Factors Affecting the Growth of Microalgae on Blackwater from Biosolid Dewatering

This paper discusses the possibility of including the culturing of microalgae within a conventional wastewater treatment sequence by growing them on the blackwater (BW) from biosolid dewatering to produce biomass to feed the anaerobic digester. Two photobioreactors were used: a 12 L plexiglas column for indoor, lab-scale tests and a 85 L plexiglas column for outdoor culturing. Microalgae (Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp.) could easily grow on the tested blackwater. The average specific growth rate in indoor and outdoor batch tests was satisfactory, ranging between 0.14 and 0.16 day^?1. During a continuous test performed under outdoor conditions from May to November, in which the off-gas from the combined heat and power unit was used as the CO₂ source, an average biomass production of 50 mgTSS L^?1 day^?1 was obtained. However, statistical analyses confirmed that microalgal growth was affected by environmental conditions (temperature and season) and that it was negatively correlated with the occurrence of nitrification. Finally, the biochemical methane potential of the algal biomass was slightly higher than that from waste sludge (208 mLCH₄ gVS^?1 vs. 190 mLCH₄ gVS^?1).     

Chemical and spectroscopic investigation of porewater and aqueous extracts of corresponding peat samples throughout a bog core (Jura Mountains, Switzerland)

Background, aim, and scope  

Fluorescence and UV-visible spectroscopies are simple but useful methods to characterize organic matter in the aqueous phase according to its aromatic nature and humification degree. Although there are several studies about porewater and water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) from peat, at present, no comparative investigations are available in the literature. Thus, the aim of the present study was to identify and compare chemical and spectroscopic features of porewaters and corresponding WEOM samples along a 105-cm undisturbed peat profile.     

Hydrocarbon and fatty acid composition of cheese as affected by the pasture vegetation type

The determination of the geographical origin of dairy products is an ongoing issue. In this paper the effects of botanical diversity of two pastures on the hydrocarbon and fatty acid composition of cheese fat were studied, over 2 years of experimentation. Two areas in the Italian southwestern Alpine region, dominated by Trifolium alpinum (T) and Festuca nigrescens (F) vegetation, respectively, were chosen, and milk obtained from cows grazing on these pastures was used to produce a semihard traditional cheese. Cheese samples showed a significantly different composition of most linear hydrocarbons, odd-chain (C15, C17, and C17:1) and unsaturated (trans-11,cis-15-C18:2, C18:3, C20:4n-6, C20:4n-3, and 20:5n-3) fatty acids, according to pasture type. The ratio between C(29) and C(27) linear hydrocarbons, unlike the absolute content of the single molecules, showed a good discriminating ability between the two pastures and was little affected by the natural variability due to the climatic and environmental factors.     

First report of the use of meglumine antimoniate for treatment of canine leishmaniasis in a pregnant dog

Canine leishmaniasis during pregnancy is rarely reported, even in countries where the infection in dogs is endemic. The authors report a case of a 4 yr old bitch with leishmaniasis treated with meglumine antimoniate during pregnancy. The pregnancy and delivery were normal and the bitch presented improvement of the infection during treatment. Three puppies died within 2 days of birth and tested negative via real-time PCR for L. infantum. The two surviving puppies were followed clinically, serologically, and by real-time PCR until 1 yr of age with no evidence of congenital leishmaniasis. L. infantum DNA was detected with real-time PCR analysis of uterine tissue from the bitch at the time of ovariohysterectomy. PCR analysis was performed after an ovariohysterectomy of the bitch that was performed two months after parturition. Meglumine antimoniate use in the pregnant bitch may have prevented vertical transmission of leishmaniasis.     

Malignant melanoma in a seagull (Larus fuscus): morphological and immunohistochemical approach

A common seagull (Larus fuscus) was found near the southern coast of Italy by the veterinarians of the local wild animal rescue center. Physical examination of the bird revealed an ulcerated mass involving a majority of the oral cavity; the mass did not allow for normal feeding. After the bird died necropsy was performed and the mass was histologically and immunohistochemically examined. The morphology and the immunoreactivity for Melan-A and S-100 antigens led to a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. This is the first case of malignant melanoma described in a seagull, and herein we compare the characteristics of the present case with malignant melanoma already described in domestic animals.     

Definitive‐intent intensity‐modulated radiation therapy provides similar outcomes to those previously published for definitive‐intent three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy in dogs with primary brain tumors: A multi‐institutional retrospective study

Radiotherapy with or without surgery is a common choice for brain tumors in dogs. Although numerous studies have evaluated use of three‐dimensional conformal radiotherapy, reports of definitive‐intent, IMRT for canine intracranial tumors are lacking. Intensity‐modulated radiation therapy has the benefit of decreasing dose to nearby organs at risk and may aid in reducing toxicity. However, increasing dose conformity with IMRT calls for accurate target delineation and daily patient positioning, in order to decrease the risk of a geographic miss. To determine survival outcome and toxicity, we performed a multi‐institutional retrospective observational study evaluating dogs with brain tumors treated with IMRT. Fifty‐two dogs treated with fractionated, definitive‐intent IMRT at four academic radiotherapy facilities were included. All dogs presented with neurologic signs and were diagnosed via MRI. Presumed radiological diagnoses included 37 meningiomas, 12 gliomas, and one peripheral nerve sheath tumor. One dog had two presumed meningiomas and one dog had either a glioma or meningioma. All dogs were treated in the macroscopic disease setting and were prescribed a total dose of 45‐50 Gy (2.25‐2.5 Gy per fraction in 18‐20 daily fractions). Median survival time for all patients, including seven cases treated with a second course of therapy was 18.1 months (95% confidence of interval 12.3‐26.6 months). As previously described for brain tumors, increasing severity of neurologic signs at diagnosis was associated with a worse outcome. Intensity‐modulated radiation therapy was well tolerated with few reported acute, acute delayed, or late side effects.     

Ocular and periocular radiation toxicity in dogs treated for sinonasal tumors: A critical review

Visual impairment from radiation‐induced damage can be painful, disabling, and reduces the patient's quality of life. Ocular tissue damage can result from the proximity of ocular organs at risk to irradiated sinonasal target volumes. As toxicity depends on the radiation dose delivered to a certain volume, dose‐volume constraints for organs at risk should ideally be known during treatment planning in order to reduce toxicity. Herein, we summarize published ocular toxicity data of dogs irradiated for sinonasal tumors from 36 publications (1976‐2018). In particular, we tried to extract a dose guideline for a clinically acceptable rate of ocular toxicity. The side effects to ocular and periocular tissues were reported in 26/36 studies (72%) and graded according to scoring systems (10/26; 39%). With most scoring systems, however, toxicities of different ocular and periocular tissues are summed into one score. Further, the scores were mostly applied in retrospect and lack volume‐ and dose‐data. This incomplete information reflects the crux of the matter for radiation dose tolerance in canine ocular tissues: The published information of the last three decades does not allow formulating dose‐volume guidelines. As a start, we can only state that a mean dose of 39 Gy (given in 10 x 4.2 Gy fractions) will lead to loss of vision by one or both eyes, while mean doses of <30 Gy seem to preserve functionality. With a future goal to define tolerated doses and volumes of ocular and periocular tissues at risk, we propose the use of combined ocular toxicity scoring systems.     

Amount and speciation of N leached from a sandy soil fertilized with urea,liquid digestate,struvite and NH4-enriched chabazite zeolite-tuff

The large use and the bad management of fertilizers that are applied to soil for improving crop production have dramatically impaired soil, water, and air quality. To meet the requirements to reduce nitrogen (N) losses and all the related negative impacts on the environment and food production, it is mandatory to substitute or at least partially substitute the use of inefficient and unsustainable fertilizers with more efficient alternatives. The aim of this paper was to address the amount and speciation of the N released by a sandy soil fertilized with “slow-release fertilizers” and traditional fertilizers (urea and liquid digestate) by means of a series of column leaching experiments. The slow-release alternatives were represented by NH₄-enriched zeolitic tuff and struvite, both obtained by recovering the N from liquid digestate. The treatments consisted of sandy soil fertilized with (i) urea (U) (ii) liquid digestate (LD), (iii) NH₄-enriched zeolitic tuff (N-CHA) and (iv) struvite (STRV). Eight different flushing events were performed over 38 days, leachates were collected and analysed for total Kjeldahl N, organic-N, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, NO₂⁻-N and pH. U and LD lost the majority of N within the first 2 flushing events as organic N and NH₄⁺-N, respectively. On the other hand, STRV and N-CHA lost less N over the whole course of the experiment and with more balanced speciation. The mass balance outlined that after the experiment, native soil N was mined in U and LD treatments while in N-CHA and STRV a fraction of N from the fertilizers was still present. The results showed a slow release of N which can be used more efficiently in agricultural applications, minimizing the N losses.