In the present investigation peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and different cancer states were treated with various agents and compared with lymphocytes from healthy control individuals (HCI) treated in the same way and measured in the Comet assay. For inflammatory bowel disease, patient¿s responses in IBD patients treated with H2O2 were higher than in HCI and crohn¿s patients (CD) were found to have higher responses than Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The responses for all IBD and HCI were all reduced in the presence of chaga mushroom extract which behaved in an antioxidant manner. A second group of IBD patients were treated with the heterocyclic amine (food mutagen), IQ and H2O2 and responses were reduced in the presence of the flavonoids, quercetin and epicatechin and compared with HCI similarity treated. In all cells responses were reduced with flavonoids and again CD had higher responses than the UC patients and IBD patients higher than HCI. The responses with CD and UC were that confirmed in two independent studies with IBD, one with chaga mushroom extract and the other with flavonoids. Peripheral lymphocytes from malignant melanoma and suspected melanoma patients and colon cancer and polyposis patients were compared to the lymphocytes from HCI and treated with UVA. There were differential sensitivities when measured in the micronucleus and Comet assays. The cancer patients had higher responses than those in the precancerous states and they in turn were higher than responses in HCI. In all the studies, untreated baseline DNA damage values were also higher in IBD and cancer patients and pre-cancerous patients than HCIs. This would suggest that baseline frequencies of different diseases compared to controls could be an important biomarker in the diagnosis of pre-cancers and early stage cancers. Also peripheral lymphocytes are a useful surrogate for cancers and pre-cancerous disease states since, blood is present in all organs and tissues and DNA is basically the same in all cells.

This thesis investigates the opportunities and challenges regarding urban oyster mushroomproduction (Pleurotus Ostreatus) employing urban-based materials in Stockholm Stad as agrowing medium. Additionally, the availability of the five most suitable substrates has beenfurther explored with the indicator’s availability in Stockholm Stad, and the Biologicalefficiency (BE%) for a suitable growing medium and the quantity of the substrates have beenmapped out. In response to climate change and an uncertain future, cities need to be resilientto disasters and meet essential needs like water, food, and energy. Due to the COVID-19pandemic, the Swedish government plans to increase self-sufficiency by developing the lawof public procurement to prioritize buying locally produced goods. However, imported foodis cheaper than Swedish goods, making it difficult for domestic products to compete.Moreover, a major part of Sweden’s waste management consists of the combustion of variouswaste, which is being on a lower priority on the Waste hierarchy. Therefore, assessing thepossible areas of use such as oyster mushroom cultivation could likely add further value tothe residual waste streams investigated. Using Material Flow Analysis (MFA), interviews,and literature review, relevant data and information was collected to locate the five mostsuitable substrates: (1) wood waste from arborists and wood workers, (2) paper waste, (3)cardboard waste, (4) Spent Coffee Grounds (SCG) from five of the biggest chains coffeeshops in Stockholm Stad, (5) garden waste collected from a collection company. Theestimated availability of each residual waste stream has been mapped out with paper wastebeing 15’805’567 kg, 20’560’580 kg (cardboard), 64’166’500 kg wood waste, 3’939’664,2kg garden waste, and 152’121,7 kg (SCG). The BE% is ranging from 18,61% for SCG, woodwaste to 64,69%, garden waste to 95,3%, paper to 112,4%, and cardboard with a BE% of117,5%. Moreover, the BE% will vary depending on the preparation of the substrate and thegrowing conditions of the mushrooms. The oyster mushroom's estimated kilo price is 245SEK/kg, with a potential yearly value of the oyster mushroom is estimated to beapproximately 128’333’000 SEK. This thesis highlights the potential of oyster mushroomcultivation potential where Stockholm Stad has the capacity to be locally self-sufficient whenlooking at the quantity of substrate available. Additionally, the results display the value ofusing residual waste streams as a resource in other ways than energy recovery. / Detta examensarbete undersöker möjligheterna och utmaningarna när det gäller urbanostronsvampproduktion (Pleurotus ostreatus) med stadsbaserade material i Stockholm Stad somodlingsmedium. Dessutom har tillgången på de fem mest lämpliga substraten undersökts ytterligaremed indikatorns tillgänglighet i Stockholm Stad och den biologiska effektiviteten (BE%) för ettlämpligt odlingsmedium och mängden av substraten har kartlagts. Som svar på klimatförändringaroch osäker framtid är det viktigt för städer att vara motståndskraftiga mot katastrofer och tillgodoseväsentliga behov som vatten, mat och energi. På grund av COVID-19 pandemin planerar den svenskaregeringen att öka självförsörjningen genom att utveckla lagen om offentlig upphandling för attprioritera köp av lokalt producerade varor. Den importerade maten är billigare än svenska varor, vilketgör det svårt för inhemska produkter att konkurrera. En stor del av Sveriges avfallshantering bestårdessutom av förbränning av olika avfall, vilket är lägre prioriterat i Avfallshierarkin. Därför kan enbedömning av möjliga användningsområden, såsom ostronsvampodling, sannolikt tillföra ytterligarevärde till de undersökta restavfallsströmmarna. Med hjälp av MFA, intervjuer och litteraturstudiersamlades relevant data och information in för att lokalisera de fem mest lämpliga substraten: (1)träavfall från arborister och träarbetare, (2) pappersavfall, (3) kartongavfall, (4) SCG från fem av destörsta kafékedjorna i Stockholm Stad, (5) Trädgårdsavfall som hämtas från ett insamlingsföretag.Den uppskattade tillgängligheten för varje restavfallsström har kartlagts med pappersavfall på15,805,567 kg, 20,560,580 kg (kartong), 64’166’500 kg träavfall, 3’939’664,2 kg trädgårdsavfall och152’121,7 kg (SCG). BE% varierar från 18,61% för SCG, träavfall till 64,69%, trädgårdsavfall95,3%, papper 112,4% och kartong med en BE% på 117,5%. Dessutom kommer BE procenttalet attvariera beroende på preparationen av substraten och svampens odlingsförhållanden. Ostronsvampensestimerade kilopris är 245 SEK/kg, med ett potentiellt årligt värde på ostronsvampen uppskattas tillcirka 128’333’000 SEK. Detta arbete belyser potentialen för ostronsvampsodlingspotential därStockholm Stad har kapacitet att vara lokalt självförsörjande när man tittar på mängden tillgängligtsubstrat. Dessutom visar resultaten värdet av att använda restavfallsströmmar som en resurs på andrasätt än energiåtervinning.

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O fungo Pleurotus ostreatus pertence ao grupo de basidiomicetos que degradam madeira. Este cogumelo cultivado em todo mundo apresenta grande rusticidade e produtividade, e pode ainda ser usado em processos de biorremediação e biopolpação. Devido a seu potencial biotecnológico, torna-se interessante a compreensão da interação deste com outros microrganismos. Neste sentido, recentemente foi observada a presença de bactérias associadas a P. ostreatus em culturas in vitro, que apresentavam grande pleomorfismo. A partir desta observação foram elaborados ensaios que visaram a confirmação da presença de bactérias. Para tanto, foi utilizada a estratégia do "Ciclo Completo de Análise do rRNA" (full-cycle rRNA analysis) empregada em microrganismos não cultiváveis ou de crescimento fastidioso, além do emprego de técnicas de microbiologia básica, e de estudos de ultraestrutura. Os estudos de microbiologia básica indicaram que se tratava de um microrganismo fastidioso e que se desenvolvia melhor na presença do fungo em sistema de co-cultivo em meios contendo Tween 80 ou Tween 20. Por sua vez, a análise de ultraestrutura demonstrou a presença de estruturas pleomórficas, tanto internamente como externamente à hifa. Em relação ao "Ciclo completo de Análise do rRNA" este se iniciou pela amplificação e seqüenciamento de parte do rDNA bacteriano, que revelou a proximidade desta bactéria com o Complexo Burkholderia cepacia (CBC). A partir desta seqüência, foi realizado um estudo de bioinformática que indicou sondas específicas para este grupo de bactérias. Completando o Ciclo completo de Análise do rRNA, foram realizados ensaios de hibridização in situ fluorescente (FISH) para a confirmar a relação entre as estruturas bacterianas e a seqüência obtida. Este método comprovou a presença das bactérias no interior das hifas de P. ostreatus. Este trabalho constitui o primeiro relato de bactérias pleomórficas pertencente ao complexo B. cepacia associados a P. ostreatus. / The fungus Pleurotus ostreatus, which belongs to white rot basidiomycete group, is a widely cultivated mushroom; this species has high productivity and rusticity, besides its use in biobleaching and bioremediation processes. This biotechnological potential justifies microbial interaction studies between this fungi and others microorganisms. In P. ostreatus mycelia, it has been observed pleomorphic bacteria growing on agar media. This research describes several assays to confirm bacterial presence in this sample. Therefore, the full-cycle rRNA analysis (described for unculturable or fastidious microorganism), ultrastructure and basic microbiology approaches were employed. Basic microbiology approaches indicated slow growing bacteria, which grown faster near to fungi colonies in solid media amended with Tween 80 or Tween 20 (co-culture system). Ultrastructure studies confirm the presence of intracellular and extracellular pleomorphic bacteria. The full-cycle rRNA analysis started with 16S rDNA amplification and sequencing. This approach demonstrated a relation between these bacteria with Burkholderia cepacia complex. By bioinformatics analysis was determinate which DNA probes can be use to identified this bacterial group. The last step for full-cycle rRNA analysis was applying fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). This technique confirmed the relationship between 16S rDNA bacterial sequence and bacterial forms. This is the first time that a pleomorphic bacteria from B. cepacia complex is found associated with P. ostreatus.

No description available.

[1] Four specimens of zoned tourmaline from granitic pegmatites are characterised in detail, each having unusual compositional and/or morphologic features: (1) a crystal from Black Rapids Glacier, Alaska, showing a central pink zone of elbaite mantled by a thin rim of green liddicoatite; (2) a large (~25 cm) slab of Madagascar liddicoatite cut along (001) showing complex patterns of oscillatory zoning; and (3) a wheatsheaf and (4) a mushroom elbaite from Mogok, Myanmar, both showing extensive bifurcation of fibrous crystals originating from a central core crystal, and showing pronounced discontinuous colour zoning. Crystal chemistry and crystal structure of these samples are characterised by SREF, EMPA, and 11B and 27Al MAS NMR and Mössbauer spectroscopies. For each sample, compositional change, as a function of crystal growth, is characterised by EMPA traverses, and the total chemical variation is reduced to a series of linear substitution mechanisms. Of particular interest are substitutions accommodating the variation in [4]B: (1) TB + YAl ↔ TSi + Y(Fe, Mn)2+, where transition metals are present, and (2) TB2 + YAl ↔ TSi2 + YLi, where transition metals are absent. Integration of all data sets delineates constraints on melt evolution and crystal growth mechanisms. [2] Uncertainty has surrounded the occurrence of [4]Al and [4]B at the T-site in tourmaline, because B is difficult to quantify by EMPA and Al is typically assigned to the octahedral Y- and Z-sites. Although both [4]Al and [4]B have been shown to occur in natural tourmalines, it is not currently known how common these substituents are. Using 11B and 27Al MAS NMR spectroscopy, the presence of [4]B and [4]Al is determined in fifty inclusion-free tourmalines of low transition-metal content with compositions corresponding to five different species. Chemical shifts of [4]B and [3]B in 11B spectra, and [4]Al and [6]Al in 27Al spectra, are well-resolved, allowing detection of very small (< ~0.1 apfu) amounts of T-site constituents. Results show that contents of 0.0 < [4]B, [4]Al < 0.5 apfu are common in tourmalines containing low amounts of paramagnetic species, and that all combinations of Si, Al and B occur in natural tourmalines.

[1] Four specimens of zoned tourmaline from granitic pegmatites are characterised in detail, each having unusual compositional and/or morphologic features: (1) a crystal from Black Rapids Glacier, Alaska, showing a central pink zone of elbaite mantled by a thin rim of green liddicoatite; (2) a large (~25 cm) slab of Madagascar liddicoatite cut along (001) showing complex patterns of oscillatory zoning; and (3) a wheatsheaf and (4) a mushroom elbaite from Mogok, Myanmar, both showing extensive bifurcation of fibrous crystals originating from a central core crystal, and showing pronounced discontinuous colour zoning. Crystal chemistry and crystal structure of these samples are characterised by SREF, EMPA, and 11B and 27Al MAS NMR and Mössbauer spectroscopies. For each sample, compositional change, as a function of crystal growth, is characterised by EMPA traverses, and the total chemical variation is reduced to a series of linear substitution mechanisms. Of particular interest are substitutions accommodating the variation in [4]B: (1) TB + YAl ↔ TSi + Y(Fe, Mn)2+, where transition metals are present, and (2) TB2 + YAl ↔ TSi2 + YLi, where transition metals are absent. Integration of all data sets delineates constraints on melt evolution and crystal growth mechanisms. [2] Uncertainty has surrounded the occurrence of [4]Al and [4]B at the T-site in tourmaline, because B is difficult to quantify by EMPA and Al is typically assigned to the octahedral Y- and Z-sites. Although both [4]Al and [4]B have been shown to occur in natural tourmalines, it is not currently known how common these substituents are. Using 11B and 27Al MAS NMR spectroscopy, the presence of [4]B and [4]Al is determined in fifty inclusion-free tourmalines of low transition-metal content with compositions corresponding to five different species. Chemical shifts of [4]B and [3]B in 11B spectra, and [4]Al and [6]Al in 27Al spectra, are well-resolved, allowing detection of very small (< ~0.1 apfu) amounts of T-site constituents. Results show that contents of 0.0 < [4]B, [4]Al < 0.5 apfu are common in tourmalines containing low amounts of paramagnetic species, and that all combinations of Si, Al and B occur in natural tourmalines.

Terfezia pfeilii is an edible mycorrhizal fungus that thrives in the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa. It is best known by desert dwellers for its flavour and as a source of nutrition. Although the genus Terfezia is generally regarded as being an ectomycorrhizal mycobiont, the exact mycorrhizal type formed by T. pfeilli and its' associated host plants remains uncertain. Discovery of the host plants for T. pfeilii would first be required in order to further investigate the life cycle and cultivation of this truffle. This study focussed on the isolation of mycelia from the ascocarp, optimising the growth conditions of the mycelial cultures, rapid molecular identification of T. pfeilii, investigation of potential helper bacteria and mycorrhizal synthesis experiments. T. pfeilii ascocarps were harvested from the Spitskop Nature Reserve in Upington, South Africa. Ascocarps were successfully identified using both morphological and molecular methods. Despite the delayed growth mostly caused by contaminating microorganisms, the isolation of T. pfeilii mycelia culture was successful. Molecular techniques were used to confirm the identity of the pure culture. Further studies were conducted on ways to improve the growth conditions of the mycelial culture on Fontana medium. An optimum temperature of 32°C, the addition of Bovine Serum Albumin as a nitrogen source and a pH of 7.5 significantly improved the growth of T. pfeilii in vitro. A rapid PeR-based molecular method was developed to speed up the identification of T. pfeilii. Specific primers that can exclusively amplify the ITS region of T. pfeilii were designed and used to identify both the ascocarps and the mycelial culture. The specificity of these primers was confirmed by their inability to amplify DNA from the isolates of contamining fungi obtained during the isolation process. Molecular comparison was made to confirm the reclassification of South African samples of T. pfeilii as Kalaharituber pfeilii as proposed by Ferdman et al.,(2005). However, in this study, the name T. pfeilii has been retained. A total of 17 bacterial isolates were obtained from the fruiting bodies of T. pfeaii and these were tested for stimulation of mycelial growth in vitro, indole production and phosphate solubilising capabilities. Bacterial isolates that showed potential to be Mycorrhization Helper Bacteria (MHB) were identified as Paenibacillus sp., Bacillus sp. and Rhizobium tropici. Selected plant seedlings were inoculated with T. pfeilii cultures or ascocarp slurry in order to re-establish the mycorrhizal association. After 8 months, light microscopy observations revealed an endomycorrhizal type association between Cynodon dactylon and T. pfeilii. This was confirmed with molecular analysis using specific T. pfeilii ITS primers. After 15 months, molecular methods confirmed Acacia erioloba as another host plant. These results have provided essential information paving the way for further investigation into the life cycle and biology of the Kalahari truffle. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in