A retrospection on the content, association, and significance of mercury in coals and coal ashes from Bulgarian thermoelectric power stations.

A short overview on the content, association, and significance of toxic Hg in 9 coal types and their fly ashes (FAs) from 12 Bulgarian thermoelectric power stations (TPSs) was conducted by a compilation of reference and our own data obtained by a combination of different chemical and mineralogical analyses, and separation procedures. The Bulgarian and Ukrainian coals studied are enriched in Hg (0.14-0.

An allied reprogramming, selection, expansion and differentiation platform for creating hiPSC on microcarriers.

Objectives: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated by monolayer cultures is plagued by low efficiencies, high levels of manipulation and operator unpredictability. We have developed a platform, reprogramming, expansion, and differentiation on Microcarriers, to solve these challenges.

Materials And Methods: Five sources of human somatic cells were reprogrammed, selected, expanded and differentiated in microcarriers suspension cultures.

Selection of O-negative induced pluripotent stem cell clones for high-density red blood cell production in a scalable perfusion bioreactor system.

Objectives: Large-scale generation of universal red blood cells (RBCs) from O-negative (O-ve) human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) holds the potential to alleviate worldwide shortages of blood and provide a safe and secure year-round supply. Mature RBCs and reticulocytes, the immature counterparts of RBCs generated during erythropoiesis, could also find important applications in research, for example in malaria parasite infection studies. However, one major challenge is the lack of a high-density culture platform for large-scale generation of RBCs in vitro.

Industrially Compatible Transfusable iPSC-Derived RBCs: Progress, Challenges and Prospective Solutions.

Amidst the global shortfalls in blood supply, storage limitations of donor blood and the availability of potential blood substitutes for transfusion applications, society has pivoted towards in vitro generation of red blood cells (RBCs) as a means to solve these issues. Many conventional research studies over the past few decades have found success in differentiating hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from cord blood, adult bone marrow and peripheral blood sources. More recently, techniques that involve immortalization of erythroblast sources have also gained traction in tackling this problem.

Mineral Carbonation of Biomass Ashes in Relation to Their CO Capture and Storage Potential.

Short-term stored, long-term stored, and weathered biomass ashes (BAs) produced from eight biomass varieties were studied to define their composition, mineral carbonation, and CO capture and storage (CCS) potential by a combination of methods. Most of these BAs are highly enriched in alkaline-earth and alkaline oxides, and the minerals responsible for CCS in them include carbonates such as calcite, kalicinite, and fairchildite, and to a lesser extent, butschliite and baylissite. These minerals are a result of reactions between alkaline-earth and alkaline oxyhydroxides in BA and flue CO gas during biomass combustion and atmospheric CO during BA storage and weathering.

Improved Exopolymer Production by Cultures for Its Potential Cosmeceutical Applications.

Several exopolymers with different chemical composition and correspondingly variety in their physico-chemical properties from halophilic microorganisms have still been described, however, with a low production yield. 28 isolated from Pomorie saltern synthesized an unusual exopolymer (EP) containing 72% γ-polyglutamic acid (PGA), an essential cosmeceutical additive. Current work suggests a novel approach for effective EP synthesis by 28 using continuous cultures.

High bioreactor production and emulsifying activity of an unusual exopolymer by 28.

Unusual composition of an exopolymer (EP) from an obligate halophilic bacterium 28 has triggered an interest in development of an effective bioreactor process for its production. Its synthesis was investigated in 2-L bioreactor at agitation speeds at interval 600-1000 rpm, at a constant air flow rate of 0.5 vvm; aeration rates of 0.

Cold-stress response during the stationary-growth phase of Antarctic and temperate-climate Penicillium strains.

Cold-induced oxidative stress during the aging of three Penicillium strains (two Antarctic and one from a temperate region) in stationary culture was documented and demonstrated a significant increase in the protein carbonyl content, the accumulation of glycogen and trehalose, and an increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase). The cell response to a temperature downshift depends on the degree of stress and the temperature characteristics of the strains. Our data give further support for the role of oxidative stress in the aging of fungi in stationary cultures.

Production, purification, and characterization of a novel cold-active superoxide dismutase from the Antarctic strain Aspergillus glaucus 363.

The Antarctic fungal strain Aspergillus glaucus 363 produces cold-active (CA) Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD). The strain contains at least one gene encoding Cu/Zn-SOD that exhibited high homology with the corresponding gene of other Aspergillus species. To our knowledge, this is the first nucleotide sequence of a CA Cu/Zn-SOD gene in fungi.

Continuous cultivation of a thermophilic bacterium Aeribacillus pallidus 418 for production of an exopolysaccharide applicable in cosmetic creams.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of continuous cultivation approach for exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by a thermophilic micro-organism and the potential of the synthesized EPS for application in cosmetic industry.

Methods And Results: Study on the ability of Aeribacillus pallidus 418, isolated as a good EPS producer, to synthesize the polymer in continuous cultures showed higher production in comparison with batch cultures. The degree of the EPS in the precipitate after continuous cultivation significantly increased.

Encapsulation of brewing yeast in alginate/chitosan matrix: lab-scale optimization of lager beer fermentation.

Two mathematical models were developed for studying the effect of main fermentation temperature (), immobilized cell mass () and original wort extract (OE) on beer fermentation with alginate-chitosan microcapsules with a liquid core. During the experiments, the investigated parameters were varied in order to find the optimal conditions for beer fermentation with immobilized cells. The basic beer characteristics, i.

Temperature-stress tolerance of the fungal strain Aspergillus niger 26: physiological and ultrastructural changes.

The study focuses on the morphological and physiological cell responses to oxidative stress induced by high temperature treatment in the industrially relevant fungus Aspergillus niger 26. Temperatures above 30 °C lead to growth suppression and changes in morphological characteristics: decrease in the size of hyphal elements and increase in "active length" by switching from slightly branched long filaments to a multitude of branched forms containing active cytoplasm. Transmission electron microscopy of fungal cultures heated at 40 °C demonstrated abnormal wavy septation with reduced amount of chitin (as shown by WGA-gold labelling), intrahyphal hyphae development, disintegration of mitochondria and extensive autolysis.

Production and properties of two novel exopolysaccharides synthesized by a thermophilic bacterium Aeribacillus pallidus 418.

Synthesis of innovative exocellular polysaccharides (EPSs) was reported for few thermophilic microorganisms as one of the mechanisms for surviving at high temperature. Thermophilic aerobic spore-forming bacteria able to produce exopolysaccharides were isolated from hydrothermal springs in Bulgaria. They were referred to four species, such as Aeribacillus pallidus, Geobacillus toebii, Brevibacillus thermoruber, and Anoxybacillus kestanbolensis.

Sprayed nanostructured TiO2 films for efficient photocatalytic degradation of textile azo dye.

Spray pyrolysis procedure for preparation of nanostructured TiO(2) films with higher photocatalytic effectiveness and longer exploitation life is presented in this study. Thin films of active nanocrystalline TiO(2) were obtained from titanium isopropoxide, stabilized with acetyl acetone and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The activity of sprayed nanostructured TiO(2) is tested for photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Black 5 dye with concentrations up to 80 ppm.

Social inequalities in mental health: results from the EU contribution to the World Mental Health Surveys Initiative.

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to provide updated data from nine European countries about the impact of social inequalities in the prevalence of common mental disorders.

Methods: Cross-sectional household survey of a representative sample of the adult general population of Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Romania and Spain. In total, 34,395 individuals were included.

Childhood adversities and adult psychopathology in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys.

Background: Although significant associations of childhood adversities with adult mental disorders are widely documented, most studies focus on single childhood adversities predicting single disorders.

Aims: To examine joint associations of 12 childhood adversities with first onset of 20 DSM-IV disorders in World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys in 21 countries.

Method: Nationally or regionally representative surveys of 51 945 adults assessed childhood adversities and lifetime DSM-IV disorders with the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).

Heat-shock-induced oxidative stress and antioxidant response in Aspergillus niger 26.

To extend the knowledge about the relationship between heat shock and oxidative stress in lower eukaryotes, the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger 26 was chosen as a model system. Here, the response of A. niger cells to heat shock is reported.

Temperature downshift induces antioxidant response in fungi isolated from Antarctica.

Although investigators have been studying the cold-shock response in a variety of organisms for the last two decades or more, comparatively little is known about the difference between antioxidant cell response to cold stress in Antarctic and temperate microorganisms. The change of environmental temperature, which is one of the most common stresses, could be crucial for their use in the biotechnological industry and in ecological research. We compared the effect of short-term temperature downshift on antioxidant cell response in Antarctic and temperate fungi belonging to the genus Penicillium.

Cell response of Antarctic and temperate strains of Penicillium spp. to different growth temperature.

The effect of growth temperature (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 degrees C) on the cell response was compared between two Antarctic Penicillium sp. strains (Penicillium sp. p14 and Penicillium sp.

Oxidative stress response of filamentous fungi induced by hydrogen peroxide and paraquat.

Although, oxidative stress response, which protects organisms from deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS), has been extensively studied in pro- and eukaryotes, the information about filamentous fungi is fragmentary. We investigated the effect of two ROS-generating agents (paraquat, PQ, and H2O2) on cellular growth and antioxidant enzyme induction in 12 fungal species. Our results indicate that exposure of fungal spores or mycelia to PQ and H2O2 promoted oxidative stress, as evidenced by remarkable inhibition of spore germination and biomass production; stimulation of cyanide-resistant respiration; accumulation of oxidative modified proteins.

A novel glycosylated Cu/Zn-containing superoxide dismutase: production and potential therapeutic effect.

The fungal strain Humicola lutea 103 produces a naturally glycosylated Cu/Zn SOD. To improve its yield, the effect of an increased concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) on growth and enzyme biosynthesis by the producer, cultivated in a 3 l bioreactor, was examined. Exposure to a 20% DO level caused a 1.

Superiority of Nd:YAG laser to cryosurgery in the treatment of rectal carcinoma.

Laser coagulation (LC) by Nd:YAG laser and cryodestruction (CD) by insulated cryoprobe were done in 52 patients with carcinoma of the rectum (LC = 27, CD = 25). The patients were divided into four groups: group I, inoperable rectal carcinoma because of advanced stage of malignancy, severe concomitant disease, old age (LC = 14, CD = 12); group II, patient refused permanent colostomy (LC = 4, CD = 3); group III, polypoid lesion fulfilled the criteria of local excision (LC = 3, CD = 2); group IV, local recurrence after anterior resection (LC = 6, DC = 8). The mean hospital stay was 8.