A new magnetically assisted wastewater treating system has been suggested for CrVI-contaminated waters using a novel and strong Cr-sorbent, namely, schwertmannite. The system contains a fixed-bed column, put in a high magnetic field, which was alternately packed with schwertmannite fine particles and iron wools as a ferromagnetic porous media. The obtained results confirm its high efficiency.

Cellular metals are a relatively new class of engineering materials that can be fabricated with either a random or controlled cellular structure. A controlled cellular structure allows the precise control of the pore geometry and hence subsequent material properties that can be important for some applications such as orthopathic implants. Recently the interest in using magnesium (Mg) as a biodegradable implant in the body has been growing rapidly. However, current methods for fabricating cellular magnesium typically results in a random arrangement of the cellular structure. A novel processing method is developed for the preparation of cellular metals with controlled open-cellular architectures. In particular, this process has been developed for magnesium due to the difficulties associated with powder processing. The fabrication routine utilises a multistage inverse templating technique implemented with assistance of a rapid prototyping (RP) technique. Rapid prototyped polymer performs of desired architectures were infiltrated using a specially designed slurry of NaCl. Removal of the polymer resulted in an accurate negative NaCl template that could be infiltrated with liquid metal using low pressure die casting. Subsequently, the template material is removed, resulting in a controlled cellular structure within Mg. Prior to metal infiltration, the compressive modulus, strength, grain growth and microstructure of the NaCl structure with and without sintering was examined using compression testing and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). For the EBSD analyses a new sample preparation technique for the micro porous samples had to be developed for use in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The NaCl and the cellular metal were evaluated using SEM and micro-computed tomography (µ-CT). Furthermore, the relationship between the original CAD model and the final NaCl pore morphology was investigated were the surfaces of the RP scaffold and the NaCl template were analysed and compared to the as-cast Mg.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis studies the effects of various concentrations of sodium chloride on growth and the content of secondary metabolites in the freshwater microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The total content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and total antioxidant capacity was analyzed by spectrophotometry. In the context of growth, also the content of photosynthetic pigments was determined. Further, the amount of selected metabolites was determined by HPLC/MS-MS. Cultivation of microalgae with increased NaCl inhibited cell growth and production of photosynthetic pigments. Conversely, higher levels of NaCl have proven to stimulate the synthesis of complete phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Similarly, the amount of phenolic acids was significantly influenced by the effect of increasing NaCl concentration, while the total antioxidant capacity of the microalgae also increased. These results confirm the involvement of phenolic compounds in the defense mechanism of unicellular algae Ch. reinhardtii against the observed stress factor.

This study sought to determine whether NaCl altered the plasma membrane proteins in alfalfa exhibiting differential NaCl concentrations, and whether caso4 modified the responses. Two alfalfa cultivars, Centurion and Condor, were grown in 0.5 strength Hoagland solution in a greenhouse. The cultivars were exposed to 0, 88, and 132 mM of NaCl alone and mixed with caso4 .H20 at 7 and 14 Mm caso4 for 3, 9, and 60 days. In experiment 1, roots were dried to determine their Na, Ca, K, and Mg concentration. The results were similar to previous reports in which CaS04 alleviated the salt stress by increasing K and Mg levels and reducing Na. In experiment 2, after proteins of the plasma membrane were isolated and their purity was determined by vanadate, ATPase activity showed a significant increase in the presence of calcium. In addition, total plasma membrane protein was analyzed by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Salt treatments induced both quantitative and qualitative changes in proteins. These changes were affected by the length of exposure to treatment solution or the ability of the plants to adapt to the salt stress.

Les bactéries des microbiotes vivent avec l'homme une interaction mutualiste et tout facteur perturbant l'un ou l'autre des protagonistes peut rompre l'équilibre établi engendrant diverses modifications des interactions existantes. Dans ce contexte instable, les bactéries pathogènes opportunistes d'origine endogène et environnementale qui ont une grande adaptabilité vont pouvoir étendre leur niche écologique ou trouver une nouvelle niche. La diversité des bactéries atypiques ainsi que l'évolution génétique et génomique des bactéries du microbiote respiratoire des patients atteints de mucoviscidose (CF) illustrent ces phénomènes d'adaptation. Le déficit de l'immunité innée locale va en effet être à l'origine d'une colonisation des voies respiratoires (VRCF) par des bactéries endogènes et exogènes qui vont alors mettre en jeu divers mécanismes d'adaptation à cette niche écologique particulière. Le but de notre travail était d'étudier des marqueurs phénotypiques, génétiques et génomiques, témoins potentiels de l'adaptation bactérienne, en particulier au cours de la mucoviscidose. Pour cela, l'étude de la diversité intragénomique des copies du gène de l'ARN ribosomique 16S (rrs), reflétant la capacité d'adaptation bactérienne à des conditions environnementales fluctuantes, a été réalisée par une méthode de PCR et d'électrophorèse avec dénaturation en gradient de température (PCR-TTGE) sur un grand nombre de Veillonella spp. (n=149), d'Achromobacter xylosoxidans (n=164), ainsi que sur 6 autres espèces impliquées dans la colonisation des VRCF (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis et Streptococcus pneumoniae). L'étude de la dynamique du génome de 90 isolats de 12 patients colonisés chroniquement par A. xylosoxidans a été menée par PCR-TTGE, analyse du polymorphisme des fragments de restriction après électrophorèse en champ pulsé et PCR sur séquences répétées. Enfin, l'effet de contraintes environnementales chimiques sur la croissance d'une partie du microbiote CF a été évalué, incluant une étude approfondie de l'effet du NaCl sur 85 isolats de P. aeruginosa.Ces différentes approches nous ont permis de mettre en évidence : i) la diversité intra-génomique des copies de rrs chez Veillonella (74% d'isolats présentant des copies divergentes), H. influenzae (61%), S. maltophilia (38%), A. xylosoxidans (28%), et S. aureus (17%), ii) la clonalité des isolats d'A. xylosoxidans colonisant chroniquement les patients CF associée à une évolution génétique et/ou génomique intra-clonale, iii) l'effet de contraintes environnementales telles que la salinité, le pH et la température sur le microbiote cultivable des VRCF, iv) l'effet antimicrobien du NaCl inhibant la croissance de 100% des P. aeruginosa isolés des VRCF à une concentration de 6%, inférieure à celle utilisée en thérapeutique, et montrant une action bactéricide sur 90% des isolats à une concentration de 10%, v) l'effet multiple du NaCl sur la croissance, le biofilm et la mobilité de P. aeruginosa. Les rrs et le génome constituent des témoins de l'adaptation des bactéries au sein des microbiotes et permettent de mettre en évidence l'importance et la diversité de ces phénomènes dans la niche pathologique que représentent les VRCF. Les contraintes environnementales de la niche écologique influencent cette adaptation. Au cours de la mucoviscidose, le potentiel thérapeutique de la modification de facteurs environnementaux tels que la salinité ou le pH doit être considéré compte tenu de l'impact de ces perturbations sur les communautés microbiennes pathologiques adaptées aux VRCF. / Bacterial microbiotae and human beings developed mutualist interactions. All disrupting factors impacting this equilibrium can modify relationships among microbiota members with diverse consequences. In such an unstable context, opportunistic bacterial pathogens (OBPs) of endogenous or environmental origin showing great adaptability may find favorable conditions leading to ecological niche extension or to new niche colonization. This is illustrated by the diversity of atypical bacteria as well as by genetic and genomic evolution of members of the cystic fibrosis (CF) respiratory tract (CFRT) microbiota. The deficit in local innate immunity allowed colonization by endogenous and exogenous bacteria that will further develop adaptation processes to this particular ecological niche. The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic, genetic and genomic potential adaptation markers in different models of OBPs, particularly in CF. For this purpose, we described the variability in the multiple rrs gene copies using PCR and temperature-based denaturing electrophoresis (PCR-TTGE) on large collections of Veillonella (n=149) and Achromobacter xylosoxidans (n=164), as well as on isolates of six other species involved in the CFRT colonization (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae). Genome dynamics of 90 isolates from 12 patients chronically colonized by A. xylosoxidans was studied by PCR-TTGE, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis after pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and PCR on repetitive sequences. Finally, the effect of environmental stress was evaluated on part of the growing CF microbiota and a thorough study of NaCl effect on 85 CF P. aeruginosa isolates was performed.These different approaches highlight: i) the intragenomic heterogeneity of the rrs gene copies in Veillonella (74% of isolates), H. influenzae (61%), S. maltophilia (38%), A. xylosoxidans (28%), and S. aureus (17%), ii) a clonal chronic colonization with A. xylosoxidans in 12 CF patients associated with rrs genetic and/or genomic intra-clonal evolution, iii) the effect of environmental stress such as salinity, pH and temperature on the CFRT microbiota, iv) the antimicrobial effect of NaCl on CF P. aeruginosa isolates, a 6% NaCl concentration inhibiting the growth of all the isolates and a bactericidal action being observed for 90% of the isolates with 10% NaCl, v) multiple effects of NaCl on growth, biofilm and mobility of P. aeruginosa. This study shows that rrs genes and genome dynamics witness for bacterial adaptability within microbiota according to environmental constraints and underlines the diversity and importance of adaptation processes in the long-term pathological adapted microbial communities of the CFRT. Modification of environmental factors such as salinity or pH of the CFRT niche may impact the microbiota and should be considered as targets for CF therapeutics.

Submitted by Lara Oliveira (lara@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-05-22T22:14:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 EduardoCS_DISSERT.pdf: 1560091 bytes, checksum: a48bbdf39ff68f33e6ebc96ebc446fdc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-22T22:14:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 EduardoCS_DISSERT.pdf: 1560091 bytes, checksum: a48bbdf39ff68f33e6ebc96ebc446fdc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-09 / Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth., known by sabiá in the brazilian Northeast, is a forest species native to the Caatinga and belonging to the Fabaceae family. It has recently been included in the list of vulnerable species due to their use as wood, firewood and charcoal. Seeds of species that develop in soils of arid and semi-arid regions, such as sabiá, commonly find unsuitable conditions for germination, such as soils affected by water deficiency and abundance of saline soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of water and saline stress on the germination and seed vigor of three lots of M. caesalpiniifolia from matrices located in the municipalities of Luziania - GO (Lot 1), Vazante - MG (Lot 2) and Mountains - RN (Lot 3). In the simulation of the water restriction, two osmotic agents, mannitol and polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000), adjusted for the osmotic potentials of 0; -0.2; -0.4; -0.6 and -0.8 MPa. To simulate salt stress, NaCl solutions were used in the electrical conductivities of 0,0; 5.0; 10.0; 15.0; 20.0; 25.0; 30.0 dS m-1. Were analyzed: germination, germination velocity index, shoot and root length and dry mass of shoot and root of seedlings. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replicates of 25 seeds for each treatment. The results demonstrated that mannitol-induced water stress did not influence seed germination and root length of sage seedlings, reduced IVG and seedlings dry length and dry mass, and increased dry mass of seedlings. The water restriction simulated with PEG, in turn, was more critical, reducing percentage and speed of germination, aerial and root length, as well as dry mass of shoot and root of seedlings. The three batches responded similarly to water stress, but Lot 3, with seeds from Montanhas – RN, was less vigorous than the others. The salinity reduced the germination and vigor of M. caesalpiniifolia seeds, reducing the parameters evaluated in the higher electrical conductivities (25.0 and 30.0 dS m-1), and affecting in a more expressive way, IVG and length of seedlings. Lot 2 was more tolerant of salt stress / Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth., conhecida por sabiá no Nordeste brasileiro, é uma espécie florestal nativa da Caatinga e pertencente à família Fabaceae. Recentemente foi incluída na lista de espécies vulneráveis em função de sua utilização como madeira, lenha e carvão vegetal. Sementes de espécies que se desenvolvem em solos de regiões áridas e semiáridas, a exemplo de M. caesalpiniifolia, comumente encontram condições inadequadas para a germinação, como solos afetados pela deficiência hídrica e abundância de solos salinos. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito dos estresses hídrico e salino na germinação e vigor de sementes de três lotes de M. caesalpiniifolia provenientes de matrizes localizadas nos municípios de Luziania – GO (Lote 1), Vazante – MG (Lote 2) e Montanhas – RN (Lote 3). Na simulação da restrição hídrica foram utilizados dois agentes osmóticos, manitol e polietilenoglicol 6000 (PEG 6000), ajustados para os potenciais osmóticos de 0; -0,2; -0,4; -0,6 e -0,8 MPa. Para simular o estresse salino, foram utilizadas soluções de NaCl, nas condutividades elétricas de 0,0; 5,0; 10,0; 15,0; 20,0; 25,0; 30,0 dS m-1. Foram avaliados: germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, comprimento da parte aérea e da raiz e massa seca da parte aérea e da raiz das plântulas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições de 25 sementes para cada tratamento. Os resultados demonstraram que o estresse hídrico induzido por manitol não influenciou a germinação e o comprimento da raiz das plântulas de sabiá, reduziu o IVG e o comprimento e massa seca da parte aérea das plântulas, e aumentou a massa seca da raiz das plântulas. A restrição hídrica simulada com PEG, por sua vez, se mostrou mais crítica, reduzindo a porcentagem e a velocidade de germinação, o comprimento da parte aérea e da raiz, além da massa seca da parte aérea e da raiz das plântulas. Os três lotes responderam de maneira semelhante ao estresse hídrico, porém o Lote 3, com sementes provenientes de Montanhas – RN, foi menos vigoroso que os demais. A salinidade reduziu a germinação e o vigor das sementes de M. caesalpiniifolia, diminuindo os parâmetros avaliados nas condutividades elétricas mais elevadas (25,0 e 30,0 dS m-1), e afetando de maneira mais expressiva, o IVG e o comprimento da parte aérea das plântulas. O Lote 2 se mostrou mais tolerante ao estresse salino / 2017-05-22

The Canadian mining industry is one of Canada’s largest industrial sectors, creating jobs and a significant contributor to the economy. However, the mining activities can be detrimental to the environment due to the release of pollutants. Mining extensively uses nitrogen-based explosives, creating explosive impacted mining wastewaters (EIMWW) that contains substantial quantities of ammonia which is toxic to fish and thus, it has serious environmental repercussions. Ion-exchange (IE) with zeolite is an effective method for ammonia removal as it is easily automated, has a rapid start-up, is not significantly impacted by cold temperature or toxicity effects. Thus, it is particularly suited for Canadian mines. However, the traditional IE regeneration approach of using high concentration NaCl solutions creates a secondary polluting stream. Chlorine regeneration of ammonia-loaded zeolite appears to be a promising option to avoid such a secondary source of contamination. An evaluation of this option and other alternative regeneration are the main focus of this thesis. This thesis includes two initiatives. The first is a set of multi-cycle column loading and regeneration tests to investigate the feasibility of a zeolite (SIR-600) column for ammonia removal from a synthetic EIMWW, containing K and Ca as competing ions, coupled with regeneration using different concentration of chlorine solutions and combined salt+chlorine regeneration solutions. NaOCl regeneration was quite effective, but it was slower than salt regeneration. During the NaOCl regeneration, the main mechanism appears to be the oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen gas and hydrogen ions, however the Na in the NaOCl solution also seems to have a role in the regeneration. This results in pH levels around 3 for approximately half the regeneration cycles. In the combined salt+chlorine regeneration, the incorporation of the salt leads to more rapid elusion of the three ions presumbaly because of the higher sodium concentration (205 meq/L Na versus 14 meq/L Na). The long-term total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) uptake of SIR-600 regenerated with a NaOCl and NaOCl-NaCl were fairly similar, they varied within a relatively small range (0.185meq/g - 0.202meq/g). Thus, the various regeneration schemes did not impact the TAN uptake. The only apparent limitation of NaOCl regeneration is that it required a longer duration. However, the NaOCl is very promising because it resulted in very similar TAN uptakes, the SIR-600 showed a higher preference for TAN over K and avoided creating an additional process waste stream. The second initiative addressed concerns regarding the long-term integrity of SIR-600 arising from its exposure to low pH solutions during the regeneration. Long-term batch tests were performed to expose SIR-600 to low pH conditions (pH=2, pH=3, pH=4) and the characteristics of this IE material were evaluated. The 3-month low batch exposure experiment showed that pH below 4 decreased the TAN uptake capacity by up to 58%. There was no considerable impact on the surface gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD). The exposure to pH=2 and pH=3 led to breakdown of the outer surface of SIR-600 and the creation of fine particles. It also led to decreases in the BET surface area and a decrease in the TAN uptake proportional to the decrease in the BET surface area. Thus, the exposure to pHs below 4 impacts the durability of SIR-600, so SIR-600 may have to be replaced more frequently. However, regeneration with NaOCl solutions still seems very promising as it avoids the creation of a secondary waste stream.