The effect of added iron on the growth of Clostridium botulinum type A in a chemically defined medium was studied. Growth of C. botulinum was supported by an iron level of 0.05 ug/ml with maximum growth observed at a level of 3 ug iron/ml. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies were conducted to detect the presence of iron-sulfur centers and iron-nitric oxide complexes in untreated and nitrite treated cell-free extracts of C. botulinum type A. Untreated extracts of C. botulinum exhibited EPR signals in the oxidized and reduced states characteristic of a "HiPiP-type" iron-sulfur center (g=2.02) in the oxidized state and a reduced signal at g=l.94, characteristic of a reduced iron-sulfur center. Extracts of C. botulinum treated with nitrite exhibited an EPR signal at g=2.035, characteristic of iron-nitrosyl complexes, with the simultaneous disappearance of the the signal at g=l.94. This indicates that nitrite reacts with the iron-sulfur centers in botulinal cells to form iron-nitrosyl complexes. Addition of ascorbate with nitrite intensified the EPR signal at g=2.035, probably by enhancing the reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide. A cytochrome c reduction method was used for the determination of ferredoxin activity in untreated and nitrite treated cells of C. botulinum type A from which ferredoxin had been partially purified. Untreated extracts of C. botulinum reduced cytochrome c which demonstrates ferredoxin activity within the cells. Treatment of the cells with nitrite at a level of 1000 ppm for 45 min was found to inhibit ferredoxin activity by 90%. Boiling the partially purified ferredoxin from the untreated cells for 5 min inactivated the protein. Pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase activity in partially purified extracts of nitrite treated and untreated cells of C. botulinum was determined by assaying for FAD reduction and acylhydroxamate formation. Nitrite treated cells exhibited an inhibition of 70% of FAD reducing activity and 80% inhibition of acylhydroxamate formation when compared to the untreated cells. Boiling inhibited the activity of partially purified oxidoreductase activity by more than 90% in both the assays.

El tema de esta investigación se centra en el diseño y la evaluación de concreto elaborado a partir de aguas residuales domesticas tratadas mediante dos tipos diferentes de procesos biológicos (lodos activados y humedales artificiales) como alternativa al uso de agua potable en Lima Metropolitana. Actualmente, se conoce que la disponibilidad de agua potable en la ciudad de Lima no es abundante y las proyecciones a futuro indican que la demanda por el incremento poblacional generará problemas de escasez de este recurso. Debido a ello, es importante tomar medidas al respecto que permitan ahorrar este valioso recurso en industrias que consumen más agua como la de producción de concreto. Ante esta problemática, el uso de aguas residuales tratadas se muestra como una posible opción para reemplazar al agua potable en la elaboración de concreto. La presente tesis se desarrolla en 7 capítulos detallados a continuación: En Capítulo 1, se presenta el marco teórico, el cual incluye las principales bases teóricas utilizadas. En el Capítulo 2 se definen las características de los materiales empleados y la metodología de la investigación. En el Capítulo 3 se muestran los resultados de los ensayos y evaluaciones realizadas. En el Capítulo 4 se realiza la verificación de los resultados y luego la discusión de los mismos. En el Capítulo 5 se presentan las conclusiones y en el Capítulo 6 se detallan las recomendaciones. Finalmente, en el Capítulo 7 se muestran las referencias de otras investigaciones citadas en la presente Tesis y, adicionalmente, se muestran los anexos de la investigación. Al final de la investigación, se determinó que el concreto elaborado con aguas residuales domesticas tratadas mediante el proceso biológico de lodos activados si es una alternativa factible al uso de agua potable al presentar resultados similares a los del grupo de control. / The subject of this research focuses on the design and evaluation of concrete made from domestic wastewater treated by two different types of biological processes (activated sludge and artificial wetlands) as an alternative to the use of drinking water in the city of Lima. Currently, it is known that the availability of drinking water in the city of Lima is not abundant and future projections indicate that the demand due to population increase will generate water shortage problems. Because of this, it is important to take measures to save this valuable resource in industries that consume more water, such as concrete production. Given this problem, the use of treated wastewater is shown as a possible option to replace drinking water in concrete production. This thesis is developed in 7 chapters detailed below: In Chapter 1, the theoretical framework is presented, which includes the main theoretical bases used. Chapter 2 defines the characteristics of the materials used and the methodology of this investigation. Chapter 3 shows the results of the tests and evaluations carried out. In Chapter 4, the results are verified and then discussed. In Chapter 5 the conclusions are presented and in Chapter 6 the recommendations are detailed. Chapter 7 shows the references of other research cited in this Thesis and, finally the annexes of the thesis are shown. At the end of the investigation, it was determined that concrete made with domestic wastewater treated by the biological process of activated sludge is a feasible alternative to the use of potable water when presenting results similar to those of the control group. / Tesis

O monitoramento da qualidade da água de diálise caracteriza uma importante ferramenta para a tomada de decisões quando resultados laboratoriais insatisfatórios são disponibilizados em curto período de tempo. Os inconvenientes relacionados ao tempo de espera para a obtenção dos resultados têm conduzido à busca de métodos microbiológicos alternativos que permitam obter dados exatos, precisos e em menor tempo do que os obtidos por métodos clássicos. Este projeto teve por finalidade avaliar o desempenho do método microbiológico alternativo para a contagem de bactérias heterotróficas em água tratada para diálise através da técnica de detecção microbiana pelo uso de fluorescência. Inicialmente foi realizada a determinação do tempo mínimo de incubação para obtenção de valores de contagem confiáveis pelo método alternativo, seguido pela avaliação de desempenho do método contemplando todos os parâmetros estabelecidos em compêndios nacionais e internacionais e a demonstração da equivalência do método alternativo frente ao método tradicional, através da avaliação de 23 amostras de água tratada para diálise. Os resultados demonstraram que o método alternativo permite a quantificação de bactérias heterotróficas após 40 horas de incubação, com exatidão e precisão para o range de 5 a 100 UFC/placa, resultando em uma redução de aproximadamente 67% do tempo atualmente empregado no método tradicional. Portanto, a técnica de detecção microbiana pelo uso de fluorescência se mostrou uma opção viável para a implementação de um método microbiológico rápido para a contagem de bactérias heterotróficas em amostras de água tratada para hemodiálise. / Monitoring the quality of dialysis water is an important tool for decision-making when unsatisfactory results are available in a short period of time. The drawbacks related to waiting time for obtaining results have led to the search for alternative microbiological methods that allow accurate data to be obtained in less time than those obtained by classical methods. This project aimed to evaluate the alternative microbiological method performance for the heterotrophic bacteria counts in dialysis treated water through the microbial detection technique using fluorescence. Initially, the determination of the minimum incubation time to obtain reliable count values by the alternative method was performed, followed by the performance evaluation of the method, considering all the parameters established in national and international compendiums and demonstrating the equivalence of the alternative method to the traditional method, through the evaluation of 23 samples of dialysis treated water. The results demonstrated that the alternative method allows quantification of heterotrophic bacteria after 40 hours of incubation, with accuracy and precision for the range of 5 to 100 CFU/plate, resulting in a reduction of approximately 67% of the time currently used in the traditional method. Therefore, the microbial detection technique using fluorescence showed a viable option for the implementation of a rapid microbiological method for the heterotrophic bacteria counts in samples of treated water for hemodialysis.

<p>The aim of this study was to compare the water quality of raw wastewater and treated sewage effluents from three different sewage treatment plants in the Western Cape, South Africa. The treatment plants investigated are on the same river system. Sewage treatment plant 1 and 2 use older technologies, while sewage treatment plant 3 has been upgraded and new technologies (membrane bioreactor) were incorporated in the treatment processes. The first objective was to determine the occurrence of total coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and fluoroquinolone and sulfamethoxazole antibiotic residues in raw wastewater and treated sewage effluents. Bacteria in treated sewage effluents can result in diseases such as dysentery, gastroenteritis, and typhoid upon exposure. A chromogenic test was used to screen for coliforms and E. coli. Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) were used to quantitate antibiotic residues (fluoroquinolones and sulfamethoxazole) in raw wastewater and treated sewage effluents. This study showed that bacteria are present in raw wastewater and residual bacteria are released with treated sewage effluents from sewage treatment plants.</p>

End products of society (e.g. sewage sludge and incineration ashes) can be used as indicators of the use of chemicals in consumer goods. Through upstream work the sources of substances released from goods may be identified before the emissions reach the end products. This thesis is a result of five studies, of which four were conducted using substance flow analyses (SFA) for silver (Ag), bismuth (Bi) and copper (Cu) reaching sewage sludge. The fifth is an SFA that explores the implications of the presence of As (from CCA-treated wood) in ashes. These studies helped fulfil the specific and overall aims of the thesis; to contribute to the general knowledge on diffuse emissions reflected in end products, by examining emissions of some heavy metals from various societal goods and the implications for end products, in this case sewage sludge and, to some extent, ashes. The results from the studies, of which four had Stockholm as a study object, show the urban flows and accumulated amounts (stocks) of the heavy metals. The largest sources of the metals Ag, Bi and Cu in sewage sludge were identified to be textiles (Ag), cosmetics (Bi) and brake linings (Cu). For As (in CCA-treated wood) and Cu updated SFAs were performed and compared with earlier studies in order to follow the development and changes in flows over time. The current use of the heavy metals studied can also be seen as a loss of resources, and as the metals should ideally be recovered as a part of a circular economy, urban and landfill mining as well as recycling are alternatives that need further exploring. The legislation of chemicals in consumer goods was identified as an important step in handling corresponding diffuse emissions.

Where parties are married in community of property, debts are incurred by the parties and not by the joint estate. Each spouse is liable for debt incurred by either spouse. A creditor is, therefore, entitled to claim from joint estate of both spouses (as co debtors). Such an estate includes not only the spouse's undivided interest in the joint estate but also any and all separate property that falls outside the joint estate. Once the joint estate is sequestrated, both spouses become "insolvent debtors" and consequently the property (including separate property) of both spouses is available to creditors. The lnsolvency Act, as opposed to the Matrimonial Property Act, makes no provision for the recognition or sequestration of 'separate property". Although an estate is sequestrated, it is the debtor who is insolvent. A debtor (married in community of property) who possesses "separate property" is on sequestration of the joint estate insolvent in relation to both his or her undivided interest in the joint estate as well as any "separate property". But is this correct? Ample provision is made by various statutes for the exclusion of certain property from an insolvent estate. Does this not mean that a debtor might be insolvent in relation to one estate and not insolvent in relation to the other? The estate of a partnership is, for purposes of sequestration, deemed to be a separate entity from the partners' private estates. Where the partnership fails, creditors first have recourse against the estate of the partnership where after any shortfall may be claimed from the private estates of the partners. Although the estates of partners are sequestrated simultaneously with the estate of the partnership, creditors of the partnership may not proof their claims against the estate of a partner and vice versa. Is it just and equitable that a spouse who owns separate property is treated differently from a partner who does not possess a separate estate in law from the partnership estate? A partner only has one estate - a private estate that includes his or her interest in the partnership. It is concluded that despite the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal in Du Plessis v Pienaar, a sense of dissatisfaction still prevails regarding the status of separate property. It is furthermore suggested that in view of the lack of provisions in the insolvency Act regarding separately owned property, the said Act be amended to provide for the specific exclusion of separate property from an insolvent joint estate. It is more advisable to provide for the exclusion of separate property from the insolvent joint estate than to provide for the simultaneous sequestration thereof. / Thesis (LL.M. (Estate Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

<p>The aim of this study was to compare the water quality of raw wastewater and treated sewage effluents from three different sewage treatment plants in the Western Cape, South Africa. The treatment plants investigated are on the same river system. Sewage treatment plant 1 and 2 use older technologies, while sewage treatment plant 3 has been upgraded and new technologies (membrane bioreactor) were incorporated in the treatment processes. The first objective was to determine the occurrence of total coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and fluoroquinolone and sulfamethoxazole antibiotic residues in raw wastewater and treated sewage effluents. Bacteria in treated sewage effluents can result in diseases such as dysentery, gastroenteritis, and typhoid upon exposure. A chromogenic test was used to screen for coliforms and E. coli. Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) were used to quantitate antibiotic residues (fluoroquinolones and sulfamethoxazole) in raw wastewater and treated sewage effluents. This study showed that bacteria are present in raw wastewater and residual bacteria are released with treated sewage effluents from sewage treatment plants.</p>

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Where parties are married in community of property, debts are incurred by the parties and not by the joint estate. Each spouse is liable for debt incurred by either spouse. A creditor is, therefore, entitled to claim from joint estate of both spouses (as co debtors). Such an estate includes not only the spouse's undivided interest in the joint estate but also any and all separate property that falls outside the joint estate. Once the joint estate is sequestrated, both spouses become "insolvent debtors" and consequently the property (including separate property) of both spouses is available to creditors. The lnsolvency Act, as opposed to the Matrimonial Property Act, makes no provision for the recognition or sequestration of 'separate property". Although an estate is sequestrated, it is the debtor who is insolvent. A debtor (married in community of property) who possesses "separate property" is on sequestration of the joint estate insolvent in relation to both his or her undivided interest in the joint estate as well as any "separate property". But is this correct? Ample provision is made by various statutes for the exclusion of certain property from an insolvent estate. Does this not mean that a debtor might be insolvent in relation to one estate and not insolvent in relation to the other? The estate of a partnership is, for purposes of sequestration, deemed to be a separate entity from the partners' private estates. Where the partnership fails, creditors first have recourse against the estate of the partnership where after any shortfall may be claimed from the private estates of the partners. Although the estates of partners are sequestrated simultaneously with the estate of the partnership, creditors of the partnership may not proof their claims against the estate of a partner and vice versa. Is it just and equitable that a spouse who owns separate property is treated differently from a partner who does not possess a separate estate in law from the partnership estate? A partner only has one estate - a private estate that includes his or her interest in the partnership. It is concluded that despite the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal in Du Plessis v Pienaar, a sense of dissatisfaction still prevails regarding the status of separate property. It is furthermore suggested that in view of the lack of provisions in the insolvency Act regarding separately owned property, the said Act be amended to provide for the specific exclusion of separate property from an insolvent joint estate. It is more advisable to provide for the exclusion of separate property from the insolvent joint estate than to provide for the simultaneous sequestration thereof. / Thesis (LL.M. (Estate Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

abstract: Over the past century in the southwestern United States human actions have altered hydrological processes that shape riparian ecosystems. One change, release of treated wastewater into waterways, has created perennial base flows and increased nutrient availability in ephemeral or intermittent channels. While there are benefits to utilizing treated wastewater for environmental flows, there are numerous unresolved ecohydrological issues regarding the efficacy of effluent to sustain groundwater-dependent riparian ecosystems. This research examined how nutrient-rich effluent, released into waterways with varying depths to groundwater, influences riparian plant community development. Statewide analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of effluent generation and release revealed that hydrogeomorphic setting significantly influences downstream riparian response. Approximately 70% of effluent released is into deep groundwater systems, which produced the lowest riparian development. A greenhouse study assessed how varying concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, emulating levels in effluent, influenced plant community response. With increasing nitrogen concentrations, vegetation emerging from riparian seed banks had greater biomass, reduced species richness, and greater abundance of nitrophilic species. The effluent-dominated Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona, with a shallow groundwater upper reach and deep groundwater lower reach, served as a study river while the San Pedro River provided a control. Analysis revealed that woody species richness and composition were similar between the two systems. Hydric pioneers (Populus fremontii, Salix gooddingii) were dominant at perennial sites on both rivers. Nitrophilic species (Conium maculatum, Polygonum lapathifolium) dominated herbaceous plant communities and plant heights were greatest in effluent-dominated reaches. Riparian vegetation declined with increasing downstream distance in the upper Santa Cruz, while patterns in the lower Santa Cruz were confounded by additional downstream agricultural input and a channelized floodplain. There were distinct longitudinal and lateral shifts toward more xeric species with increasing downstream distance and increasing lateral distance from the low-flow channel. Patterns in the upper and lower Santa Cruz reaches indicate that water availability drives riparian vegetation outcomes below treatment facilities. Ultimately, this research informs decision processes and increases adaptive capacity for water resources policy and management through the integration of ecological data in decision frameworks regarding the release of effluent for environmental flows. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Plant Biology 2011