Cold shock and fish

Rapid decreases in water temperature may result in a number of physiological, behavioural and fitness consequences for fishes termed ‘cold shock’. Cold‐shock stress occurs when a fish has been acclimated to a specific water temperature or range of temperatures and is subsequently exposed to a rapid decrease in temperature, resulting in a cascade of physiological and behavioural responses and, in some cases, death. Rapid temperature decreases may occur from either natural (e.g. thermocline temperature variation, seiches and storm events) or anthropogenic sources (e.g. varied thermal effluents from power generation and production industries). The magnitude, duration and frequency of the temperature change as well as the initial acclimation temperatures of individuals can influence the extent of the consequences of cold shock on fishes. Early research on cold shock focused on documenting mortality events associated with cold shock. However, in recent years, a shift in research has occurred where the focus of cold‐shock studies now involves characterizing the sublethal effects of cold shock in terms of the stress response in fishes. This shift has revealed that cold shock can actually be used as a tool for fisheries science (e.g. to induce polyploidy). The cold‐shock stress response offers opportunities to develop many exciting research questions, yet to date, cold‐shock research has been largely unfocused. Few studies attempt to link laboratory physiology experiments with ecologically relevant field data on behaviour, growth, bioenergetics and fitness. Additional research will allow for the development of more focused and robust management policies and conservation initiatives. This review synthesizes the sublethal physiological and behavioural consequences of cold‐shock stress on fishes, identifies natural and anthropogenic sources of cold shock, discusses the benefits of cold shock to fisheries science and describes mitigation and management efforts. Existing knowledge gaps and opportunities for future cold‐shock research are presented.     

Decolorization of synthetic dyes by basidiomycetes isolated from woods of the Atlantic Forest (PE), Brazil

In this study, the biodegradability of synthetic dyes used in the textile industry by Basidiomycetes collected in woods of the Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco, Brazil, was evaluated. Among the fungi, the following species were identified: Caripia montagnei, Datronia caperata, Earliella scabrosa, Fomitopsis feei, Ganoderma stiptatum, Hexagonia hydnoides, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pycnoporus sanguineus and Trametes membranacea. Mycelium discs (2 cm2) of each fungal isolate were transferred to 30 ml of King medium supplemented with 0.05% m/v of each of the following dyes: methyl orange, bromophenol blue (BB), methylene blue, Congo red, phenol red (PR) and methyl green (MG). All these species showed potential to decolorize the tested dyes, with decolorization efficiency varying from 7.26 to 99.2%. H. hydnoides and T. membrancea were the only species able to degrade all dyes. BB was effectively metabolized by P. sanguineus (97.4%), H. hydnoides (95.6%), E. scabrosa (96.6%) and T. membranacea (99.2%). E. scabrosa stood out among the isolates in dyes decolorization, allowing for efficiencies >90% for MG, PR, and BB.     

Decolourisation of model and industrial dyes by mitosporic fungi in different culture conditions

Six mitosporic fungi belonging to five species (Aspergillus flavus var. flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Penicillium glabrum and Penicillium verrucosum) were selected from a screening on 258 fungal strains as the most promising for their ability to remove 2 model dyes in solid conditions. Hence they were tested in liquid conditions for their ability to decolourise 3 model dyes and 9 industrial dyes widely used in the textile industry. The influence of the culture medium, particularly its carbon:nitrogen ratio, on biomass development and decolourisation capacity was considered. All the strains were able to grow in the dyed media and displayed various degrees of decolourisation according to the dye and culture medium. The decolourisation was due to biosorption phenomena. Aspergillus ochraceus performed the highest decolourisation yield being able to remove all dyes over 90%. This strain was also found very effective, both in the living and inactivated form, against simulated effluents that mimicked the recalcitrance of real wastewaters being composed of ten different dyes at high concentration (1,000 ppm), in saline solution.     

Advantages of a two-step enzymatic process for cotton–polyester blends

Cotton fabric samples were treated with a formulation of a total crude Trichoderma reesei cellulase in a two-step procedure. In the first step, samples were treated at a low liquor ratio by padding through the enzyme formulation at 21°C and 55°C with a wet pickup of 100% and batched for 12 h. The samples were then treated at a high liquor ratio (1:25) with an identical enzyme formulation at 55°C, with intensive agitation. The pre-treatment influenced the overall weight loss and rate of hydrolysis in samples, and the protein concentration in the liquor of the second step. The overall weight loss was 25–28% (w/w) in the two-step procedure compared to a weight loss of 22% (w/w) in the one-step batch hydrolysis.     

Homologous cloning,expression, and characterisation of a laccase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces coelicolor</Emphasis> and enzymatic decolourisation of an indigo dye

The lack of a commercially available robust and inexpensive laccase is a major barrier to the widespread application of this enzyme in various industrial sectors. By using an efficient system developed in Streptomyces lividans, we have produced by homologous expression 350 mg L(-1) of a bacterial laccase with a high purity and without any extensive purification. This is the highest production yield reported in the literature for a bacterial laccase. The secreted enzyme achieved oxidation under a wide pH range depending on the substrate: 4.0 for 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) and 9.0 for 2,6-dimethoxyphenol. Furthermore, this bacterial laccase was found to be quite resistant under various conditions. It withstands pH from 3.0 to 9.0, shows a great thermostability at 70 degrees C and was highly resistant toward conventional inhibitors. For instance, while the laccase of Trametes versicolor was completely inhibited by 1 mM NaN(3), the laccase of Streptomyces coelicolor was fully active under the same conditions. To assess application potential of this laccase, we have investigated its ability to decolourise Indigo carmine. This enzyme was able to rapidly decolourise the dye in the presence of syringaldehyde as a redox mediator.     

两种机织型人造血管管壁的均匀特性研究

针对一些纺织型人造血管管壁的临床选择性破损特征,本文报告两种机织型人造血管管壁的均匀特性研究。通过对其整体、纱线、纤维三个层次的纺织结构性能以及相应的生物力学性能的研究,揭示此类人造血管不同的管壁纺织结构对其生物力学性能整体均匀性的影响,并由此从纺织结构的角度预测该类人造血管在临床应用中可能导致提前降解或破损的原因。研究结果提示在新型人造血管的设计中,要避免此类纺织结构的弱节与不均匀性。     

木质素生物降解与纸浆工业废水脱色

主要工业废水之一的纸浆工业废水中的木质素类有色物质的去除一直倍受关注。本文主要综述了木质素降解微生物、影响木质素降解的因素、木质素降解酶类及其基因工程研究和纸浆工业废水的固定化真菌法和酶法脱色。     

Denitrification kinetics of simulated fish processing wastewater at different ratios of nitrate to biomass

Denitrification was studied in anoxic batch cultures of a simulated fish processing wastewater at 37 r C and pH 7.5, using a denitrifying enrichment culture from fishery wastewater. Different initial nitrate to biomass ratios (So/Xo) were used: nitrate and biomass varied from 7.5 to 94.7 mg NO₃-N l^–1, and from 20 to 4300 mg volatile suspended solids l^–1, respectively. The specific maximum denitrification rate (r _m) and the cell yield (Y _{X / S}) depended on the So/Xo ratio under anoxic conditions: r _m increased from 1.2 to 1584 mg NO₃-N g^–1 VSS h^–1 and Y _{X / S} decreased from 42 to 0.03 mg VSS mg^–1 NO₃-N when So/Xo varied from 5.5 10^{– 3} to 9.3 mg NO₃-N/mg VSS. Nomenclature C_{NO3 – N} nitrate concentration, mg NO₃-N l^–1 K _S saturation constant, mg NO₃-N l^–1 r _m specific maximum denitrification rate, mg NO₃-N g^–1 VSS h^–1 So initial substrate concentration, mg l^–1 t time, h TOC total organic carbon VSS volatile suspended solids x biomass concentration, g VSS l^–1 Xo initial biomass concentration, g VSS l^–1 Y _X/S substrate to biomass cell yield, mg VSS/mg N Greek symbols: _m maximum specific growth rate of the anoxic microbial population, 1 h^–1     

Decolorization potential of mixed microbial consortia for reactive and disperse textile dyestuffs

Four different aerobic mixed consortia collected from basins of wastewater streams coming out of dying plants of Crescent Textile (CT), Sitara Textile (ST), Chenab Fabrics (CF) and Noor Fatima Textile (NF), Faisalabad, Pakistan were applied for decolorization of Drimarene Orange K-GL, Drimarene Brilliant Red K-4BL, Foron Yellow SE4G and Foron Blue RDGLN for 10 days using the shake flask technique. CT culture showed the best decolorization potential on all dyestuffs followed by ST, NF and CF, respectively. CT could completely decolorize all dyes within 3–5 days. ST cultures showed effective decolorization potential on Foron Yellow SE4G and Drimarene Brilliant Red K-4BL but complete color removal was achieved after 4 and 7 days, respectively. NF culture showed 100% decolorization efficiencies on Foron Yellow SE4G and Foron Blue RDGLN but it took comparatively longer time periods (5–7 days). Where as, the NF culture had decolorized only 40% and 50% of Drimarene orange and red, respectively, after 10 days. CF caused complete decolorization of Foron Blue RDGLN and Drimarene Brilliant Red K-4BL after 4 and 8 days, respectively but it showed poor performance on other two dyes.     

Contaminant sources, distribution and fate in the Athabasca, Peace and Slave River Basins, Canada

Northern river ecosystems worldwide are under increasing environmental stress from degrading developments that influence water quality and associated ecological integrity. In particular, contaminant-related threats to these systems are rising from enhanced industrial and municipal effluent discharges along with elevated non-point source inputs related to land-use activities such as forestry, agriculture, mining and long-range atmospheric transport. In this regard, the contaminants program of the Northern River Basins Study (NRBS) in western Canada identified key contaminant sources to the Athabasca, Slave and Peace river basins (particularly related to pulp-mill developments) and assessed their environmental fate and distribution in water and sediments. The study also developed and employed new analytical approaches and generated improved models to predict contaminant transport and fate in the aquatic environment and related food webs. Consequently the study focused on those contaminant families identified in characterization studies as arising from key point- and non-point sources within the basins or as being of greatest toxicological significance. These included resin acids, polychlorinated dioxins and furans, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated phenolics, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and selected heavy metals such as mercury. Low or non-detectable concentrations of a number of contaminant groups were found in the ambient water phase including chlorinated phenolics, some chlorinated dioxins and furans and some resin acids. For both suspended and depositional sediments, significant declines were observed over the study period for the major chlorinated contaminant groups tested, correlating directly with the implementation of improved effluent treatment in many of the pulp mills located in the basins. In general, the environmental levels of chlorinated organic and metal contaminants in water or sediments were low and within Canadian health or environmental guidelines. It is hoped that the approaches used and lessons learned from the NRBS will be of use to others assessing contaminant and multiple stressor issues in other large river ecosystems.