bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Water‐Resources and Water‐Quality Management Plan for the City of Tallinn, Estonia
Authors: Faulkner B. , Cleverly G. , Seemendi S. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe increasingly common occurrence of eutrophic conditions in shallow lakes and reservoirs, including the presence of potentially toxic blue‐green algae, has given rise to water‐quality concerns throughout the world. The need to undertake active catchment management to improve raw‐water quality is a key component of the new EC Water Framework Directive.This paper describes the investigations which were undertaken in Tallinn (the capital of Estonia, the northernmost of the Baltic States) to develop an integrated approach to catchment and lake management, in order to improve the quality of the surface‐water resource which provides 90% of the total drinking‐water needs of the city. Several tools, including ‘geographical information systems’and spreadsheet‐based financial and water‐resources models, were developed to investigate the source of the water‐quality problems. Practical solutions comprising an innovative and cost‐effective catchment‐management approach to overcome the seasonal raw‐water quality issues, whilst also reducing treatment plant operating costs, are described. Some of the recommendations have been tested by Tallinn Water following the investigations, and some improvements in raw and treated water quality have been attained.
SUSTAINABLE OPERATION OF A SMALL‐SCALE FLOOD‐ATTENUATION WETLAND AND DRY POND SYSTEM
Authors: Scholz M. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTPond structures as cost‐effective source‐control drainage techniques can be applied in order to reduce the downstream risk of flooding. In the UK, there are no widely accepted performance data on pond structures, yet there is a need for detailed design and operation guidelines, coupled with data on urban biodiversity enhancement, maintenance, reliability, economics and social acceptance. The purpose of this study was to investigate (a) cost‐effectiveness and self‐sustainability of stormwater pond systems, and (b) compatibility with the primary needs of water removal and storage to wildlife and amenity enhancement. A case study was used, based upon a combined attenuation wetland and dry pond construction for roof‐water runoff.
A COST‐EFFECTIVE SURVEY OF FISH OCCURRING IN A LINEAR WATERBODY
Authors: Smith P. A. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTEstimating the abundance of fish which occur at a low density presents difficulties. This study compares intensive netting with extensive electric fishing for the assessment of zander (Stizostedion lucioperca) — a predatory fish which is found in some lakes, rivers and canals. Whilst netting caught more zander per unit area, larger areas could be surveyed using single‐pass electric fishing, and the catch per unit effort (man day) was much higher. Electric fishing was examined in detail, and zander which were less than 200 mm in ‘forklength’ were caught with a low‐capture efficiency (<20%), whilst longer fish were caught with a higher and relatively constant efficiency (>40%). The approach is offered as a model to develop methods to assess the abundance of low‐density fish.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF MODERN HYDRO‐ELECTRIC POWER SCHEMES FOR FISHERIES
Authors: Shaw T. L. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTModern hydro‐electric power schemes operate without storage, abstracting a proportion of the flow in the river whenever the level is above a specified minimum. The electricity is passed to the national grid and the water returns to the river without delay or contamination.The ecological aspects of this form of abstraction mean that they are generally acceptable. Fisheries is one of several topics which requires close attention, and another is the consequences and effects brought about by changes to the flow regime. The purpose of this paper is to explore the interaction between those flows which are reduced (only some are affected) and the associated fishery issues.The effects of typical abstraction regimes on down‐river hydrographs, and in particular on the magnitude and timing of flows, are explained in the context of the particularly variable conditions which occur in upland rivers, i.e. the preferred location for many so‐called run‐of‐river hydroelectric schemes. The limited evidence which is available for migratory fish movement through such reaches is used to assess how these movements could be affected by typical abstraction regimes.
INCINERATION ‐ IS THERE A CASE?
Authors: CChem Paul Lowe , Hudson John A 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTIncineration has suffered from a sustained campaign of misinformation. Consequently it has been regarded as the least sustainable option for the treatment of wastes, including sewage sludge. By looking carefully at the issues surrounding the incineration of sewage sludge, as an example, it can be seen that reality does not support the commonly held view. Modern plants are an effective means of recovering the energy value of sludge and at the same time offer a continuous operation, which is independent of weather or land constraints.Of course incineration needs to be regulated and EU Directives and National Regulations set the emission standards. The technology is such that these standards can be met, and more than this, the systems are capable of upgrading as more stringent standards are imposed.Concerns over NOx, dioxins, metals and pathogens are highlighted. In addition the permitting process is discussed. None of these should present a barrier to the implementation of incineration projects. Indeed the paper goes further and demonstrates that there is likely to be an increasing role for incineration as landfill, recycling to agricultural land and other options become more restrictive.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF LANDFILL LEACHATES
Authors: KAUR K. , CHURCHLEY J. , KANDHOLA N. J. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTSome landfill site operators use wastewater treatment plants for the discharge of complex leachate waste. However, for the water company involved in managing the wastewater plant, leachates can pose a problem to the quality of the effluent, due to the high levels of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), ammonia and inorganic metal constituents. Electrochemical oxidation of landfill leachate has been successfully used by researchers(1,2,3,4) with current densities of 5 to 100 mA/cm2. A new laboratory system has been developed which utilises a low current density of 2.42 mA/cm2 and the performance has been evaluated with synthetic and ’real’ landfill leachates from 2 wastewater sites.This system reduces COD of synthetic mixtures by 58%, with complete removal of ammonia. For real leachates, 5 out of 8 samples resulted in ammonia reduction, with 2 samples experiencing approximately. 60% COD reduction. Power costs for treatment have been determined and the potential for a full‐scale installation considered.
Lacking deoxygenation‐linked interaction between cytoplasmic domain of band 3 and HbF from fetal red blood cells
Authors: Weber R. E. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractAim:  Several of the red blood cell’s metabolic and membrane functions display dependence on haemoglobin oxygenation. In adult human red cells, the increased glycolytic rate at low O2 tension results from binding of deoxygenated HbA at negatively charged, N‐terminal, cytoplasmic domain of the membrane protein band 3, which liberates glycolytic enzymes from this site. This study aims to investigate the role of fetal HbF (that has lower anion‐binding capacity than HbA) in fetal red cells (that are subjected to low O2 tensions), and to elucidate possible linkage (e.g. via the major red cell membrane organising centre, band 3) between the individual oxygenation‐linked reactions encountered in red cells.Methods:  The interaction between band 3 and Hb is analysed in terms of the effects, measured under different conditions, of a 10‐mer peptide that corresponds to the N‐terminus of human band 3 protein, on the oxygenation reaction of HbF and HbA, isolated from umbilical chord red cells.Results:  Contrasting with the unequivocal interaction of the peptide with HbA that with fetal HbF is weak, and annihilated in the presence of autochthonous red cell O2 affinity modulators (chloride and organic phosphates).Conclusion:  The data indicate that HbF does not function as a transducer mediating O2 dependence of glycolysis in fetal red cells, in accordance with the different O2 and metabolic profiles compared to those in HbA‐bearing adult red cells. In conjunction with the previously discovered O2 dependence of K+ transport in HbF‐rich fetal cells, they moreover argue against linkage between different, physiologically relevant, O2‐dependent red cell functions.
Hepatic venous outflow reconstruction in right lobe graft without middle hepatic vein
Authors: Wu Hong , Yan Lu‐Nan , Li Bo , Zeng Yong , Wen Tian‐Fu , Zhao Ji‐Chun , Wang Wen‐Tao , Yang Jia‐Yin , Xu Ming‐Qing , Chen Zhe‐Yu , Lu Qiang , Luo Hong‐zhi , Li Jin 
Published: July 2007

Background:  We explored the pattern of hepatic venous outflow reconstruction in adult right lobe (segments V5–8) living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) without the middle hepatic vein (MHV). The difficulty and challenge of LDLT without MHV is the outflow reconstruction of hepatic vein. We have modified the surgical procedure and here report the results.Methods:  Retrospective analysis was made of the clinical data of 50 recipients who underwent LDLT using right lobe without MHV.Results:  Forty‐five recipients (90.0%, 45/50) are alive at median follow up of 10 months. The graft‐to‐recipient bodyweight ratio (GRWR) was 1.21% ± 0.49% (range, 0.72% to 1.98%). The recipients of GRWR <0.8% (extra‐small graft), 0.8% < GRWR < 1.2% (small graft) and GRWR > 1.2% (ideal graft) were 14, 27 and 9, respectively. Total ratio venous outflowreconstruction of V5, V8 and inferior right hepatic vein was 66.0% (33/50). The overall incidence of small‐for‐size syndrome was 10.0% (n = 5), the overall graft survival rate was 92.0% (46/50).Conclusions:  Graft function and survival rates are not only influenced by graft size, but also by hepatic venous outflow reconstruction; the ‘multiple‐opening vertical anastomosis’ for reconstruction of hepatic vein outflow was used when the GRWR was smaller than 1.2%. This technique alleviates surgical risk in living donors, ensures excellent venous drainage, and reduces the incidence of small‐for‐size syndrome.
Characterization of UVC Light Sensitivity of Vaccinia Virus
Authors: McDevitt James J. , Lai Ka Man , Rudnick Stephen N. , Houseman E. Andres , First Melvin W. , Milton Donald K. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTInterest in airborne smallpox transmission has been renewed because of concerns regarding the potential use of smallpox virus as a biothreat agent. Air disinfection via upper-room 254-nm germicidal UV (UVC) light in public buildings may reduce the impact of primary agent releases, prevent secondary airborne transmission, and be effective prior to the time when public health authorities are aware of a smallpox outbreak. We characterized the susceptibility of vaccinia virus aerosols, as a surrogate for smallpox, to UVC light by using a benchtop, one-pass aerosol chamber. We evaluated virus susceptibility to UVC doses ranging from 0.1 to 3.2 J/m2, three relative humidity (RH) levels (20%, 60%, and 80%), and suspensions of virus in either water or synthetic respiratory fluid. Dose-response plots show that vaccinia virus susceptibility increased with decreasing RH. These plots also show a significant nonlinear component and a poor fit when using a first-order decay model but show a reasonable fit when we assume that virus susceptibility follows a log-normal distribution. The overall effects of RH (P< 0.0001) and the suspending medium (P= 0.014) were statistically significant. When controlling for the suspending medium, the RH remained a significant factor (P< 0.0001) and the effect of the suspending medium was significant overall (P< 0.0001) after controlling for RH. Virus susceptibility did not appear to be a function of virus particle size. This work provides an essential scientific basis for the design of effective upper-room UVC installations for the prevention of airborne infection transmission of smallpox virus by characterizing the susceptibility of an important orthopoxvirus to UVC exposure.
Relationship between Phylogenetic Groups, Genotypic Clusters, and Virulence Gene Profiles of
Escherichia coli
Strains from Diverse Human and Animal Sources
Authors: Ishii Satoshi , Meyer Katriya P. , Sadowsky Michael J. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli
strains in water may originate from various sources, including humans, farm and wild animals, waterfowl, and pets. However, potential human health hazards associated with
E. coli
strains present in various animal hosts are not well known. In this study,
E. coli
strains from diverse human and animal sources in Minnesota and western Wisconsin were analyzed for the presence of genes coding for virulence factors by using multiplex PCR and biochemical reactions. Of the 1,531 isolates examined, 31 (2%) were found to be Shiga toxin-producing
E. coli
(STEC) strains. The majority of these strains, which were initially isolated from the ruminants sheep, goats, and deer, carried the
stx
1c
and/or
stx
2d
,
ehxA
, and
saa
genes and belonged to
E. coli
phylogenetic group B1, indicating that they most likely do not cause severe human diseases. All the STEC strains, however, lacked
eae
. In contrast, 26 (1.7%) of the
E. coli
isolates examined were found to be potential enteropathogenic
E. coli
(EPEC) strains and consisted of several intimin subtypes that were distributed among various human and animal hosts. The EPEC strains belonged to all four phylogenetic groups examined, suggesting that EPEC strains were relatively widespread in terms of host animals and genetic background. Atypical EPEC strains, which carried an EPEC adherence factor plasmid, were identified among
E. coli
strains from humans and deer. DNA fingerprint analyses, done using the horizontal, fluorophore-enhanced repetitive-element, palindromic PCR technique, indicated that the STEC, potential EPEC, and non-STEC
ehxA
-positive
E. coli
strains were genotypically distinct and clustered independently. However, some of the potential EPEC isolates were genotypically indistinguishable from nonpathogenic
E. coli
strains. Our results revealed that potential human health hazards associated with pathogenic
E. coli
strains varied among the animal hosts that we examined and that some animal species may harbor a greater number of potential pathogenic strains than other animal species.
Microbial Isobutyronitrile Utilization under Haloalkaline Conditions
Authors: Sorokin Dimitry Y. , van Pelt Sander , Tourova Tatjana P. , Muyzer Gerard 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

The utilization of isobutyronitrile (iBN) as a C and N source under haloalkaline conditions by microbial communities from soda lake sediments and soda soils was studied. In both cases, a consortium consisting of two different bacterial species capable of the complete degradation and utilization of iBN at pH 10 was selected. The soda lake sediment consortium consisted of a new actinobacterium and a gammaproteobacterium from the genus
Marinospirillum
. The former was capable of fast hydrolysis of aliphatic nitriles to the corresponding amides and much-slower further hydrolysis of the amides to carboxylic acids. Its partner cannot hydrolyze nitriles but grew rapidly on amides and carboxylic acids, thus acting as a scavenger of products released by the actinobacterium. The soda soil consortium consisted of two
Bacillus
species (RNA group 1). One of them initiated nitrile hydrolysis, and the other utilized the hydrolysis products isobutyroamide (iBA) and isobutyrate (iB). In contrast to the actinobacterium, the nitrile-hydrolyzing soil
Bacillus
grew rapidly with hydrolysis products, but it was dependent on vitamins most probably supplied by its product-utilizing partner. All four bacterial strains isolated were moderately salt-tolerant alkaliphiles with a pH range for growth from pH 7.0 to 8.5 up to 10.3 to 10.5. However, both their nitrile hydratase and amidase activities had a near-neutral pH optimum, indicating an intracellular localization of these enzymes. Despite this fact, the study demonstrated a possibility of whole-cell biocatalytic hydrolysis of various nitriles at haloalkaline conditions.
Plutonium(IV) Reduction by the Metal-Reducing Bacteria
Geobacter metallireducens
GS15 and
Shewanella oneidensis
MR1
Authors: Boukhalfa Hakim , Icopini Gary A. , Reilly Sean D. , Neu Mary P. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

The bacterial reduction of actinides has been suggested as a possible remedial strategy for actinide-contaminated environments, and the bacterial reduction of Pu(VI/V) has the potential to produce highly insoluble Pu(IV) solid phases. However, the behavior of plutonium with regard to bacterial reduction is more complex than for other actinides because it is possible for Pu(IV) to be further reduced to Pu(III), which is relatively more soluble than Pu(IV). This work investigates the ability of the metal-reducing bacteria
Geobacter metallireducens
GS15 and
Shewanella oneidensis
MR1 to enzymatically reduce freshly precipitated amorphous Pu(IV) (OH)
4
[Pu(IV)(OH)
4(am)
] and soluble Pu(IV)(EDTA). In cell suspensions without added complexing ligands, minor Pu(III) production was observed in cultures containing
S. oneidensis
, but little or no Pu(III) production was observed in cultures containing
G. metallireducens
. In the presence of EDTA, most of the Pu(IV)(OH)
4(am)
present was reduced to Pu(III) and remained soluble in cell suspensions of both
S. oneidensis
and
G. metallireducens
. When soluble Pu(IV)(EDTA) was provided as the terminal electron acceptor, cell suspensions of both
S. oneidensis
and
G. metallireducens
rapidly reduced Pu(IV)(EDTA) to Pu(III)(EDTA) with nearly complete reduction within 20 to 40 min, depending on the initial concentration. Neither bacterium was able to use Pu(IV) (in any of the forms used) as a terminal electron acceptor to support growth. These results have significant implications for the potential remediation of plutonium and suggest that strongly reducing environments where complexing ligands are present may produce soluble forms of reduced Pu species.
In Situ Monitoring of the Nascent
Pseudomonas fluorescens
Biofilm Response to Variations in the Dissolved Organic Carbon Level in Low-Nutrient Water by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Delille Anne , Quilès Fabienne , Humbert François 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Drinking water quality management requires early warning tools which enable water supply companies to detect quickly and to forecast degradation of the microbial quality of drinking water during its transport throughout distribution systems. This study evaluated the feasibility of assessing, in real time, drinking water biostability by monitoring in situ the evolution of the attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) fingerprint of a nascent reference biofilm exposed to water being tested. For this purpose, the responses of nascent
Pseudomonas fluorescens
biofilms to variations in the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) level in tap water were monitored in situ and in real time by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Nascent
P. fluorescens
biofilms consisting of a monolayer of bacteria were formed on the germanium crystal of an ATR flowthrough cell by pumping bacterial suspensions in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium through the cell. Then they were exposed to a continuous flow of dechlorinated sterile tap water supplemented with appropriate amounts of sterile LB medium to obtain DOC concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 11.8 mg/liter. The time evolution of infrared bands related to proteins, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids clearly showed that changes in the DOC concentration resulted in changes in the nascent biofilm ATR-FTIR fingerprint within 2 h after exposure of the biofilm to the water being tested. The initial bacterial attachment, biofilm detachment, and regrowth kinetics determined from changes in the areas of bands associated with proteins and polysaccharides were directly dependent on the DOC level. Furthermore, they were consistent with bacterial adhesion or growth kinetic models and extracellular polymeric substance overproduction or starvation-dependent detachment mechanisms.
Dynamics of Vaginal Bacterial Communities in Women Developing Bacterial Vaginosis, Candidiasis, or No Infection, Analyzed by PCR-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis and Real-Time PCR
Authors: Vitali Beatrice , Pugliese Ciro , Biagi Elena , Candela Marco , Turroni Silvia , Bellen Gert , Donders Gilbert G. G. , Brigidi Patrizia 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

The microbial flora of the vagina plays a major role in preventing genital infections, including bacterial vaginosis (BV) and candidiasis (CA). An integrated approach based on PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and real-time PCR was used to study the structure and dynamics of bacterial communities in vaginal fluids of healthy women and patients developing BV and CA. Universal eubacterial primers and
Lactobacillus
genus-specific primers, both targeted at 16S rRNA genes, were used in DGGE and real-time PCR analysis, respectively. The DGGE profiles revealed that the vaginal flora was dominated by
Lactobacillus
species under healthy conditions, whereas several potentially pathogenic bacteria were present in the flora of women with BV. Lactobacilli were the predominant bacterial population in the vagina for patients affected by CA, but changes in the composition of
Lactobacillus
species were observed. Real-time PCR analysis allowed the quantitative estimation of variations in lactobacilli associated with BV and CA diseases. A statistically significant decrease in the relative abundance of lactobacilli was found in vaginal fluids of patients with BV compared to the relative abundance of lactobacilli in the vaginal fluids of healthy women and patients with CA.
Genome-Wide Screen for Oxalate-Sensitive Mutants of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Cheng V. , Stotz H. U. , Hippchen K. , Bakalinsky A. T. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Oxalic acid is an important virulence factor produced by phytopathogenic filamentous fungi. In order to discover yeast genes whose orthologs in the pathogen may confer self-tolerance and whose plant orthologs may protect the host, a
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
deletion library consisting of 4,827 haploid mutants harboring deletions in nonessential genes was screened for growth inhibition and survival in a rich medium containing 30 mM oxalic acid at pH 3. A total of 31 mutants were identified that had significantly lower cell yields in oxalate medium than in an oxalate-free medium. About 35% of these mutants had not previously been detected in published screens for sensitivity to sorbic or citric acid. Mutants impaired in endosomal transport, the
rgp1
Δ,
ric1
Δ,
snf7
Δ,
vps16
Δ,
vps20
Δ, and
vps51
Δ mutants, were significantly overrepresented relative to their frequency among all verified yeast open reading frames. Oxalate exposure to a subset of five mutants, the
drs2
Δ,
vps16
Δ,
vps51
Δ,
ric1
Δ, and
rib4
Δ mutants, was lethal. With the exception of the
rib4
Δ mutant, all of these mutants are impaired in vesicle-mediated transport. Indirect evidence is provided suggesting that the sensitivity of the
rib4
Δ mutant, a riboflavin auxotroph, is due to oxalate-mediated interference with riboflavin uptake by the putative monocarboxylate transporter Mch5.