Biosorption of Zn(II) from industrial effluents using sugar beet pulp and F. vesiculosus: From laboratory tests to a pilot approach.

The aim of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of the application of biosorption in the treatment of metal polluted wastewaters through the development of several pilot plants to be implemented by the industry. The use as biosorbents of both the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus and a sugar beet pulp was investigated to remove heavy metal ions from a wastewater generated in an electroplating industry: Industrial Goñabe (Valladolid, Spain). Batch experiments were performed to study the effects of pH, contact time and initial metal concentration on metal biosorption.

Biosynthesis of silver and platinum nanoparticles using orange peel extract: characterisation and applications.

This study focuses on the green synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles (silver (Ag) and platinum (Pt)) and how the size and shape of the nanoparticles produced can be controlled through changes in the initial pH value of the precursor solution. The nanoparticles were characterised by ultra-violet-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. This simple and environmentally friendly method allows the synthesis of diverse nanostructures in the absence of a surfactant or polymer to direct nanoparticle growth, and without externally adding seed crystallites.

Chestnut, European (Castanea sativa).

Development of a system for direct transfer of antifungal candidate genes into European chestnut (Castanea sativa) would provide an alternative approach to conventional breeding for production of chestnut trees that are tolerant to ink disease caused by Phytophthora spp. Overexpression of genes encoding PR proteins (such as thaumatin-like proteins), which display antifungal activity, may represent an important advance in control of the disease. We have used a chestnut thaumatin-like protein gene (CsTL1) isolated from European chestnut cotyledons and have achieved overexpression of the gene in chestnut somatic embryogenic lines used as target material.

Use of cyanoacrylate adhesives in general surgery.

This paper presents a review of the use of cyanoacrylate adhesives (CA) in general surgery and digestive surgery, studies the mechanisms of action and interactions of CAs in adherent tissues, and compiles data on the latest experimental and clinical applications. More than seven million traumatic injuries are estimated to occur every year, and between 26 and 90 million surgical procedures using different techniques are performed to close the resulting wounds. Traditional methods not only are both useful and effective, but also have some drawbacks.

Aeromonas hydrophila produces conductive nanowires.

Aeromonas hydrophila is a facultative anaerobe which, under conditions of oxygen depletion, uses Fe(III) as electron acceptor. A. hydrophila produces pili during growth with Fe(III).

Characterization of exopolymeric substances (EPS) produced by Aeromonas hydrophila under reducing conditions.

The aim of this work was to investigate the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by Aeromonas hydrophila grown under anaerobic conditions. EPS composition was studied for planktonic cells, cells attached to carbon fibre supports using a soluble ferric iron source and cells grown with a solid ferric iron mineral (gossan). Conventional spectrophotometric methods, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to determine the main components in the biofilm extracted from the cultures.

Biological synthesis of metallic nanoparticles using algae.

The increasing demand and limited natural resources of noble metals make its recovery from dilute industrial wastes attractive, especially when using environmentally friendly methods. Nowadays, the high impact that nanotechnology is having in both science and society offers new research possibilities. Gold and silver nanoparticles were biosynthesised by a simple method using different algae as reducing agent.

Sorption of ferrous and ferric iron by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from acidophilic bacteria.

The sorption of Fe(II) and Fe(III) by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of acidophilic bacteria Acidiphilium 3.2Sup(5) and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, harvested from the ecosystem of the Tinto River (Huelva, Spain), was investigated. EPS from mixed cultures of both bacteria (EPS(mixed)) and pure cultures of A.

Genetic transformation of European chestnut somatic embryos with a native thaumatin-like protein (CsTL1) gene isolated from Castanea sativa seeds.

The availability of a system for direct transfer of antifungal candidate genes into European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) would offer an alternative approach to conventional breeding for production of chestnut trees tolerant to ink disease caused by Phytophthora spp. For the first time, a chestnut thaumatin-like protein gene (CsTL1), isolated from chestnut cotyledons, has been overexpressed in three chestnut somatic embryogenic lines.

Plant tissue culture of fast-growing trees for phytoremediation research.

The ability of plants to remove pollutants from the environment is currently used in a simple and low-cost cleaning technology known as phytoremediation. Unfortunately, little is known about the metabolic pathways involved in the transformation of xenobiotic compounds and the ability of certain plants to tolerate, detoxify, and store high concentrations of heavy metals. Plant cell and tissue culture is considered an important tool for fundamental studies that provide information about the plant-contaminant relationships, help to predict plant responses to environmental contaminants, and improve the design of plants with enhanced characteristics for phytoremediation.

[Tumor necrosis factor α and melfalan-based hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion in locally advanced extremity soft tissue sarcomas and melanomas].

Introduction: The aim of the study is to evaluate the limb salvage rate achieved by treating locally advanced extremity sarcoma and melanoma by hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with melphalan and TNF-α (ILP-MT).

Material And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients suffering from locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma and melanoma of the limb and treated by means of ILP-MT between November 2001 and February 2010. The response rate, toxicity, complications, disease free intervals, overall survival and limb salvage rate were evaluated.

CsSCL1 is differentially regulated upon maturation in chestnut microshoots and is specifically expressed in rooting-competent cells.

The Castanea sativa SCL1 gene (CsSCL1) has previously been shown to be induced by auxin during adventitious root (AR) formation in rooting-competent microshoots. However, its expression has not previously been analyzed in rooting-incompetent shoots. This study focuses on the regulation of CsSCL1 during maturation and the role of the gene in the formation of AR.

Expression of the phytochelatin synthase TaPCS1 in transgenic aspen, insight into the problems and qualities in phytoremediation of Pb.

The response of Populus tremula x tremuloides cv. Etrepole transgenic lines expressing the phytochelatin synthase TaPCS1 for Pb tolerance and accumulation was studied. In a hydroponic experiment, the concentrations of Pb in plants did not differ significantly between any of the transgenic lines assayed and the wild type (wt) plants, with any of the Pb solutions tested.

Bioremediation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene by bacterial nitroreductase expressing transgenic aspen.

Trees belonging to the genus Populus are often used for phytoremediation due to their deep root formation, fast growth and high transpiration rates. Here, we study the capacity of transgenic hybrid aspen (Populus tremula x tremuloides var. Etropole) which expresses the bacterial nitroreductase gene, pnrA, to tolerate and take-up greater amounts of the toxic and recalcitrant explosive, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from contaminated waters and soil.

Burkholderia ferrariae sp. nov., isolated from an iron ore in Brazil.

A Gram-negative, non-spore-forming bacterial strain with the ability to solubilize highly insoluble phosphatic minerals was isolated from a high-phosphorous iron ore from Minas Gerais State, Brazil. This strain, designated FeGl01(T), was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that it formed a distinct phylogenetic lineage within the genus Burkholderia together with several other species of the genus, e.

Cryopreservation of zygotic embryo axes and somatic embryos of European chestnut.

This work describes experiments demonstrating the feasibility of long-term conservation of Castanea sativa germplasm through cryopreservation of embryonic axes or somatic embryo clumps. Between 93 % and 100 % of excised embryonic axes of recalcitrant chestnut seeds survived storage in liquid nitrogen (LN) following desiccation in a laminar flow cabinet to moisture contents of 20-24 % (on a fresh weight basis), and some 63 % subsequently developed as whole plants. Desiccation to moisture contents less than 19 % produced damage resulting in loss of organized plant development after cryostorage, allowing only root growth.

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA from Quercus robur differentially expressed in juvenile-like and mature shoots.

A full-length cDNA clone named QRCPE (Quercus robur crown preferentially expressed) that is differentially expressed during in vitro culture of mature and juvenile-like shoots of Quercus robur L. was identified by differential display. The deduced amino acid sequence showed that the encoded protein is small, contains a predicted N-terminal hydrophobic signal peptide that targets the protein to the cell wall, and is rich in glycine and histidine residues.