Imprints of ecological processes in the taxonomic core community: an analysis of naturally replicated microbial communities enclosed in oil.

It is widely assumed that a taxonomic core community emerges among microbial communities from similar habitats because similar environments select for the same taxa bearing the same traits. Yet, a core community itself is no indicator of selection because it may also arise from dispersal and neutral drift, i.e.

qPeaks: A Linear Regression-Based Asymmetric Peak Model for Parameter-Free Automatized Detection and Characterization of Chromatographic Peaks in Non-Target Screening Data.

We present qPeaks (quality peaks), a novel, user-parameter-free algorithm for peak detection and peak characterization applicable to chromatographic data. The algorithm is based on a linearizable regression model that analyzes asymmetric peaks and estimates the specific uncertainties associated with the peak regression parameters. The uncertainties of the parameters are used to derive a data quality score DQS, rendering low reliability results more transparent during processing and allowing for the prioritization of generated features.

qBinning: Data Quality-Based Algorithm for Automized Ion Chromatogram Extraction from High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Due to the complexity and volume of data generated through non-target screening (NTS) using chromatographic couplings with high-resolution mass spectrometry, automized processing routines are necessary. The processing routines usually consist of many individual steps that are user-parameter-dependent and, thus, require labor-intensive optimization. Additionally, the effect of variations in raw data quality on the processing results is unclear and not fully understood.

Chemical and toxicological assessment of leachates from UV-degraded plastic materials using bioassays.

The broad use of plastics and the persistence of the material results in plastic residues being found practically everywhere in the environment. If plastics remain in the (aquatic) environment, natural weathering leads to degradation processes and compounds may leach from plastic into the environment. To investigate the impact of degradation process on toxicity of leachates, different types of UV irradiation (UV-C, UV-A/B) were used to simulate weathering processes of different plastic material containing virgin as well as recyclate material and biodegradable polymers.

Non-target Analysis and Chemometric Evaluation of a Passive Sampler Monitoring of Small Streams.

Complex multivariate datasets are generated in environmental non-target screening (NTS) studies covering different sampling locations and times. This study presents a comprehensive chemometrics-based data processing workflow to reveal hidden data patterns and to find a subset of discriminating features between samples. We used ANOVA-simultaneous component analysis (ASCA) to disentangle the influence of spatial and seasonal effects as well as their interaction on a multiclass dataset.

Bromide strongly influences the formation of reaction products during the ozonation of diclofenac, metoprolol and isoproturon.

Bromide as an omnipresent matrix component in wastewater can react with ozone to form hypobromous acid (HOBr). This secondary oxidant can subsequently react with micropollutants but also with formed intermediates. Therefore, bromide and especially HOBr can highly influence the formation of transformation products (TPs).

Enhancing the Efficiency of Membrane Processes for Water Treatment.

Pressure-driven membrane processes, i [...

Effect-based evaluation of ozone treatment for removal of micropollutants and their transformation products in waste water.

The aim of this interdisciplinary research project in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, entitled "Elimination of pharmaceuticals and organic micropollutants from waste water" involved the conception of cost-effective and innovative waste-water cleaning methods. In this project assays, assays and chemical analyses were performed on three municipal waste-water treatment plants (WWTP). This publication focuses on the study of the bioassays.

Comparison of Software Tools for Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Data Processing in Nontarget Screening of Environmental Samples.

The field of high-resolution mass spectrometry has undergone a rapid progress in the last years due to instrumental improvements leading to a higher sensitivity and selectivity of instruments. A variety of qualitative screening approaches, summarized as nontarget screening, have been introduced and have successfully extended the environmental monitoring of organic micropollutants. Several automated data processing workflows have been developed to handle the immense amount of data that are recorded in short time frames by these methods.

Effect-based methods in combination with state-of-the-art chemical analysis for assessment of water quality as integrated approach.

Complex mixtures of chemicals in waste and finally in surface water may pose a risk to the environment and also to human health. This contamination of surface water cannot be addressed with chemical analysis alone. Tools are required to detect and assess these micropollutants which might cause adverse effects.

Influence of the copper-induced viable but non-culturable state on the toxicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa towards human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro.

The viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state of the opportunistic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa was previously shown to be induced by copper ions in concentrations relevant to those in drinking water plumbing systems. This decrease of bacterial culturability without loss of viability might have an influence on human health due to an underestimation of the actual contamination in drinking water systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of culturable P.