Current models for predicting the environmental fate of munitions constituents (MC) in soils are based mostly on chemical distribution parameters and neglect the larger considerations of other soil parameters. We are working towards a new approach based on the whole soil activity for predicting the long-term residence time and fate of MC in soils with connection to agronomic soil fertility concepts. These relationships are demonstrated by correlating experiments involving full physical and chemical characterization of eight taxonomically distinct soils, with batch reactor studies determining MC degradation potential. Soils were incubated in a slurry for 10 days in a closed reactor system with temperature, pH, and Eh readings recorded every 24 h. Air and slurry samples were taken eight times within the 168 h incubation period. Carbon dioxide, TNT, and nutrient solution concentrations were assessed to obtain a full picture of soil chemistry changes associated with microbial activity in response to additions of TNT. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the main factors impacting degradation rate. Principle Components Analysis (PCA) statistically classified the soils based on the variance of their soil property data. Partial Least Squares Analysis (PLS) showed that TNT degradation was possibly correlated with soil fertility characteristics. Although this is an exploratory study, results show promise in moving towards a more effective way of predicting TNT environmental fate in soils.

Litter decomposition is a fundamental ecosystem process. It is responsible for nutrient cycling and influences carbon (C) sequestration, and soil physical and chemical properties. In nature, litter is usually heterogeneous and may not decompose the way homogeneous litter does. For example, heterogeneous litter decomposition is frequently non-additive. This makes the rate of nutrient cycling as well as fluxes of C into and out of soil C pools impossible to predict. The most frequently proposed mechanisms for positive, non-additive decomposition include the supply of limiting mineral nutrients, the supply of available C (priming), and the improvement of micro-environmental conditions. However, all three mechanisms are controversial in the sense that no single mechanism accounts for all cases of non-additive decomposition. In mesic ecosystems, both soil microbes and soil fauna are the major causes of decomposition. Microbes decompose litter by producing extracellular enzymes. The comminution of litter by soil animals interacts with microbial activities by increasing substrate surface area. In our study, positive, non-additive decomposition of oat straw when mixed with clover was not due to enhancing microarthropod density in oat straw but associated with significantly increased microbial activity in oat straw. We further investigated the factors that contribute to positive, non-additive decomposition by testing several common hypotheses used to explain non-additive decomposition (increased water content, and the transfer of C and/or nitrogen (N) compounds from clover to oat straw). We also tested a new hypothesis, which is that C, N and other nutrients are simultaneously supplied by clover to stimulate the decomposition of oat straw. Our study indicated that the addition of water to oat straw did not increase oat straw decomposition and adding ammonium chloride only or glucose and ammonium chloride together to oat straw had no significant effect on oat straw decomposition. Glucose addition alone (Low concentration) increased oat straw decomposition but was not sufficient to predict the effect of clover litter. Either the addition of glucose, ammonium chloride and other minerals together to oat straw, or soil was in contact with oat straw and glucose and ammonium chloride were added, oat straw decomposition was stimulated as if clover were present. These results suggest that the limiting resources are some combination of C, N and other mineral nutrients and that soil itself may be a source of limiting nutrients in litter decomposition. In nature, some combination of high quality litter and soil itself may supply resources that stimulate the decomposing organisms’ activity on low quality litter and then the decomposition of low quality litter. Our research provides insight into the dynamics of heterogeneous litter decomposition and will allow us to better model nutrient cycling.

No description available.

BTX biodegradation rates, biochemical expression patterns and microbial ecology were studied under anoxic (denitrifying), anoxic/microaerobic/aerobic, and anoxic/microaerobic conditions in activated sludge sequencing batch reactors. The studies showed that toluene and m-xylene were denitrified via benzoyl-CoA reductase. Although benzene, o-, and p-xylene were recalcitrant under denitrifying conditions, they were biodegraded under microaerobic (< 0.2 mg/L dissolved oxygen) and nitrate or nitrite (NOx)-supplemented microaerobic conditions. The patterns of the specific enzymes associated with BTX biodegradation under microaerobic conditions indicated that the three compounds were metabolized by oxygen-dependent pathways. The expression levels of catechol 1, 2-dioxygenase and catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase under microaerobic conditions were induced to levels as high as under aerobic conditions (> 4 mg/L dissolved oxygen). Benzene, o-, and p-xylene biodegradation rates were twice as fast under NO_x-supplemented compared to NO_x-free microaerobic conditions, and the specific biodegradation rates under aerobic and NO_x-supplemented microaerobic conditions were comparable. 16S rRNA probes targeting representative toluene-degraders were used to investigate the microbial communities in the three sequencing batch reactors by using a dot blot hybridization technique. The hybridization results suggest that multiple redox environments fostered a more diverse microbial community and the activities of the target organisms in the reactors with multiple redox environments were higher than in the single redox reactor. Additionally, facultative toluene-degraders appeared to play a less significant role than the strict anoxic and aerobic toluene-degraders in all three SBRs. / Ph. D.

In my diploma thesis I observed microbial activity in Miocene sediments collected at two different depths - 30 and 150 meters - in the "Družba" open-mine pit, which is located in Sokolov Brown Coal Basin. There were three different types of sediment: lamellar, amorphous and transitional. Samples were obtained under sterile conditions and following treatments were applied to the transitional sediment: addition of glucose, wetting and freezing. The aim of my study was to observe the activity of the original microflora at various depths and the impact of environmental factors that can affect the quarried claystones after being put on heaps. Microbial activity was evaluated by measuring released CO2 (titration). Obtained values of microbial activity did not show any differences between the respiration of sediments of different ages (depths), but differences between different types of sediments were significant, the highest values were found in lamellar sediment. Affection of samples then showed biota activity response suggesting that microbial communities at lower depths are limited by nutrients. Because the application of glucose did not show any noteworthy effect, we can assume that these communities are specialize on present fossil organic matter they are able to decompose, which is important especially in...

Submitted by Ana Damasceno (ana.damasceno@unipampa.edu.br) on 2017-05-12T17:36:02Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Caracterização química, atividades antioxidante, antileucêmica e antimicrobiana da própolis âmbar sul brasileira.pdf: 1920627 bytes, checksum: a4863fc2a0ca638e21de691cb6125515 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T17:36:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Caracterização química, atividades antioxidante, antileucêmica e antimicrobiana da própolis âmbar sul brasileira.pdf: 1920627 bytes, checksum: a4863fc2a0ca638e21de691cb6125515 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-27 / A própolis é um composto utilizado pelas abelhas, com a finalidade de vedar a colmeia e evitar contaminações, que se destaca por suas atividades biológicas as quais têm sido muito estudadas para fins terapêuticos. Quando produzida por abelhas da espécie Apis mellifera a substância é composta por cerca de 50 % de resina vegetal misturada a enzimas presentes em sua saliva e cera. Este produto natural pode variar dependendo da origem botânica/geográfica e mais de 300 compostos já foram descritos. No caso do Brasil, existe grande variabilidade da composição química que é facilmente explicada pela sua grande biodiversidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o perfil químico e as atividades antioxidante, antileucêmica e antimicrobiana da própolis de São Gabriel/Rio Grande do Sul, a qual denominamos própolis Âmbar, e comparar suas propriedades com as própolis brasileiras Vermelha e Verde. As análises do perfil químico foram realizadas pelas técnicas de GC-MS, HPLC e quantificação dos flavonoides e fenóis totais. A atividade antioxidante foi aferida pelas técnicas DPPH°, ABTS°+ e FRAP. A atividade antileucêmica foi analisada nas linhagens celulares K562, Jurkat e U937 pelos parâmetros de IC50, viabilidade, apoptose e ciclo celular. E a atividade antimicrobiana foi analisada aferindo-se o crescimento das espécies E. coli e S. aureus. Os resultados obtidos da análise por GC-MS das própolis Âmbar, dos dois anos coletados, identificam um total de 99 compostos dentre os quais apenas 16 foram identificados para as própolis Verde e Vermelha. Também foi possível notar que grande parte dos compostos encontrados são descritos para o gênero Eucalyptus que parece ser uma fonte vegetal importante para a produção da própolis Âmbar. Quanto aos fenóis totais, flavonóides totais e atividade antioxidante, as própolis apresentaram resultados diferentes entre si, sendo os valores obtidos para a própolis Âmbar sempre menores que os encontrados para as própolis Verde e Vermelha. Porém quanto à atividade antileucêmica a própolis Âmbar apresentou resultados similares a própolis Vermelha nas análises de IC50 e viabilidade. E na análise do efeito antimicrobiano todas as própolis igualaram seu efeito em concentrações acima de 500 µg/mL, apresentando também atividades semelhantes no tratamento com E.coli na concentração de 100 µg/mL. Tipificação, identificação da origem geográfica/botânica e quantidade de estudos sobre suas atividades biológicas agregam valor à própolis. Esperamos com este trabalho expandir o conhecimento técnico-científico da própolis Âmbar contribuindo com o desenvolvimento regional e ampliando o conhecimento sobre própolis. / Propolis is a compound used by bees to seal the hive and prevent contamination that stands out because of its biological activities which have been studied for therapeutic purposes. When produced by Apis mellifera bees specie the substance is composed by about 50% vegetable resin mixed with enzymes present in its saliva and wax. This natural product may vary depending on the botanical/geographical origin and more than 300 compounds have already been described. In Brazil there is a great variability of chemical composition that is easily explained by the Brazilian biodiversity. The goal of this work was to analyze the chemical profile and antioxidant, antileukemic and antimicrobial activities of São Gabriel/Rio Grande do Sul propolis, which we call Amber propolis, and to compare its properties with the Brazilian propolis Red and Green. The chemical analyzes were performed by total flavonoids and total phenols quantification, GC-MS and HPLC. The antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH°, ABTS°+ and FRAP techniques. The antileukemic activity was analyzed in the K562, Jurkat and U937 cell lines taken into account IC50, viability, apoptosis and cell cycle parameters. The antimicrobial activity was analyzed by E. coli and S. aureus growth. The results obtained from the GC-MS of Amber propolis, collected in two years, identified a total of 99 compounds among, from these only 16 were identified for the Green and Red propolis. It was also possible verify that most of the compounds found are described for the genus Eucalyptus which seems to be an important source of compounds for the Amber propolis production. Values for total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity, were different among the propolis, being the values obtained for the Amber propolis always smaller than those found for the Green and Red propolis. However, regarding the antileukemic activity, the propolis Amber presented similar results to the Red propolis for IC50 analyzes and viability. In the analysis of the antimicrobial effect, all the propolis presented similar effects above 500 μg/mL and also presenting some levels of activity at 100 μg / mL in E. coli. Typification, identification of the geographical/botanical origin and quantity of studies on its biological activities add value to propolis. We hope with this work to expand the technical-scientific knowledge of propolis Amber contributing to regional development and expanding knowledge about propolis.

Submitted by Mario BC (mario@bc.ufrpe.br) on 2017-03-10T14:09:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Jamilly Alves de Barros.pdf: 1194573 bytes, checksum: 75742892e248d2018b9529d59b784af4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-10T14:09:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jamilly Alves de Barros.pdf: 1194573 bytes, checksum: 75742892e248d2018b9529d59b784af4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-23 / Natural ecosystems have suffered great human interventions and one of them is the conversion of forests into agricultural land, and the TDF (FTS) one of the most affected in the world. Changes in land use can be reflected by biological, biochemical, chemical and physical parameters, the first two being the fastest and most sensitive to changes in soil quality. This study evaluated how the conversion of FTS in pasture with different levels of conservation acts on the community and microbial activity in Neossolos Regolíticos. The characterization of the microbial community and enzymatic activities of sandy soils of the semiarid region of Pernambuco in areas of drought and forest disturbed. In the first chapter, the study was conducted in the city of Saint John and the selected areas were: FTS = dry tropical forest, PP = preserved and PD = degraded pasture pasture. In the second chapter were selected five cities of Pernambuco semiarid region, which were collected two composite soil samples, one in FTS and another in area with human intervention. For Chapter 1 were determined analysis of the microbial biomass carbon (MBC), total organic carbon (TOC), the fatty acid profiles of the microbial community (FAMEs) and absolute and specific enzymatic activities. In chapter 2 were determined profiles of fatty acids and enzymes absolute. FTS conversion to pasture with different levels of conservation affected the microbial community and enzymatic activities of Entisol. And the type of vegetation is shown as one of the main factors responsible for the variation of the microbial community. Quantification of FAMEs in different areas analyzed demonstrated that populations of fungi are sensitive to changes in land use that bacterial populations, because these showed a faster metabolism, ie, unable to adapt to disturbances in the ecosystem. The evaluation of specific enzymes showed how these are influenced by the TOC and MBC, where enzymes by CBM unit expressed higher values. / Os ecossistemas naturais vêm sofrendo grandes intervenções humanas e uma delas é a conversão de florestas em terras agrícolas, sendo as florestas tropicais secas (FTS) uma das mais afetadas no mundo. Alterações no uso do solo podem ser refletidas por parâmetros biológicos, bioquímicos, químicos e físicos, sendo os dois primeiros os mais rápidos e sensíveis a alterações na qualidade do solo. O presente trabalho avaliou como a conversão de FTS em pasto com diferentes níveis de conservação age sobre a comunidade e atividade microbianas em Neossolos Regolíticos. A Caracterização da comunidade microbiana e atividades enzimáticas de solos arenosos do Semiárido de Pernambuco em áreas de floresta seca e antropizada. No primeiro capítulo, o estudo foi realizado no município de São João e as áreas selecionadas foram: FTS=floresta tropical seca, PP= pasto preservado e PD= pasto degradado. No segundo capítulo foram selecionadas 5 cidades do semiárido pernambucano, onde foram coletadas duas amostras compostas de solo, uma em FTS e outra em área com intervenção antrópica. Para o capítulo 1 foram determinadas as análises do carbono da biomassa microbiano (CBM), o carbono orgânico total (COT), os perfis de ácidos graxos da comunidade microbiana (FAMEs) e atividades enzimáticas absolutas e específicas. No capítulo 2 foram determinados os perfis de ácidos graxos e as enzimas absolutas. A conversão de FTS em pasto com diferentes níveis de conservação afetou a comunidade microbiana e as atividades enzimáticas de Neossolo Regolítico. Sendo que o tipo de vegetação se mostrou como um dos principais fatores responsável pela variação da comunidade microbiana. A quantificação do FAMEs nas diferentes áreas analisadas demonstrou que as populações de fungos são mais sensíveis a alterações no uso do solo que as populações bacterianas, devido estas apresentaram um metabolismo mais rápido, ou seja, conseguirem se adaptar a perturbações no ecossistema. A avaliação das enzimas específicas mostrou o quanto estas são influenciadas pelo COT e CBM, onde as enzimas por unidade de CBM expressaram valores mais elevados.

Orientador: Ely Nahas / Banca: Lucia Helena Sipauba Tavares / Banca: Elcio Liborio Balota / Resumo: A rotação de culturas é um processo de cultivo que pode modernizar e aumentar o rendimento da atividade agropecuária de forma sustentável agregando maior qualidade ao solo. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: (I) avaliar o efeito dos sistemas culturais em plantio direto conduzidos em rotação de culturas e monitorar as alterações das propriedades microbiológicas bioindicadoras da qualidade do solo; (II) investigar as mudanças bioquímicas nos solos decorrentes da adição de diferentes tamanhos de resíduos de soja e milho durante o período de incubação. Foram determinados as biomassas microbianas- C, N e P (CBM, NBM e PBM, respectivamente), a atividade respiratória (C-CO2) e das enzimas desidrogenase, fosfatase e urease, conteúdo do carbono orgânico (Corg), carbono solúvel (Csol), fósforo orgânico (Porg), matéria orgânica (MO), potencial de mineralização do N. O quociente metabólico (qCO2) e microbiano (qMIC) do solo foram calculados. Experimento (I): A avaliação foi realizada em amostras de solo coletadas após a colheita das culturas de verão do ano agrícola 2007/2008, na camada de 0-0,15 m de profundidade em um experimento conduzido sob sistema de semeadura direta, por seis anos. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com esquema de faixas com três repetições. As sequências utilizadas foram as monoculturas de soja (Glycine max L.) (SS) e de milho (Zea mays L.) (MM) e a rotação de culturas soja/milho (SM). As culturas de inverno foram milho, girassol (Helianthus anuus L.), nabo forrageiro (Raphanus sativus L.), milheto (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke), guandu (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp), sorgo (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) e crotalária (Crotalária juncea L.). O conteúdo da biomassa microbiana-C, N e P do solo aumentou significativamente... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Crop rotation is a practice of growing dissimilar plants that can modernize and increase the farm economy in a sustainable form for adding more quality to the soil. The aims of this study were: (I) evaluate the effect of crop sequences under no-tillage systems on changes in the soil microbiological properties; (II) investigate the biochemistries changes during the incubation of the soil added with different sizes particles of soybean and corn. There were determined the contents of microbial biomass-C, N and P, the production of C-CO2, the activities of the enzymes dehydrogenase, urease and phosphatase, the organic carbon (Corg), soluble carbon (Csol), organic phosphorous (Porg) and organic matter (MO) contents and the potential of mineralization N. The soil metabolic (qCO2) and microbial (qMIC) quotients were calculated. Experiment (I): The evaluation was performed in soil samples collected after the summer crops harvest, on 2007/2008 growing season, at 0-0.15 m soil depth layer on an experiment conducted under no-tillage system through six years. The experimental had a completely randomized block design, in strips plots with three replications. The crop sequences were continuous soybean (Glycine max L.) (SS), continuous corn (Zea mays L.) (MM), and crop rotation soybean/corn (SM). Winter crops were corn, sunflower (Helianthus anuus L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp), grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and sunn hemp (Crotalária juncea L.). The content of microbial biomass-C, N and P in the soil increased significantly in crop sequence SM compared to continuous crop. The interactions SM-millet and MMsorghum influenced the content of biomass-C, SM-hemp and SM-millet in the biomass-N content... (Summary complete electronic access click below) / Mestre

Microorganisms have played a critical role in geological processes and in the formation of soils throughout geological time. It is hypothesized that biological activity can also affect soil properties in short engineering time-scales. Bioactivity in sediments is determined by the classical limiting factors (i.e., nutrients, water, C for biomass, temperature and pH) as well as by pore-size geometrical limits and mechanical interactions between bacterial cells and soil particles. These constraints restrict the range of grain size and burial depth where biomediated geochemical processes can be expected in sediments, affect the interpretation of geological processes and the development of engineering solutions such as bioremediation. When biological, geometrical and mechanical limiting factors are satisfied, bioactivity can be designed to alter the mechanical properties of a soil mass, including lowering the bulk stiffness of the pore fluid through controlled gas bio-generation, increasing the shear stiffness of the soil skeleton by biomineralization, and reducing hydraulic conduction through biofilm formation and clogging. Each of these processes can be analyzed to capture the bio-chemo-hydro-mechanical coupling effects, in order to identify the governing equations that can be used for process design. Design must recognize the implications of spatial variability, reversibility and environmental impacts.

Using mixed-culture fermentation, the carboxylate platform produces carboxylic acids, which are chemically converted into chemicals and fuels. To optimize the mixed-acid fermentation, different bioreactor configurations and operating modes were investigated. Intermittent air exposure did not affect fermentation performance and bacterial profiles, but reduced the high-molecular-weight carboxylic acids. The microbial flora contained strict and facultative microbes, suggesting the presence of a facultative anaerobic community existing in a biofilm. Compared to countercurrent trains, propagated fixed-bed fermentations have similar selectivity and acid distribution, but lower yield, conversion, productivity, and acid concentration. One- to six-stage countercurrent fermentations were operated with similar conditions. Fewer stages increased conversion, whereas more stages increased acid concentration and selectivity. One to four stages achieved similar yield, and four to six stages achieved similar maximum acid concentration. Maximum conversion was achieved with a single stage. Recycling residual biomass retained microorganisms and nutrients and increased yield and productivity. Relative to lower biomass reflux, higher reflux increased conversion, decreased selectivity, and did not affect yield. The recommended carbon-nitrogen ratio is ~24 g carbon/g nitrogen. In four-stage fermentations, recycle to the second fermentor and in parallel to the first three fermentors was optimal. Fermentations with excess or insufficient nitrogen had higher selectivity, but decreased yield and conversion. The glucose-utilization assay is a rapid and repeatable method for determining the amount of microbial activity in a sample. This method determined ~25% efficiency of a new cell separation method. In continuous fermentation, compared to no cell recycle, recycling cellular biomass increased selectivity and yield, but decreased conversion. Compared to lower cell reflux, higher reflux increased productivity, yield, and conversion, but decreased selectivity. Compared to residual biomass recycle, cell recycle had increased selectivity and yield, but decreased conversion. A new method to screen and rank inoculum sources from natural environments was successfully developed and tested.