was used to study electrophoregrams of normal AF obtained at 17 weeks of gestation and at term, as well as AF from fetuses presenting with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Finally, the potential of two-dimensional electrophoresis was assessed by studying the protein profile of plasma containing AF proteins in a model of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM). Our results clearly show that two-dimensional electrophoresis technologies still have place for analyzing biological fluids such as AF.

Proteomics and transfusion medicine: future perspectives.

Limited number of important discoveries have greatly contributed to the progresses achieved in the blood transfusion; ABO histo-blood groups, citrate as anticoagulant, fractionation of plasma proteins, plastic bags and apheresis machines. Three major types of blood products are transfused to patients: red cell concentrates, platelet concentrates and fresh frozen plasma. Several parameters of these products change during storage process and they have been well studied over the years. However, several aspects have completely been ignored; in particular those related to peptide and protein changes. This review presents what has been done using proteomic tools and the potentials of proteomics for transfusion medicine.

Recent advances in blood-related proteomics.

Blood is divided in two compartments, namely, plasma and cells. The latter contain red blood cells, leukocytes, and platelets. From a descriptive medical discipline, hematology has evolved towards a pioneering discipline where molecular biology has permitted the development of prognostic and diagnostic indicators for disease. The recent advance in MS and protein separation now allows similar progress in the analysis of proteins. Proteomics offers great promise for the study of proteins in plasma/serum, indeed a number of proteomics databases for plasma/serum have been established. This is a very complex body fluid containing lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, nucleic acids, hormones, and proteins. About 1500 different proteins have recently been identified, and a number of potential new markers of diseases have been characterized. Here, examples of the enormous promise of plasma/serum proteomic analysis for diagnostic/prognostic markers and information on disease mechanism are given. Within the blood are also a large number of different blood cell types that potentially hold similar information. Proteomics of red blood cells, until now, has not improved our knowledge of these cells, in contrast to the major progresses achieved while studying platelets and leukocytes. In the future, proteomics will change several aspects of hematology.

The role of proteomics in the assessment of premature rupture of fetal membranes.

The presence and integrity of amniotic fluid is fundamental for the normal development of the human fetus during pregnancy. Its production rate changes throughout pregnancy and is mainly related to the functions of the different fetal, placental and amniotic compartments. Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) occurs in about 5% of deliveries, with complications such as infection and preterm birth. The management of patients with PROM, regardless of gestational age, remains controversial, and it is therefore important to develop new biological tests in order to achieve accurate diagnoses by identifying the presence of specific amniotic fluid markers in vaginal environment. We recently showed the usefulness of amniotic fluid proteomics in identifying a series of peptides that were absent from the corresponding maternal plasma. Several peptides corresponded to fragments of plasma proteins. Two peptides, absent from plasma samples of pregnant women, were identified in amniotic fluid. They corresponded to the COOH-terminal parts of perlecan (SwissProt: P98160) and of agrin (SwissProt: O00468) protein cores, two major heparan sulfate proteoglycans of basement membranes. In this review we will discuss modern proteomic strategies that may improve the laboratory assessment of PROM, and will focus on some of the biochemical characteristics of agrin and perlecan fragments identified in amniotic fluid.