Correction to: High lactobionic acid production by immobilized Zymomonas mobilis cells: a great step for large-scale process

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - In the original publication, table captions were incorrectly published. The correct captions are given here.     

Removal of organic compounds by a biofilm supported on GAC: modelling of batch and column data

The performance of a biofilm of Arthrobacter viscosus supported on granular activated carbon on the retention of organic compounds was evaluated. The presence of functional groups on the cell wall surface of the biomass that may interact with the organic compounds was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, to assess the applicability of this system to the removal of those compounds. The batch assays showed that the removal percentage decreases with the increasing initial concentration. The removal of phenol ranged from 99.5 to 93.4%, the chlorophenol removal ranged from 99.3 to 61.6% and the o-cresol removal ranged from 98.7 to 73.5%, for initial concentrations between 100 and 1,700 mg/L. The batch data were described by Freundlich, Langmuir, Redlich–Peterson, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Sips and Toth model isotherms and the best fit for the retention of phenol and for the retention of o-cresol was obtained with the Sips model, while for chlorophenol, the best fit was obtained with the Freundlich model. The column tests showed that the retention performance followed the order: phenol > chlorophenol > o-cresol, and increased with the increasing initial organic compound concentration. Data from column runs were described by Adams–Bohart, Wolborska and Yoon and Nelson models with good fitting for all the models.     

Heterogeneity of heparin: characterization of one hundred components with different anticoagulant activities by a combination of electrophoretic and affinity chromatography methods

A comparative study of heparin fractions obtained by affinity chromatography, electrofocusing, selective barium precipitation, polyacrylamide and agarose gel electrophoresis is reported. It is concluded that commercial heparin preparations are heterogeneous, containing at least 120 components which differ in molecular weight, in degree of affinity for antithrombin, and in their distribution in monomeric and dimeric forms. High anticoagulant activity for some heparin fractions was obtained by most of the methods used.     

Uses of nonhuman primates by humans in northeastern Brazil

Primates - Humans have used non-human primates (hereafter referred to as primates) as food source, medicine, parts of rituals, pets, and models for various studies worldwide. Here we investigated...     

Environmental pH modulates biofilm formation and matrix composition in Candida albicans and Candida glabrata

Abstract

Candida species are fungal opportunistic pathogens capable of colonizing and infecting various human anatomical sites, where they have to adapt to distinct niche-specific pH conditions. The aim of this study was to analyse the features of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms developed under neutral and vaginal acidic (pH 4) conditions. C. albicans produced thicker and more filamentous biofilms under neutral than under acidic conditions. On the other hand, the formation of biofilms by C. glabrata was potentiated by the acidic conditions suggesting the high adaptability of this species to the vaginal environment. In general, both species developed biofilms containing higher amounts of matrix components (protein and carbohydrate) under neutral than acidic conditions, although the opposite result was found for one C. glabrata strain. Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the modulation of C. albicans and C. glabrata virulence by specific pH conditions.     

Trace Elements Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Insulin Resistance

Biological Trace Element Research - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of multifactorial origin. Studies have shown that trace elements such as zinc and...