This document presents a novel methodology for separating microplastics (<500μm) from particulate organic matter (POM) in water samples. Current separation methods are inefficient at separating suspended microplastics and POM due to similarities in size and density. The developed method uses a two-phase separation where a non-polar solvent is added to draw microplastics into a separate immiscible layer that can be removed and analyzed. Testing recovered over 90% of fluorescent polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene microplastics added but only 1% of denser polyethylene terephthalate microbeads. This accurate separation method allows for investigation of microplastic ingestion and effects in marine organisms and ecosystems.
Microplastics in marine organisms in KZN: A new conservation threat?MACE Lab
Refilwe Mofokeng, Gemma Gerber, Mathew Coote, Sipho Mkhize, Thembani Mkhize, Deborah Robertson-Andersson, Gan Moodley. Presented at the Symposium of Contemporary Conservation Practice 2015.
Microplastics in marine organisms in KZN: A new conservation threat?MACE Lab
Refilwe Mofokeng, Gemma Gerber, Mathew Coote, Sipho Mkhize, Thembani Mkhize, Deborah Robertson-Andersson, Gan Moodley. Presented at the Symposium of Contemporary Conservation Practice 2015.
Presentation at the ESPP stakeholder meeting concerning the use on farmland of sewage biosolids (04/12/2018) organised by the European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP, www.phosphorusplatform.eu)
All outcomes of the meeting can be found here https://www.phosphorusplatform.eu/activities/conference/meeting-archive/1788-espp-meeting-sludge-2018
Mekong Mollusc Biodiversity, Fisheries and their Relations to Climatic and Ph...Mekong Fish Network
Molluscs are a key component of freshwater ecosystems. The Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) is a hotspot zone that supports a high diversity of molluscs, including ~121 species of gastropods and ~39 species of bivalves. At least 111 gastropods and 5 bivalves are endemic. In the Tonle Sap Lake and River systems, molluscs are the second fishery production after fishes.
TIE microplastics immersed in Muskegon Lake, Michiganjeanniekane
Toxicity analysis of three different types of microplastics - polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene - immersed in the benthic and pelagic regions of Muskegon Lake, Michigan
Scientists Discover Thriving Colonies of Microbes in Ocean 'Plastisphere'olivierdylan
Scientists have discovered a diverse multitude of microbes colonizing and thriving on flecks of plastic that have polluted the oceans -- a vast new human-made flotilla of microbial communities that they have dubbed the "plastisphere."
Microplastic uptake and retention in Perna perna (L.); Tripneustes gratilla (...MACE Lab
Gemma Gerber, Thembani Mkhize, Robertson-Andersson, Gan Moodley. Presented at the ninth Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) 2015.
Effect of Concentration of Silver Nanoparticles on the Uptake of Silver from ...Agriculture Journal IJOEAR
— The bioavailability and uptake of silver from silver nanoparticles in soil was investigated. Two species of insects, Acheta domesticus and Tenebrio molitor, and two species of plants, Helianthus annuus and Sorghum vulgare, were exposed to a range of concentrations of silver nanoparticles in soil. Silver nanoparticles were charactrized by techniques including transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and powder X-ray diffraction. The concentration of silver in insects and plants exposed to silver nanoparticles was measured using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The results suggested an increase in the levels of silver in both insects and plants as a function of increasing concentrations of silver nanoparticles in soil. The translocation of silver to various parts of dicot plants such as stems and leaves was also observed. Such a result was not observed in the case of monocot plants. Results from this study suggests that silver nanoparticles would be available for uptake by insects and plants in terrestrial ecosystems.
Detection and Identification of Microplastic Particles in Cosmetic Formulatio...PerkinElmer, Inc.
It is estimated that there is in excess of 150 million tons of plastic materials in the world’s oceans. Much of this pollution consists of large items such as discarded drink bottles and plastic bags. However, there is increasing research into the amount of much smaller materials, termed microplastics, in the river and ocean systems which present a different type of
problem for marine life.
Many cosmetic products, such as facial scrubs, toothpastes, and shower gels, currently contain microplastic beads as abrasive materials. These microplastics, which are typically submillimetre
in size, get washed down the sink and are too small to be filtered by sewage treatment plants consequently ending up in the river systems and ultimately in the oceans. These microplastics can be ingested by marine organisms and fish and end up in the human
food chain.
In 2014 a number of U.S. states banned the use of microplastics in cosmetic formulations and most cosmetic companies are voluntarily phasing out their use.
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is the established technique for identifying polymer materials and has been used extensively for identifying large (over 100 micrometer) polymer materials. The Spectrum Two™ is a portable FT-IR spectrometer that can operate from a battery pack and has been used on boats for immediate identification of these polymers.1 For microplastics, down to a few micrometers in size, an IR microscope can be used for the detection and identification of these materials.
Through my PhD at the University of Malta, I wanted to share what I learn with everyone about microplastics in the marine environment (what I do, generalities, techniques).
Presentation at the ESPP stakeholder meeting concerning the use on farmland of sewage biosolids (04/12/2018) organised by the European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP, www.phosphorusplatform.eu)
All outcomes of the meeting can be found here https://www.phosphorusplatform.eu/activities/conference/meeting-archive/1788-espp-meeting-sludge-2018
Mekong Mollusc Biodiversity, Fisheries and their Relations to Climatic and Ph...Mekong Fish Network
Molluscs are a key component of freshwater ecosystems. The Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) is a hotspot zone that supports a high diversity of molluscs, including ~121 species of gastropods and ~39 species of bivalves. At least 111 gastropods and 5 bivalves are endemic. In the Tonle Sap Lake and River systems, molluscs are the second fishery production after fishes.
TIE microplastics immersed in Muskegon Lake, Michiganjeanniekane
Toxicity analysis of three different types of microplastics - polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene - immersed in the benthic and pelagic regions of Muskegon Lake, Michigan
Scientists Discover Thriving Colonies of Microbes in Ocean 'Plastisphere'olivierdylan
Scientists have discovered a diverse multitude of microbes colonizing and thriving on flecks of plastic that have polluted the oceans -- a vast new human-made flotilla of microbial communities that they have dubbed the "plastisphere."
Microplastic uptake and retention in Perna perna (L.); Tripneustes gratilla (...MACE Lab
Gemma Gerber, Thembani Mkhize, Robertson-Andersson, Gan Moodley. Presented at the ninth Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) 2015.
Effect of Concentration of Silver Nanoparticles on the Uptake of Silver from ...Agriculture Journal IJOEAR
— The bioavailability and uptake of silver from silver nanoparticles in soil was investigated. Two species of insects, Acheta domesticus and Tenebrio molitor, and two species of plants, Helianthus annuus and Sorghum vulgare, were exposed to a range of concentrations of silver nanoparticles in soil. Silver nanoparticles were charactrized by techniques including transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and powder X-ray diffraction. The concentration of silver in insects and plants exposed to silver nanoparticles was measured using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The results suggested an increase in the levels of silver in both insects and plants as a function of increasing concentrations of silver nanoparticles in soil. The translocation of silver to various parts of dicot plants such as stems and leaves was also observed. Such a result was not observed in the case of monocot plants. Results from this study suggests that silver nanoparticles would be available for uptake by insects and plants in terrestrial ecosystems.
Detection and Identification of Microplastic Particles in Cosmetic Formulatio...PerkinElmer, Inc.
It is estimated that there is in excess of 150 million tons of plastic materials in the world’s oceans. Much of this pollution consists of large items such as discarded drink bottles and plastic bags. However, there is increasing research into the amount of much smaller materials, termed microplastics, in the river and ocean systems which present a different type of
problem for marine life.
Many cosmetic products, such as facial scrubs, toothpastes, and shower gels, currently contain microplastic beads as abrasive materials. These microplastics, which are typically submillimetre
in size, get washed down the sink and are too small to be filtered by sewage treatment plants consequently ending up in the river systems and ultimately in the oceans. These microplastics can be ingested by marine organisms and fish and end up in the human
food chain.
In 2014 a number of U.S. states banned the use of microplastics in cosmetic formulations and most cosmetic companies are voluntarily phasing out their use.
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is the established technique for identifying polymer materials and has been used extensively for identifying large (over 100 micrometer) polymer materials. The Spectrum Two™ is a portable FT-IR spectrometer that can operate from a battery pack and has been used on boats for immediate identification of these polymers.1 For microplastics, down to a few micrometers in size, an IR microscope can be used for the detection and identification of these materials.
Through my PhD at the University of Malta, I wanted to share what I learn with everyone about microplastics in the marine environment (what I do, generalities, techniques).
CONFERENCIA PRESENTADA EN LAS JORNADAS MEDICAS SURCOLOMBIANAS. EL VIERNES 13 DE JUNIO DE 2008. EN EL AUDITORIO FACULTAD DE SALUD.
EXAMENES BASICOS EN MASTOLOGIA. PARTE III
DR. JUSTO GERMAN OLAYA R.
MEDICO GENERAL - U. SURCOLOMBIANA
CIRUJANO MASTOLOGO
IEO-UB
PROFESOR UNIVERSIDAD SURCOLOMBIANA.
ANALYSIS OF THE CONCENTRATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION A...Asramid Yasin
Abstrac: Microplastics represent one of the most current global concern issues for environmental and human health. The main concern is for aquatic ecosystems, a very large increase in the number of microplastics has recently transformed these compounds and their degradation products into one of the most common marine debris. To decompose plastic waste requires 50-100 years to be completely degraded so that it becomes a threat to aquatic ecosystems. This research aims to determine the concentration and characteristics of microplastics pollution at estuaries at Kendari Bay. The data of this research were sourced from water and sediment samples from 3 estuaries at Kendari Bay including the Punggaloba estuary, Lahundape estuary, and Wanggu estuary. The analytical methods used in this research include National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Origin Software and SPSS Software. The results showed that the Kendari Bay was contaminated by microplastics. The highest concentration of microplastic pollution is found at the Lahundape estuary, which is 10.07 particles/liter of water and Punggaloba estuary, which is 96 particles/kg of sediment. Microplastic characteristics are based on morphological analysis and particle size. It can be seen that the shape of microplastic particles from water and sediments includes fragments, fibers, and pellets. The range of microplastic sizes in water samples ranges from 0.24-20.34 μm while the size range in sediment samples ranges from 0.12-16.53 μm. The most dominant source of microplastic polymers found at Kendari bay is polystyrene type.
Microplastics as an emerging threat to terrestrial ecosystemsJoão Soares
Microplastics (plastics<5 mm, including nanoplastics which are<0.1lm) originate from the fragmentation of large plastic litter or from direct environmental emission.Their potential impacts in terrestrial ecosystems remain largely unexplored despite numerous reported effects on marine organisms. Most plastics arriving in the oceanswere produced, used, and often disposed on land. Hence, it is within terrestrial systems that microplastics might first interact with biota eliciting ecologically relevant impacts. This article introduces the pervasive microplastic contamination as a poten-tial agent of global change in terrestrial systems, highlights the physical and chemical nature of the respective observed effects, and discusses the broad toxicity of nanoplastics derived from plastic breakdown. Making relevant links to the fate of microplastics in aquatic continental systems, we here present new insights into themechanisms of impacts on terrestrial geochemistry, the biophysical environment, andecotoxicology. Broad changes in continental environments are possible even in parti-cle rich habitats such as soils. Furthermore, there is a growing body of evidence indi-cating that microplastics interact with terrestrial organisms that mediate essential ecosystem services and functions, such as soil dwelling invertebrates, terrestrial fungi,and plant-pollinators. Therefore, research is needed to clarify the terrestrial fate andeffects of microplastics. We suggest that due to the widespread presence, environmental persistence, and various interactions with continental biota, microplastic pollution might represent an emerging global change threat to terrestrial ecosystems
Gemma Gerber, Thembani Mkhize, Deborah Robertson-Andersson, Gan Moodley. Presented the the ninth Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) 2015.
STUDY ON MICROPLASTIC CHALLENGE – INDIAN STATUS AND SOLUTIONS Srinjoy Chatterjee
1. Microplastic (MPs) now has emerged as an alarming environmental pollutant and its prevalence is now widely observed in various ecosystems.
2. The term “microplastic” coined by Thompson et al in the year 2004 basically represents heterogeneous mixture of smaller plastic fragments in the size range of 0.001-5 mm.
3. They may originate either directly (primary sources) through engineered particles such as microbeads/microfibers widely used in Personal Care Products or through fragmentation of larger plastic particles as a result of various anthropogenic activities (secondary sources).
Examples - Fragments of fishing gear, packages and drink bottles, synthetic textiles, car tyres, paints, and cosmetics. Natural breakdown through UV rays of sunlight, microbial processes, or through thermal oxidative processes also account for fragmentation of large plastic particles into MPs.
4. MPs basically consists of six major types of plastic products namely, Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyamide (PA), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polystyrene (PS), Polyurethane (PUR), and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET).
.
.
.
WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS MENACE?
1. SOLUTIONS BY REGULATORS, SCIENTISTS, GOVERNMENT AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
Microplastics are tiny and may not be easily noticed as a treat to both sea and human life, therefore there is an urgent need to combat it. The potential risk to food security, and thereby human health, has led:
• regulators to call for better understanding education and public awareness of the fate and effects of microplastic debris on marine life.
• to the call for urgent actions by scientists (researching more) government (putting right policies in place) and the manufacturing industries on the need for the reduction of the production and activities resulting in the availability and spread of microplastic into the marine environment.
• To the need to strengthen international and regional cooperation in this area among: decision-makers researchers and academias to raise awareness in addressing water-related issues.
2. PUTTING IN PLACE APPRORIATE PROHIBITIONS, LAWS AND BANS.
The following should be done:
• For Countries: Prohibiting or disincentivizing land-based materials causing marine litter such as the use of microbead plastics for toothpaste.
• For Manufacturing: National law and sub-national law should be put in place.
• At Retail Level: National Law and sub-national law should be put in place.
3. MEASURES TO DO AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
• Report plastics pollutions e.g by using hashtag #plasticspollution with the photo, date and location.
• Cut down on plastics by staying clear of plastic products. Look for natural alternatives or reuseable containers. Don’t buy cleansers and cosmetics with microbeads.
• Clean-up plastic pollution. When possible use a pool or aquarium skimmer to remove plastics debris from the water and throw the debris in the garbage.
Slides from the Deschutes Land Trust's Nature Night presentation by Dr. Susanne Brander, researcher at Oregon State University considering the impacts of microplastic pollution on our environment.
Plastisphere is a man-made ecosystem based on Plastic debris in the ecosystem. This PPT describes the formation and importance of Plastisphere in an aquatic ecosystem.
Raeesah Ameen, Gan Moodley, Deborah Robertson-Andersson. Presented at the ninth Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) 2015.
S Pillay, Dr. A. J. Smit, Dr Deborah Robertson-Andersson. Submitted to the ninth Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science (WIOMSA) 2015.
Kaveera Singh, Surina Singh, Gan Moodley, Deborah Robertson-Andersson. Presented at the ninth Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science (WIOMSA) 2015.
Deborah Robertson-Andersson, Judy Mann-Lang, Monica Maroun, Shana Mian & Christa Panos. Presented at the Symposium of Contemporary Conservation Practice 2015.
Travis Kunnen, Gan Moodley, Deborah Roberston-Andersson. Presented at the ninth Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) 2015
Travis Kunnen, Ursula Scharler, David Muir. Presented at the ninth Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) 2015.
Refilwe Mofokeng, Gemma Gerber, Mathew Coote, Sipho Mkhize, Deborah Robertson-Andersson, Gan Moodley. Presented at the Symposium of Contemporary Conservation Practice 2015.
Raeesah Ameen, Gan Moodley, Deborah Robertson-Andersson. Presented at the ninth Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) 2015.
Kaveera Singh, Surina Singh, Gan Moodley, Deborah Robertson-Andersson. Presented at the ninth Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) 2015.
Following on from a successful presentation to the Reciculation council members earlier in 2004, I was asked to make this presentation which should be titled why abalone farmers should grow seaweeds.
This is a presentation given at the 2009 Phycological Society of Southern Africa conference. The presentation looks at creating a debit credit account for an existing IMTA system in South Africa.
This presentation was given at the 2008 Phycological Society of Southern Africa conference in Rocky Bay, Durban.
The presentation looks at how diets fed to ablone affect their taste characteristics.
Cancer cell metabolism: special Reference to Lactate PathwayAADYARAJPANDEY1
Normal Cell Metabolism:
Cellular respiration describes the series of steps that cells use to break down sugar and other chemicals to get the energy we need to function.
Energy is stored in the bonds of glucose and when glucose is broken down, much of that energy is released.
Cell utilize energy in the form of ATP.
The first step of respiration is called glycolysis. In a series of steps, glycolysis breaks glucose into two smaller molecules - a chemical called pyruvate. A small amount of ATP is formed during this process.
Most healthy cells continue the breakdown in a second process, called the Kreb's cycle. The Kreb's cycle allows cells to “burn” the pyruvates made in glycolysis to get more ATP.
The last step in the breakdown of glucose is called oxidative phosphorylation (Ox-Phos).
It takes place in specialized cell structures called mitochondria. This process produces a large amount of ATP. Importantly, cells need oxygen to complete oxidative phosphorylation.
If a cell completes only glycolysis, only 2 molecules of ATP are made per glucose. However, if the cell completes the entire respiration process (glycolysis - Kreb's - oxidative phosphorylation), about 36 molecules of ATP are created, giving it much more energy to use.
IN CANCER CELL:
Unlike healthy cells that "burn" the entire molecule of sugar to capture a large amount of energy as ATP, cancer cells are wasteful.
Cancer cells only partially break down sugar molecules. They overuse the first step of respiration, glycolysis. They frequently do not complete the second step, oxidative phosphorylation.
This results in only 2 molecules of ATP per each glucose molecule instead of the 36 or so ATPs healthy cells gain. As a result, cancer cells need to use a lot more sugar molecules to get enough energy to survive.
Unlike healthy cells that "burn" the entire molecule of sugar to capture a large amount of energy as ATP, cancer cells are wasteful.
Cancer cells only partially break down sugar molecules. They overuse the first step of respiration, glycolysis. They frequently do not complete the second step, oxidative phosphorylation.
This results in only 2 molecules of ATP per each glucose molecule instead of the 36 or so ATPs healthy cells gain. As a result, cancer cells need to use a lot more sugar molecules to get enough energy to survive.
introduction to WARBERG PHENOMENA:
WARBURG EFFECT Usually, cancer cells are highly glycolytic (glucose addiction) and take up more glucose than do normal cells from outside.
Otto Heinrich Warburg (; 8 October 1883 – 1 August 1970) In 1931 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology for his "discovery of the nature and mode of action of the respiratory enzyme.
WARNBURG EFFECT : cancer cells under aerobic (well-oxygenated) conditions to metabolize glucose to lactate (aerobic glycolysis) is known as the Warburg effect. Warburg made the observation that tumor slices consume glucose and secrete lactate at a higher rate than normal tissues.
A brief information about the SCOP protein database used in bioinformatics.
The Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) database is a comprehensive and authoritative resource for the structural and evolutionary relationships of proteins. It provides a detailed and curated classification of protein structures, grouping them into families, superfamilies, and folds based on their structural and sequence similarities.
The increased availability of biomedical data, particularly in the public domain, offers the opportunity to better understand human health and to develop effective therapeutics for a wide range of unmet medical needs. However, data scientists remain stymied by the fact that data remain hard to find and to productively reuse because data and their metadata i) are wholly inaccessible, ii) are in non-standard or incompatible representations, iii) do not conform to community standards, and iv) have unclear or highly restricted terms and conditions that preclude legitimate reuse. These limitations require a rethink on data can be made machine and AI-ready - the key motivation behind the FAIR Guiding Principles. Concurrently, while recent efforts have explored the use of deep learning to fuse disparate data into predictive models for a wide range of biomedical applications, these models often fail even when the correct answer is already known, and fail to explain individual predictions in terms that data scientists can appreciate. These limitations suggest that new methods to produce practical artificial intelligence are still needed.
In this talk, I will discuss our work in (1) building an integrative knowledge infrastructure to prepare FAIR and "AI-ready" data and services along with (2) neurosymbolic AI methods to improve the quality of predictions and to generate plausible explanations. Attention is given to standards, platforms, and methods to wrangle knowledge into simple, but effective semantic and latent representations, and to make these available into standards-compliant and discoverable interfaces that can be used in model building, validation, and explanation. Our work, and those of others in the field, creates a baseline for building trustworthy and easy to deploy AI models in biomedicine.
Bio
Dr. Michel Dumontier is the Distinguished Professor of Data Science at Maastricht University, founder and executive director of the Institute of Data Science, and co-founder of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) data principles. His research explores socio-technological approaches for responsible discovery science, which includes collaborative multi-modal knowledge graphs, privacy-preserving distributed data mining, and AI methods for drug discovery and personalized medicine. His work is supported through the Dutch National Research Agenda, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Horizon Europe, the European Open Science Cloud, the US National Institutes of Health, and a Marie-Curie Innovative Training Network. He is the editor-in-chief for the journal Data Science and is internationally recognized for his contributions in bioinformatics, biomedical informatics, and semantic technologies including ontologies and linked data.
Slide 1: Title Slide
Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Slide 2: Introduction to Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Definition: Extrachromosomal inheritance refers to the transmission of genetic material that is not found within the nucleus.
Key Components: Involves genes located in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and plasmids.
Slide 3: Mitochondrial Inheritance
Mitochondria: Organelles responsible for energy production.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): Circular DNA molecule found in mitochondria.
Inheritance Pattern: Maternally inherited, meaning it is passed from mothers to all their offspring.
Diseases: Examples include Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and mitochondrial myopathy.
Slide 4: Chloroplast Inheritance
Chloroplasts: Organelles responsible for photosynthesis in plants.
Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA): Circular DNA molecule found in chloroplasts.
Inheritance Pattern: Often maternally inherited in most plants, but can vary in some species.
Examples: Variegation in plants, where leaf color patterns are determined by chloroplast DNA.
Slide 5: Plasmid Inheritance
Plasmids: Small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria and some eukaryotes.
Features: Can carry antibiotic resistance genes and can be transferred between cells through processes like conjugation.
Significance: Important in biotechnology for gene cloning and genetic engineering.
Slide 6: Mechanisms of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Non-Mendelian Patterns: Do not follow Mendel’s laws of inheritance.
Cytoplasmic Segregation: During cell division, organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts are randomly distributed to daughter cells.
Heteroplasmy: Presence of more than one type of organellar genome within a cell, leading to variation in expression.
Slide 7: Examples of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Four O’clock Plant (Mirabilis jalapa): Shows variegated leaves due to different cpDNA in leaf cells.
Petite Mutants in Yeast: Result from mutations in mitochondrial DNA affecting respiration.
Slide 8: Importance of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Evolution: Provides insight into the evolution of eukaryotic cells.
Medicine: Understanding mitochondrial inheritance helps in diagnosing and treating mitochondrial diseases.
Agriculture: Chloroplast inheritance can be used in plant breeding and genetic modification.
Slide 9: Recent Research and Advances
Gene Editing: Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 are being used to edit mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA.
Therapies: Development of mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) for preventing mitochondrial diseases.
Slide 10: Conclusion
Summary: Extrachromosomal inheritance involves the transmission of genetic material outside the nucleus and plays a crucial role in genetics, medicine, and biotechnology.
Future Directions: Continued research and technological advancements hold promise for new treatments and applications.
Slide 11: Questions and Discussion
Invite Audience: Open the floor for any questions or further discussion on the topic.
This pdf is about the Schizophrenia.
For more details visit on YouTube; @SELF-EXPLANATORY;
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiarMZDNhe1A3Rnpr_WkzA/videos
Thanks...!
Richard's aventures in two entangled wonderlandsRichard Gill
Since the loophole-free Bell experiments of 2020 and the Nobel prizes in physics of 2022, critics of Bell's work have retreated to the fortress of super-determinism. Now, super-determinism is a derogatory word - it just means "determinism". Palmer, Hance and Hossenfelder argue that quantum mechanics and determinism are not incompatible, using a sophisticated mathematical construction based on a subtle thinning of allowed states and measurements in quantum mechanics, such that what is left appears to make Bell's argument fail, without altering the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics. I think however that it is a smoke screen, and the slogan "lost in math" comes to my mind. I will discuss some other recent disproofs of Bell's theorem using the language of causality based on causal graphs. Causal thinking is also central to law and justice. I will mention surprising connections to my work on serial killer nurse cases, in particular the Dutch case of Lucia de Berk and the current UK case of Lucy Letby.
A Novel Methodology for the Separation of Known Suspended Microplastics (<500µm) from Particulate Organic Matter (POM)
1. A Novel Methodology for the Separation of Known Suspended
Microplastics (<500µm) from Particulate Organic Matter (POM)
THE MICROPLASTIC PROBLEM !
Marine plastic pollution is currently ranked as one of the greatest threats to marine life (Todd et al., 2010; Andrady, 2011).
Plastic pollution consists of both macroplastic (> 5 mm) and microplastic (< 5 mm) particles (Hidalgo-Ruz et al., 2012).
Microplastics have been found in the guts of both pelagic and demersal fish species (Lusher et al. 2012).
Ingested microplastics may serve as a delivery mechanism for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which have a high affinity for the hydrophobic surfaces of the microplastic particles (Mato,
2001).
CURRENT SEPARATION METHODS
Although useful in separating microplastics from sediment samples, density-based separation methods are inefficient at
separating suspended microplastics from POM. Variations in the density of the water samples alters the relative
buoyancies of both the suspended microplastics as well as the POM (Coote, unpublished).
Previously described methods using nitric acid (Andrady, 2011; Claessens et al., 2013) were inefficient and were found to
degrade the microplastics substantially.
THE NEED FOR A SEPARATION TECHNIQUE
The ability to separate suspended microplastics from POM is essential in order to accurately assess the gut evacuation
rates of microplastics, as well as the effects of their prolonged consumption/retention by marine organisms in
experimental systems (Lusher et al., 2012).
To accurately quantify the amount of microplastics ingested, retained and evacuated, it is necessary to separate them from
any particulate organic matter (POM) in the samples.
Observational studies of natural systems are unable to accurately correlate the extent of microplastic consumption with
any physiological effects on marine organisms due to a high degree of natural variability within these systems (Lusher et
al., 2012; Foekema et al., 2013). Such aspects of the eco-physiology of marine organisms may therefore be better
examined in aquacultural systems (Clements et al., 2009; Lusher et al., 2012).
Literature Cited
Andrady, A. L. 2011. Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 62 -8. 1596–1605.
Claessens, M., Van Cauwenberghe, L., Vandegehuchte, M. B. & Janssen, C. R. 2013. New techniques for the detection of microplastics in sediments and field
collected organisms. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 70 -1. 227-233.
Coote, M.W. 2014 (Unpublished). The factors affecting the bio-availability of microplastics and their retention in filter-feeding, herbivorous fish (Mugil cephalus L.).
Hons. Thesis. University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville campus), R.S.A
Hidalgo-Ruz, V., Gutow, L., Thompson, R.C. & Thiel, M. 2012. Microplastics in the
Marine Environment: A Review of the Methods Used for Identification and Quantification. Environmental Science and Technology. 46. 3060-3075.
Ivar do Sul, J. A. & Costa, M. F. 2014. The present and future of microplastic pollution in the marine environment. Environmental Pollution. 185. 352-364.
Lusher, A.L., McHugh, M. & Thompson, R.C. 2012. Occurrence of microplastic in the gastrointestinal tract of pelagic and demersal fish from the English Channel.
Marine Pollution. 1-6.
Martin, A. 1969. Physical pharmacy: Physical chemical principles in the pharmaceutical sciences. Philadelphia. 2Nd ed. Lea and Febiger.
Thompson, R.C., Olsen, Y., Mitchell, R.P., Davis, A., Rowland, S.J., John, A.W.G., McGonigle, D. & Russell, A.E. 2004. Lost at sea: where is all the plastic? Science
304. 838.
Todd, P.A., Ong, X. and Chou, L.M. 2010. Impacts of pollution on marine life in Southeast Asia. Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation. 19. 1063-1082.
Matthew. Coote, Dr. Deborah Robertson-Andersson, G.K Moodley
University of KwaZulu–Natal – Westville Campus, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science
School of Life Sciences, Private Bag X 54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa
ASSESSING THE PROBLEM
Although microplastics are considered to be virtually ubiquitous throughout the marine environment, most studies are still
thought to be a gross underestimation of the true extent of microplastic pollution in the oceans (Hidalgo-Ruz et al, 2012).
The majority of observational studies have focused specifically on visible microplastics (Andrady, 2011).
According to Hidalgo-Ruz et al. (2012) current techniques are unable to adequately separate suspended microplastic
particles (< 500 μm) from particulate organic matter (POM) due to the similar sizes and densities of the microplastics
and the POM.
AIM OF THIS STUDY
A technique was therefore sought to separate and quantify specific microplastics (< 500 μm) for this purpose.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Polypropylene (PP) were tested as they were available in the appropriate form.
Additionally, UV fluorescent plastics were chosen as they were easily visible in small quantities in order to ensure the
accuracy of the separation method during the various stages of separation.
RESULTS AND FINDINGS
METHODOLOGY
The two-phase separation method described by Figure 1 was developed for the separation and quantification of
selected microplastics. The addition of a non-polar solvent with a high affinity for the surface of the microplastics
serves to draw them into a separate layer, immiscible with the rest of the sample. This layer may then be removed
and the microplastics within it can be dried and weighed.
RESULTS AND FINDINGS
METHODOLOGY
Treatment 1 (PET microfibres) recovered 93.95 ± 1.79 % (n=10) of the microplastics
Treatment 3 (PP microbeads) recovered 97.23 ± 1.38 % (n=10).
Whilst the control group indicated that no POM was recovered by the xylene layer during the treatments
In contrast Treatment 2 (PET microbeads) recovered only 1.17 ± 1.13 % (n=10) of the microplastics, most likely
the result of the particle density (1.38 g.cm-3).
Figure 1. Microplastic recovery (mean ± S.D) For
PET microfibres and microbeads and PP microbeads.
CONCLUSIONS
The proposed method for the separation of microplastics (20 - 500 μm) from POM and subsequent
quantification thereof, may be applied using specific plastics where appropriate, for experimental
purposes with the use of appropriate correction factors.
This novel methodology has been successfully applied using PET and PP for microplastic gut
evacuation experiments in mullet (M. cephalus L.) (Coote, unpublished) and is currently being
employed in further investigations using other marine organisms (e.g. fish and marine
invertebrates) as models.
VISIT US: MACE Lab @ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ukznmace