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Status of infectious disease markers among blood donors in a teaching hospital, Bhairahawa, western Nepal.

A cross-sectional group of 1548 blood donors (voluntary--554 and replacement--994 blood donors) during the period February 2001 to April 2003 at Blood Bank Centre (being run by Nepal Red Cross Society) in our Teaching Hospital in Bhairahawa, were studied and screened for antibodies to Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and type 2 (HIV- 1 & 2), Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by enzyme immunoassays and for reagin antibody for syphils by (Rapid Plasma Reagin, RPR) flocculation method. The results revealed that the overall prevalence of anti-HIV-1 was 0.13%, anti-HCV--0.13%, HBsAg positivity--0.45% and RPR reactivity for syphilis was 0.39%. HIV and HCV seropositivity was 0.20% and 0.20% respectively among replacement blood donors. None of the voluntary blood donors were found to be seropositive for HIV and HCV antibodies. HBsAg seropositivity was found to be higher among replacement (0.50%) than voluntary blood donors (0.36%). Voluntary blood donors showed a higher RPR seropositivity (0.72%) than replacement blood donors (0.20%). Males constituted 1418 (91.6%) and females were 130 (8.4%) of the total blood donors studied. The highest numbers of blood donors were in the age group of 15-29 years, both for males 902 (58.27%) and females 96 (6.2%). All the seventeen seropositive cases for all the infectious disease markers studied belonged to the sexually active and productive age group of 15-45 years and all seropositives were males except one female case (i.e HBsAg positive). One blood donor was found to be seropositive for both HIV-1 and HCV infections. None was found to be seropositive for HIV-2. Blood group status was also examined for all the blood donors tested. Maximum numbers of blood donors belonged to blood group O--516 (33.33%), followed by B 497 (32.11%), A 407 (26.29%) and AB 128 (8.27%). None of the seropositive blood donor was found to belonged to blood group AB.

Adolescent↗

Floc-forming properties of polyphosphate accumulating organisms in activated sludge.

The physico-chemical characteristics of polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAO) involved in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) was investigated in order to find a novel method for phosphorus recovery. If the physico-chemical characteristics of PAO are different from those of other main floc components, it may be possible to enrich PAO in bulk water or in the floc material for improved recovery of phosphorus. A combination of shear tests, chemical manipulation, and quantification of PAO by fluorescence in situ hybridization was applied. The microcolony strength of both Rhodocyclus-related PAO and Actinobacteria-related PAO was generally high as no treatment could break up more than 20% of all PAO in microcolonies. In contrast, it was possible to remove 20-40% of the organic matter and other bacterial cells by applying a high pH value or adding EDTA. With that a selective enrichment of PAO in the remaining floc material was possible. The feasibility of applying this selective PAO enrichment in flocs remains to be evaluated in full-scale plants for P-recovery.

Actinobacteria↗

Coagulant selection and sludge conditioning in a slaughterhouse wastewater treatment plant.

Attempts were made in this study to examine the effectiveness of polymer addition to the aeration tank effluent prior to sludge flotation as practiced in a slaughterhouse wastewater treatment plant. The plant currently uses 10 mg/l of polymer prior to sludge flotation, but alternative, less-expensive, chemicals such as alum could be equally effective. Therefore, experiments were conducted using the Standard Jar test to determine the performance of both alum (Al2SO4.6H2O) and organic polymer. The dosages used for alum ranged between 0 and 1000 mg/l, whereas polymer dosages varied between 0 and 90 mg/l. The (optimal) removal efficiency for suspended solids in the mixed liquor was obtained at 400 mg/l for alum and 30 mg/l for polymer. It is evident that addition of alum or polymer results in significant removal of suspended solids reaching up to 99% for alum and 96% for polymer but alum produced a more compacted sludge. Removal of filterable COD was much lower in both cases since the chemicals used target the colloidal and suspended portion of the COD rather than the soluble (filterable) part of the COD.

Abattoirs↗

[Plant scale test of a new efficient poly-aluminum chloride].

To meet the requirement of improved water quality, the economic water treatment process could be achieved by systematic coagulant selection and optimization of coagulation process. The experimental results show that the new coagulant developed has significantly improved the water quality, with marked modification of the particle size distribution feature after sediment and improved filtration efficiency. The organic removal ability, as shown by low TOC and UV254 in the finished water, is also significantly improved and also verified by using resin absorption characterization method. The TTHMFP for the source water is 20.98 microg/L and 11.01 microg/L for the traditional process. By using the new coagulant the TTHMFP is further decreased to 6.40 microg/L. With application of the new coagulant, the treatment costs are significantly decreased with further improved and simplified treatment process.

Aluminum Chloride↗

The application of bioflocculant for the removal of humic acids from stabilized landfill leachates.

The evaluation of bioflocculant, in comparison with traditional inorganic coagulants, for the removal of humic acids from landfill leachates stabilized by biological treatment, was performed using conventional jar-test coagulation experiments. The optimized conditions (pH and coagulant dosage) were identified for the treatment of synthetic solutions as well as for biologically pre-treated landfill leachates. It was found that the application of bioflocculant was quite efficient in the removal of humic acids from synthetic solutions as well as in the reduction of COD content from real landfill leachates. The optimal pH value was found to be between 7 and 7.5, while a 20 mg/l bioflocculant dosage was sufficient in providing more than 85% humic acid removal. The results were comparable with those obtained by the application of conventional coagulants such as alum or polyaluminum chloride; therefore, bioflocculant can be considered as a viable alternative in the treatment of landfill leachates applying coagulation.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Use of image analysis and rheological studies for the control of settleability of filamentous bacteria: application in SBR reactor.

To monitor the ability of flocs to settle in Sequencing Batch Reactor sludge, two methods were tested during two operation cycles. Firstly, an automated image analysis procedure has been tested to quantify the floc size and the length and number of filaments. Secondly, rheological measurements (Bingham viscosity and shear stress) have been used to characterise the dispersion of the sludge which can reflect the cohesive strength of aggregates and so the influence of filamentous bacteria on rheological properties. These results were compared with settling parameters such as Sludge Volume Index or settling velocity. Correlations between the measured parameters with image analysis and parameters such as Sludge Volume Index have been obtained. If it is more difficult to analyze rheological results, it seems however that the thixotropy and the Bingham viscosity distinguish poor settlement owing to some filamentous bulking. The first results are promising, although they require confirmation in the long term.

Bacterial Physiological Phenomena↗

Formation and breakage of flocs using dual polymers.

The effect of shear on the formation and break-up of flocs generated using cationic, anionic and non-ionic polymers, and dual combinations of these, has been investigated using conventional jar test procedure and by continuous optical monitoring. The breakage of flocs was followed at a high stirring speed, corresponding to average shear rate (G) of approximately 520 s(-1). Most of the breakage occurred within a few seconds of increasing the shear rate. After each breakage, the stirring rate was reduced to the original value of 50 rpm (G approximately 23 s(-1)) to allow the flocs to regrow. For cationic-anionic polymers case, the regrowth of flocs was fully reversible and the breakage factors were smallest indicating highest floc strength. In contrast, flocs formed using non-ionic polymer together with anionic or cationic did not produce as strong flocs. It is found that the sequence of polymer addition is not very significant for floc formation and reformation when the cationic-anionic dual system is used.

Acrylic Resins↗

Immunochemical determination of CK-MB isoenzyme in human serum: a radiometric approach.

The presence of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) in human serum is an indicator of myocardial injury. In this assay for CK-MB, reagent containing both rabbit antibodies to CK-MM and 125I-labeled sheep antibodies to CK-BB is added to the patient's serum and incubated for 1 h at ambient temperature. Goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin, conjugated to a mixture of amylose and polyvinylidene fluoride floccules, is then added. After a 15-min incubation, the mixture is centrifuged, isolating the two M-subunit-containing isoenzymes as insoluble complexes. Because the B-subunit portion of MB is labeled with 125I, the radio-activity in the pellet will be proportional to the amount of MB present. The discarded supernate contains excess sheep 125I-labeled BB antibodies, free or bound to BB isoenzyme if it is present. The preparation and characterization of the isoenzymes and antibodies is explained. Concentrations of CK-MB is sera of patients with and without an acute myocardial infarction were assayed in serial specimens obtained in 103 consecutive admissions to a coronary care unit. The performance of this radiometric procedure compared well with CK-MB electrophoresis, giving a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 92%.

Brain↗

Coaggregation among nonflocculating bacteria isolated from activated sludge.

Thirty-two strains of nonflocculating bacteria isolated from sewage-activated sludge were tested by a spectrophotometric assay for their ability to coaggregate with one other in two-membered systems. Among these strains, eight showed significant (74 to 99%) coaggregation with Acinetobacter johnsonii S35 while only four strains coaggregated, to a lesser extent (43 to 65%), with Acinetobacter junii S33. The extent and pattern of coaggregation as well as the aggregate size showed good correlation with cellular characteristics of the coaggregating partners. These strains were identified by sequencing of full-length 16S rRNA genes. A. johnsonii S35 could coaggregate with strains of several genera, such as Oligotropha carboxidovorans, Microbacterium esteraromaticum, and Xanthomonas spp. The role of Acinetobacter isolates as bridging organisms in multigeneric coaggregates is indicated. This investigation revealed the role of much-neglected nonflocculating bacteria in floc formation in activated sludge.

Acinetobacter↗

Cell surface and exopolymer characterization of laboratory stabilized activated sludge from a beverage bottling plant.

Fermentor-stabilized activated sludge from an industrial beverage bottling plant was grown on three different food sources: normal plant wastewater, plant wastewater containing high sucrose concentrations, and a synthetic glucose-based feed stock. Surface charge, hydrophobicity, and exopolysaccharide composition were measured on the stabilized bacterial flocs. Cell surface charge was measured by electrophoretic mobility, dye exchange titration, and a standard colloid titration, while cell hydrophobicity was determined using the bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbons (BATH) test. Exopolysaccharide profiles were determined by measuring concentrations of glucose, galactose, mannose, glucuronic, and galacturonic acids in digested exopolymer extractions using HPLC. Changes in the physical surface properties of the bacteria and the chemical composition of the extracted exopolymers were correlated with differences in the three food sources. Cell surface hydrophobicity was similar for cultures grown on different plant wastewaters, while the culture grown on synthetic food produced less floc hydrophobicity. Electrophoretic mobility measurements, charge titrations, and dye exchange titrations showed different total surface charge as well as varying charge availability. Additionally, total surface charge and total exopolysaccharide concentrations appeared less dependent on food source than the food-to-mass ratio. High concentrations of biodegradable food produced dispersed growth and high concentrations of exopolysaccharides that contributed to poor settling.

Bacteria↗

Color removal from cotton textile industry wastewater in an activated sludge system with various additives.

The low biodegradability of many dyes and textile chemicals indicates that biological treatment is not always successful in the treatment of cotton textile wastewater, in terms of color removal. In this study, a specific organic flocculant (Marwichem DEC), powdered activated carbon (PAC), bentonite, activated clay and commercial synthetic inorganic clay (Macrosorb) were directly added into the activated sludge laboratory pilot plant model. Before dosage, the optimum sludge retention time and hydraulic retention time were determined as 30 days and 1.6 days, respectively. The Monod kinetic constants were determined as Y = 0.76 kg MLSS/kg COD, Kd = 0.026 l/day, K(S) = 113.3 mg/L, k = 0.42 l/day and mu(max) = 0.32 kg MLSS/kg COD day. Under these conditions the average COD removal was 94% and color removal was 36%. The addition of these materials did not change COD removal significantly. The most effective materials were found to be DEC and PAC for color removal. While the color removal efficiency for 120 mg/L DEC addition was 78%, it was 65% for 100 mg/L, 77% for 200 mg/L and 86% for 400 mg/L PAC addition. The advantage of DEC compared to PAC was the lower sludge production. Statistical analyses using multiple linear regression indicate that there is no relationship between the effluent color with the influent color and total suspended solids (TSS) for DEC and PAC addition. On the other hand, when only bentonite, activated clay and Macrosorb were added, the effluent color was primarily dependent on the influent color and the TSS concentration had little effect. When the data is examined by using Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U tests and it was found that there was a significant difference between the color data groups.

Adsorption↗

Effect of SRT and temperature on biological conversions and the related scum-forming potential.

Sludge flotation was reported to cause several operational problems in anaerobic systems including UASB reactors treating both strong domestic sewage and some industrial wastewater. This research is to investigate the effect of anaerobic digestion on scum-forming potential (SFP) of sludge and other physical-chemical properties. A simple test was developed to measure and compare the tendency of different sludge to form a scum layer. Results showed that anaerobic digestion affects chemical composition of sludge flocs and consequently, SFP, which was found to be inversely proportional to the degree of digestion (both SRT and temperature). It was suggested that higher protein concentration at elevated SRT and 25 degrees C increased the negative surface charge of sludge flocs and ,consequently, reduced the ability of sludge to attach to gas bubbles and float. Floc average size increased with increasing SRT and temperature, especially for sludge with 75d SRT at 25 degrees C. On the other hand, settling properties of sludge were negatively affected by increasing SRT to 75d at 25 degrees C. Filterability had a strong positive correlation with average floc size, but also polymeric constituents correlated positively with filterability at 25 degrees C.

Anaerobiosis↗

Ecotoxicological properties of wastewater treated using tertiary methods.

The objective of this work was the examination of the efficiency of coagulation and ozonation processes for the production of reclaimed wastewater with low toxicity. Municipal secondary effluents were treated by FeCl3, Al2(SO4)3 (alum), and a commercial substance at metal ion concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mmol/L. Alternatively, the effluents were treated by ozonation in a semibatch ozone reactor. The feed gas was introduced at a flowrate of 3 L/min containing ozone at various concentrations, ranging between 2.5 and 8 mg/L; ozone residence times were 2, 5, 15, and 30 min. The toxic effects of the advanced treated effluents were examined by a battery of tests using the marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri, the freshwater crustaceans Daphnia magna, Daphnia pulex, and Thamnocephalus platyurus, and the rotifers Brachionus calyciflorus. The addition of alum decreased the toxic effect of reclaimed wastewater on immobilization of D. pulex, from 90 to 60%. Ozonation was also effective for toxicity removal, which decreased to 25% effect on D. pulex after treatment by 2.5 mg O3/L for 2 min. However, acute toxic effects after ozonation, were observed on V. fischeri and were related to ozone gas concentration and contact time. At the highest ozone dosage, the toxicity reached almost 100% inhibition of bioluminescence after 15 min. The toxicity of the ozonated effluents to bacteria decreased with sample storage time and was almost negligible after 48 h, indicating that the potential adverse effect of reclaimed wastewaters on receiving waters might be reduced by storage for a certain time.

Aliivibrio fischeri↗

Aggregation kinetics of well and poorly differentiated human prostate cancer cells.

Aggregation of attachment-dependent animal cells represents a series of motility, collision, and adhesion events applicable to such diverse fields as tissue engineering, bioseparations, and drug testing. Aggregation of human prostate cancer cells in liquid-overlay culture was modeled using Smoluchowski's collision theory. Using well (LNCaP) and poorly differentiated (DU 145 and PC 3) cell lines, the biological relevance of the model was assessed by comparing aggregation rates with diffusive and adhesive properties. Diffusion coefficients ranged from 5 to 90 microm(2)/min for single LNCaP and PC 3 cells, respectively. Similar diffusivities were predicted by the persistent random walk model and Einstein relation, indicating random motion. LNCaP cells were the most adhesive in our study with reduced cell shedding, 100% adhesion probability, and enhanced expression of E-cadherin. There was an increase in DU 145 cells staining positive for E-cadherin from nearly 20% of single cells to uniform staining across the surface of all aggregates; under 30% of PC 3 aggregates stained positive. Aggregation rates were more consistent with adhesive properties than with motilities, suggesting that aggregation in our study was reaction-controlled. Relative to other assays employed here, aggregation rates were more sensitive to phenotypic differences in cell lines and described size-dependent changes in aggregation at a finer resolution. In particular, model results suggest similar aggregation rates for two-dimensional DU 145 and PC 3 aggregates and upwards of 4-fold higher rates for larger three-dimensional DU 145 spheroids, consistent with expression of E-cadherin. The kinetic model has application to spheroid production, to cell flocculation and as an adhesion assay.

Cell Adhesion↗

AAR1/TUP1 protein, with a structure similar to that of the beta subunit of G proteins, is required for a1-alpha 2 and alpha 2 repression in cell type control of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have cloned a DNA fragment complementing the aar1 mutation defective in the a1-alpha 2 repression of the alpha 1 cistron and haploid-specific genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nucleotide sequence and mapping data indicated that the AAR1 gene is identical with TUP1, which is allelic to the SFL2, FLK1, CYC9, UMR7, AMM1, and AER2 genes, whose mutations are known to confer a variety of phenotypes, such as thymidine uptake, flocculation, insensitivity to glucose repression, a defect in UV-induced mutagenesis, and a defect in ARS plasmid maintenance. The TUP1/AER2 protein is known to have significant similarity with the beta subunits of G proteins in the C-terminal half, in two glutamine-rich domains in the N-terminal half, and in a central region rich in serine and threonine residues. Disruption of the chromosomal AAR1 gene in alpha and a/alpha cells conferred the nonmating phenotype, and the a/alpha diploids could not sporulate. The AAR1/TUP1 gene is transcribed into a 2.5-kb mRNA independently of the mating-type information of the cell. These observations and mRNA analysis of cell-type-specific genes indicated that the AAR1/TUP1 protein is also indispensable for a1-alpha 2 repression of RME1 and for alpha 2 repression of a-specific genes.

Chromosomes, Fungal↗

Effect of carbohydrate and protein in the EPS on sludge settling characteristics.

EPSs have been believed to play a bonding role in microbial floc formation. However, the precise role is not well known. In this study, sludge settling characteristics and the carbohydrate to protein ratio in the EPS were tested at various airflow rates. Sludge was collected from three modified sequencing batch reacetors (MSBRs), which were operated with airflow rates of 0.8 L/min, 2 L/min and 4 L/min, respectively. During the operation periods, the reactor operated at an airflow rate of 0.8 L/min showed a sludge volume index (SVI) of 80 to 90 mL/g and a constant ratio of carbohydrate to protein in the EPS, while a significant increase of this ratio and the SVI occurred in the other reactors. High airflow rate increased the amount of carbohydrate in the EPS, but the protein level was almost constant for reactors with airflow rates of 2 L/min and 4 L/min. The higher ratio of carbohydrate to protein caused the bulking of the sludge; hence it was not favourable for sludge settling. The ratio of carbohydrate and protein in the EPS is inferred to be essential for solid floc formation.

Biopolymers↗

Flotation with polyelectrolytes as a first step of a more sustainable wastewater treatment system.

Within the framework of a research programme into more sustainable wastewater treatment systems based on physical-chemical pretreatment the application of dissolved air flotation (DAF) with polyelectrolytes as a primary treatment was investigated. Experiments with municipal wastewater were carried out in 2.5 I flotation batches and in a 100 I DAF pilot reactor. Two cationic polyelectrolytes (PEs) with molecular weights of 4 x 10(6) g/mol and 8 x 10(6) g/mol, were tested. The higher weight PE was more effective in removing turbidity and was used in the pilot experiments for coagulation/flocculation. Within the pilot system experiments the dry solids concentration of the float layer as well as the removal efficiencies of turbidity, CODparticulate, CODdissolved and nutrients, were studied. Typical results were that the obtained dry solids concentration of the floated sludge was 10%, when the float layer was removed after several hours. By using polyelectrolytes it was possible to remove more than 80% of CODparticulate and turbidity at dosages of 7-8 mg/g influent COD (i.e. 5 mg PE/100 NTU). The removal efficiency of CODdissolved was low. There was a proportional relationship between CODparticulate and turbidity. This led to the conclusions that by introducing a dosing control strategy based on continuous turbidity measurements a constant CODparticulate removal efficiency can be obtained.

Air↗

Effect of ozone on the formation and breakup of flocs in raw waters with high algae content.

The effect of ozone on the formation, breakup and re-formation of flocs generated using ferric sulphate has been investigated using conventional jar test procedure and by continuous optical monitoring using raw water. Using a range of different dosage of coagulant, the breakage of flocs was followed at a high stirring speed, corresponding to average shear rate (G) of about 518 s(-1). Most of the breakage occurred within a few seconds of increasing the shear rate. After breakage the stirring rate was reduced to the original value of 50 rpm (G approximately equals 23 s(-1)) to allow the flocs to re-grow. It was found that only limited re-growth of flocs occurred indicating irreversibility of the floc breakup process. For preozonated samples, the re-growth of flocs occurred to a much greater extent with lower residual turbidity. The findings show that the use of preozonation (1.25 and 1.50 mg/L) provides beneficial results to both improve turbidity removal and reduce coagulant requirement. Furthermore, better re-formation of flocs is achievable.

Diatoms↗