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With the present paper, the Working Group on Cells, Tissues and Organs and other experts of the Superior Health Council of Belgium aimed to provide stakeholders in material of human origin with advice on critical aspects of serological and nucleic acid test (NAT) testing, to improve virological safety of cell- and tissue and organ donation. The current paper focusses on a number of preanalytical variables which can be critical for any medical biology examination: (1) sampling related variables (type of samples, collection of the samples, volume of the sample, choice of specific tubes, identification of tubes), (2) variables related to transport, storage and processing of blood samples (transport, centrifugation and haemolysis, storage before and after centrifugation, use of serum versus plasma), (3) variables related to dilution (haemodilution, pooling of samples), and (4) test dependent variables (available tests and validation). Depending on the type of donor (deceased donor (heart-beating or non-heart beating) versus living donor (allogeneic, related, autologous), and the type of donated human material (cells, tissue or organs) additional factors can play a role: pre- and post-mortem sampling, conditions of sampling (e.g. morgue), haemodilution, possibility of retesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the several native Brazilian plant species that have yet to be studied for their medicinal properties is Verbesina macrophylla, popularly known as “assa-peixe”. The popular use of this species for medicinal purposes has been reported in southeastern Bahia State, with leaf tea being used to treat renal and urethral problems with anti-inflammatory and antifebrile activities, and flower tea to treat inflammation. Despite the potential medicinal importance of V. macrophylla, studies of its chemical composition and possible activity in controlling fungi and parasites are scarce and recent. This study tested the biological activity of aqueous extracts of leaves and inflorescences of V. macrophylla on the yeasts Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis, the filamentous fungus Fusarium oxysporum, and the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi. Inflorescence extract showed an inhibitory activity of 41% for cells of C. tropicalis, causing changes in the plasma membrane, resulting in fungicidal activity. Both aqueous extracts eliminated epimastigotes with a dose/time-dependent relationship, reaching 100% elimination after treatment with 200 μg mL-1 of either, causing cytoplasmic and nuclear disorganization, vacuolization and enlargement of the reservosomes. Although the studied extracts did not present considerable inhibitory activities against the filamentous fungus and yeasts, promising results were seen with the epimastigote form of T. cruzi. These data add industrial and medicinal value to the species. Additional studies are needed, particularly spectrometric analysis of extracts, to elucidate the metabolite(s) responsible for the results of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding the dynamic development of 3D printing technology, as well as its application in a growing part of industries, i.e., in the automotive industry, construction industry, medical industry, etc., there is a notable opportunity for its application in producing dental implants, which presents a promising alternative to traditional implant manufacturing methods. The medical industry is very restrictive regarding the applied materials, and it is necessary to use materials that exhibit very good mechanical and thermal parameters, show clinical indifference and biocompatibility, are non-allergenic and non-cancerous, and are likely to sterilize. Such materials are poly(aryl-ether-ketone)s (PAEK)s, mainly poly(ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) and poly(ether-ketone-ketone) (PEKK), that are found to be high-performance polymers and can be defined as materials that retain their functionality even in extreme conditions. In the present paper, two types of PEEKs and PEKK were compared regarding their structural, mechanical, and thermal properties along with the biological activity toward selected strains. The tested samples were obtained with Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology. The PEKK, after heat treatment, exhibits the most promising mechanical properties as well as less bacterial adhesion on its surface when compared to both PEEKs. Consequently, among the evaluated materials, PEKK after heat treatment stands out as the optimal selection for a dental prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article shows the results assessment of the impact of various reclamation methods with the use of mineral wool and municipal sewage sludge on chemical and biological indicators, which have an impact on the improvement of the quality of soil degraded by sulfur well mining. The results of the research showed that the type of waste together with it application method, had a beneficial effect on the shaping of the chemical and biological properties of soil. The most favorable effect was noted in the conditions of combining mineral wool with sewage sludge. At this work we used the PHYTOTOXIKIT biological test, as an indicator of the ecotoxicological effect of selected waste added, for the efficiency of the soil remediation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the research is to develop the method of disinfection of external environment objects against cysts Buxtonella sulcata in cattle.Materials and methods. Under the conditions of "Orlovskoe” OJSC of Shchyolkovsky District Moscow Region biological test for experimental infection was applied for determination of efficiency of Cystodez for disinfection on 30 calves at the age of 6 months, which were free of B. sulcata. Efficiency of disinfection in the course of prescribing different concentrations of Cystodez as well as 4% concentration of background drug of carbolic acid was determined based on the percentage reduction of generation B. sulcata cysts after the above stated drugs exposure and concentrations compared with infected control calves, which were prescribed 200 cysts/ml. During August–September 2017 efficiency of 4% Cystodez against B. sulcata cysts of cattle were tested by the mean of by artificial laying of B. sulcata cysts on control sites compared with the background drug of 4% carbolic acid within the exposure of 2 hours under the manufacturing conditions of OJSC named after Guryanov of the Kaluga Region.Results and discussion. Intensive efficiency of 3% concentration of Cystodez was 97.9%, and in 4 and 5% concentration the drug demonstrated 100 % efficiency. Results received during manufacturing testing of 4 % Cystodez at the dose of 0.5 l per 1 m 2 within the exposure of 2 hours show its high efficiency for disinfection against cysts of cattle B. sulcata. Intensive efficiency was 92.32% versus 75.6% efficiency of the 4% background drug of carbolic acid.

As a rubber annular coat of rim wheels, tyres are inevitable parts of all vehicles in modern times. As to their composition, however, they represent a risk for the environment. During the use of tyres, tyre tread patterns become abraded, which results in its gradual wear and necessary replacement. These micro and nano particles are then gradually extracted into the environment, namely soils and waters. Our research study was focused on the assessment of subchronical phytotoxicity (pot trial with a mixture of substrate and predetermined ratio of abrasion products lasting 28 days) and biological tests (testing phytotoxicity of leaches with predetermined ratio of abrasion products on Petri dishes). The biological tests were comprised two plant species--seeds of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.). In the mixtures of substrate with determined shares of abrasion products (5%, 25%, 50% and 75%), respiration of CO2 was also established by means of soil microbial respiration (Solvita CO2-Burst). Substrates with 5% and 25% abrasion proportions showed increased biological activity as well as increased CO2-C emissions. The increasing share of abrasion products resulted in decreasing biological activity and decreasing CO2-C emissions. The results of subchronical phytotoxicity ranged from 62% to 94% with values below 90% indicating substrate phytotoxicity. The results of biological tests focused on the phytotoxicity of tested samples exhibiting values from 35% to 70% with respect to the germination index with values below 66% indicating the phytotoxicity of tyre abrasion products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the most produced and exported vegetable in Turkey. There are many pathogens to limit tomato production by reducing yield and fruit quality. Among them, Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) causes important economic losses. The most efficient and environmentally friendly method against TYLCV is the use of resistant varieties. In this trial, it was aimed to determine some morphological traits which were linked to Ty-1 and Ty-3a genes which confer to TYLCV. A commercial hybrid carrying Ty-1, Ty-3a genes as heterozygous was crossed to a susceptible inbred line from Bati Akdeniz Agricultural and Research Institute (BATEM). Marker assisted selection (MAS) was carried out in F1 and F2 generations and biological tests were done for TYLCV resistance in F3 generation. MAS for Ty-3a and Ty-1 genes were compatible with biological tests. In total of 95 genotypes in F3 were developed with molecular marker selection. It was determined that 30 genotypes having the Ty-3a and Ty-1 genes as homozygous resistant. The nine genotypes carried these genes in heterozygous form. 56 genotypes were identified as susceptible. The 43 morphological traits were observed in identified individuals to correlate with resistant allele, Ty-3a. It was found that there was statistically important correlation between Ty-3a and length of internode, length of stem at first inflorescence, status of calix, leaf attitude, length of inflorescence and plant habitus. Also, there was negative correlation between fruit weight, fruit length and resistance. Therefore, we identified some morphological markers linked to Ty-3a which can be used in selection for TLYCV resistant breeding programme.

Introduction and objective Firefighters are considered a healthy and fit group of individuals, well-prepared for taking action in disaster situations. While working, they suffer from exposure to certain toxic agents, especially combustion products generated when a fire takes place. Among them, the most frequent and the most toxic are: carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and those resulting from PVC combustion – hydrochloride, phosgene and chloride. Additionally, fire-extinguisher powder can be inhaled and lead to certain lesion in the airways. The aim of study was to ascertain the influence of toxic agents present at the scene of fire on the lung tissue of firefighters, and also to study this on an animal model. Material and Methods The study group consisted of firefighters who had a minimum of 10 years service. After completing a questionnaire, their clinical status was ascertained based on a general examination, laboratory tests and lung function tests. Results Questionnaire analysis showed a high percentage of pathological symptoms in the studied group. The incidence of the symptoms correlated with the duration of occupational exposure to toxic agents. Among other results, obstruction of flow in medium airways in about 30% of the studied individuals represented the most important finding. Experimental tests were next performed on male Wistar rats, aged 3 months. They were insufflated with the solution of powdered fire-extinguisher, after which morphology specimens of lung tissue were studied. Evidence for disseminated fibrosis was obtained, which supported the previous clinical findings in the firefighters. Conclusions The above shows correlation between occupational exposure and respiratory system involvement in firefighters. This justifies covering the group of firefighters with special medical care focused on prophilaxis, early detection and therapy of pulmonary diseases.

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to evaluate the biological resistance of teak (Tectona grandis) heartwood and sapwood to the action of Trametes versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum fungi in laboratory accelerated decay assays. The mass loss evaluation of the samples was performed periodically. The heartwood presented a higher percentage of extractives and the sapwood of holocelluloses. The sapwood and heartwood subjected to the fungus Gloephyllum trabeum remained stable. For the Trametes versicolor fungus, there was an increasing loss of mass over time for both regions, presenting a mass loss of 40% for the sapwood and of 20% for the heartwood at the conclusion of the assay. Teak wood was classified as highly resistant to the fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum, and moderately resistant to Trametes versicolor.

Even though antibiotics are necessary in livestock production, they can be harmful not only due to their toxicity, but also in view of their contribution to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Screening tests based on microbial growth inhibition appeared to be useful tools to prevent its entry into the food chain. They have nevertheless been traditionally carried out post mortem, leading to great economical loss and harm to the environment in case a positive sample is found. Hence, the objective was to evaluate the use of a screening test as an ante mortem alternative for the detection of antibiotic residues in meat: thus, Explorer®-Blood test was optimized and validated. After adapting the procedure for matrix preparation, the assay parameters were assessed from 344 antibiotic-free blood serum samples. Limits of Detection (LoDs) were defined by spiking blood serum with several of the most common antimicrobials used in veterinary practice. LoDs were similar to those obtained for meat and were at or below the maximum residue limits set by EU legislation for muscle. Analyses of in vivo injected samples, previously characterized by LC-MS/MS, demonstrated the method’s accuracy and proved that Explorer®-Blood can be considered a suitable alternative to conventional post mortem screening methods.

The objective is to test apple material selected for Prebase Candidate category according to the new legislation, for cvs: Romus 3, Generos, Aura and Frumos de Voinești. Viral evaluation was performed by two methods: biological and serological DAS-ELISA, according to EPPO recommendations. Biological field testing was made on the Lord Lambourne indicator to distinguish Ruberry wood, Flat limb, Chat fruit, Bumpy fruit of Ben Davis and ApMV, on the Golden delicious indicator for Green crinkle, Russet ring, Russet wart, Star crack, Rough skin, Horseshoe wound, and ApP, on the Starkrimson indicator for Apple scar schin and Apple dimple fruit viruses and on Malus platycarpa and R12740 7 A indicators for ACLSV; Virginia Crab indicator for ASPV, ASGV. The serological test was used to identify viruses: ACLSV, ApMV, ASGV, ASPV and ApP phytoplasma. Samples infected with ACLSV virus on the Generos cv. were identified by biological method and confirmed by DAS-ELISA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to characterize native strains of Bacillus thuringiensis of the Colombian Caribbean with toxic effect against insect vectors, 28 samples of bacteria identified as B. thuringiensis were isolated from different soils and muds around the city of Valledupar. Using a biological test, five isolates of B. thuringiensis showed toxic effect against larvae of Aedes aegypti. PCR methods were used to detect cry1, cry2, cry4B, cry10 and cyt1 genes. Cry1 and cry2 genes were detected in 35.7% and 32.1% of the 28 isolates analyzed, respectively. Surprisingly, reduced lengths of cry4B gene segments were detected in 28.6% of B. thuringiensis samples. The presence of cry10 or cyt1 was not detected in any of the 28 samples of B. thuringiensis, despite the high sensitivity of the assays used. The results show that B. thuringiensis samples from the Colombian Caribbean have atypical characteristics compared to those of Latin America and elsewhere in the world, which is consistent with the idea that the geographic origin of B. thuringiensis samples is associated with their biological and genetic characteristics.

This paper on the biological tests carried out on serum/plasma samples from donors of human body material (HBM) is the result of a project of the working Group of Superior Health Council of Belgium formed with experts in the field of HBM and infectious serology. Indeed, uncertainty about the interpretation of biological test results currently leads to the sometimes unjustified cancelling of planned donations or the rejection of harvested HBM, whilst more sophisticated diagnostic algorithms would still allow the use of organs or HBM that would otherwise have been rejected. NAT tests will not be discussed in this publication. In the first part some general aspects as the need for a formal agreement between the Tissue Establishment l and the laboratory responsible for the biological testing, but also some specifications regarding testing material, the choice of additional biological tests, and some general aspects concerning interpretation and reporting are discussed. In a second part, detailed information and recommendations concerning the interpretation are presented for each of the mandatory tests (human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis) is presented. A number of not mandatory, but regularly used optional serological tests (e.g. for the detection of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, Epstein-Barr virus, human T cell leukemia virus and cytomegalovirus) are also extensively discussed. Although the project was meant to provide clarification and recommendations concerning the Belgian legislation, the majority of recommendations are also applicable to testing of donors of tissues and cells in other (European) countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective. Firefighters are considered a healthy and fit group of individuals, well-prepared for taking action in disaster situations. While working, they suffer from exposure to certain toxic agents, especially combustion products generated when a fire takes place. Among them, the most frequent and the most toxic are: carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and those resulting from PVC combustion - hydrochloride, phosgene and chloride. Additionally, fireextinguisher powder can be inhaled and lead to certain lesion in the airways. The aim of study was to ascertain the influence of toxic agents present at the scene of fire on the lung tissue of firefighters, and also to study this on an animal model. Materials and methods. The study group consisted of firefighters who had a minimum of 10 years service. After completing a questionnaire, their clinical status was ascertained based on a general examination, laboratory tests and lung function tests. Results. Questionnaire analysis showed a high percentage of pathological symptoms in the studied group. The incidence of the symptoms correlated with the duration of occupational exposure to toxic agents. Among other results, obstruction of flow in medium airways in about 30% of the studied individuals represented the most important finding. Experimental tests were next performed on male Wistar rats, aged 3 months. They were insufflated with the solution of powdered fire-extinguisher, after which morphology specimens of lung tissue were studied. Evidence for disseminated fibrosis was obtained, which supported the previous clinical findings in the firefighters. Conclusion. The above shows correlation between occupational exposure and respiratory system involvement in firefighters. This justifies covering the group of firefighters with special medical care focused on prophilaxis, early detection and therapy of pulmonary diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging of population is a problem that is perceived globally. An increase in the elderly population causes a corresponding increase in the number of traffic accidents and injured pedestrians. In general, the most common injured body region of a pedestrian involved in a traffic accident is the lower extremity. In order to reduce the severity of pedestrian injuries, we need to experimentally predict the risk of bone fracture using biological specimens. In this study, we constructed an experimental setup for impact measurement. We utilized a torsion spring as the energy source and used porcine hind legs to replicate the human lower extremity while performing side impact tests. Strain gages were used to directly measure the dynamic responses of the cortical bone. From the results of the measurement of the strain distributions in the femoral diaphysis, we observed that higher strain occurred in the region nearer to the proximal. The maximum value of the strains in the lateral side of the femur was less than that in the medial side. Using the strain values, we quantitatively predicted the risk of femoral fracture in each region. Hence, our method, which is used for directly measuring the dynamic responses of the cortical bone, can be effectively used in biological tests to elucidate the nature of the injuries sustained by an accident victim.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o estado fisiológico da parte aérea das plantas de morangueiro das cultivares Gariguette e Elsanta durante estocagem em câmara fria (-2ºC), de janeiro a agosto. Pelo teste biológico, a capacidade de crescimento manteve-se alta, sem evolução significativa durante a estocagem. O fluxo de calor metabólico (Q) e a intensidade respiratória (RCO2) dos tecidos da zona apical, medidos pela microcalorimetria na saída da câmara fria, não evoluíram significativamente, mas aumentaram após 48 e 72 horas de aclimatação a 20ºC. Existiu um estreito paralelismo entre os valores de Q e RCO2 e da umidade ponderal (UP) dos tecidos. A parte aérea das plantas manteve a capacidade de crescimento mesmo após oito meses de estocagem.The aim of this work was to know the physiological state of the aerial part of strawberry plants (varieties Gariguette and Elsanta) during storage in cold chamber (-2ºC) from January until August. According to the biological test (petiole test), the growth capacity was kept up without significant evolution. The flow of metabolic heating (Q) and the respiratory intensity (RCO2) of the apical zone tissues measured at the exit of the cold chamber did not change significantly. Their values measured after 48 and 72 hours of acclimatization at 20ºC were higher than at the exit of the cold chamber. The differences between the values without acclimatization and after acclimatization increased during the first weeks of storage, showing an evolution in the apex of the plant. There was a strict parallelism between the values of Q and RCO2 and of the tissues water contents (UP). The growth capacity of the aerial part of the plants seemed to keep up even after 8 months of storage.

O calcário aplicado na superfície do solo apresenta baixa eficiência na correção da acidez subsuperficial. A eficiência pode ser melhorada através de compostos orgânicos hidrossolúveis liberados pelos resíduos vegetais. Foi avaliado um método biológico para testar a capacidade de extratos vegetais na mobilização do calcário no solo. O método consiste das seguintes etapas: coleta e preparo do material vegetal; extração dos compostos orgânicos hidrossolúveis; preparo da coluna de solo; aplicação do calcário na superfície do solo; aplicação do extrato vegetal; irrigação com água destilada; teste biológico com a planta indicadora de trigo cv. Anahuac e avaliação do crescimento radicular. A calagem sem resíduo vegetal aumentou o pH e o teor de Ca e diminuiu o teor de Al apenas na camada 0 a 5 cm de profundidade. A calagem com resíduos de aveia preta e nabo forrageiro aumentou o pH e o teor de Ca e diminuiu o teor de Al na camada de 0 a 20 cm de profundidade. Por outro lado, a calagem com resíduos de trigo não afetou a mobilidade do calcário no solo. O crescimento das raízes acompanhou os efeitos na química do solo: calagem sem resíduo e calagem com resíduo de trigo apresentaram crescimento das raízes até 10 cm de profundidade enquanto a calagem com resíduos de aveia e nabo favoreceu o crescimento das raízes até 20 cm de profundidade. O teste biológico foi adequado para avaliar a eficiência de resíduos vegetais na mobilização do calcário no solo.Soil surface applied lime shows low efficiency in alleviating subsoil acidity. Lime efficiency is increased through water-soluble organic compounds released from plant residues. A biological test was evaluated to verify the capacity of plant extracts on lime mobility in the soil. The test presents the following steps: plant material preparation; extraction of water soluble organic compounds; soil column preparation; soil surface lime addition; plant extract addition; irrigation with distillated water; biological test with an indicator plant (wheat, cultivar Anahuac); and root growth evaluation. Surface applied lime without plant residue increased pH and Ca, and decreased Al in the top 5 cm of soil. Lime with black oats and oil seed radish extracts increased pH and Ca and decreased Al up to the 20 cm soil depth. Wheat residue had no effect on lime mobility. Indicator root growth followed the effect of treatments on soil chemical composition: lime without plant residue enhanced root growth in the top 10 cm depth and lime with black oats and oil seed radish enhanced root growth up to the 20 cm depth. The biological test was efficient to evaluate the ability of plant residues in relation to lime mobility in the soil.

We prospectively evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a new rapid assay (STic Expert HIT) alone or in combination with a clinical score in 90 HIT-suspected patients. The 4Ts score was calculated, and ELISA and serotonin-release assay (SRA) were performed; the average time taken for test results were 2 and 5 days for ELISA and SRA, respectively. The STic test was performed in our laboratory as an evaluation exercise and the result was available in 1 hour, but results were not communicated to the clinicians so as to not influence management. Diagnostic performance of STic test was assessed, alone and in combination with 4Ts score. HIT was diagnosed in 19 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the STic test alone were 95%, 92%, 75%, and 98%, respectively, with an accuracy of 92%. The likelihood ratio for positive and negative results with the STic test was 11.2 and 0.06. The combination of the 4Ts score and the STic test results had a negative predictive value of 100% and a negative likelihood ratio of 0. The favorable performance of the STic test may allow for the rapid exclusion of HIT in combination with a low to intermediate pretest clinical probability. During the subsequent year, using the STic test in real time to rapidly exclude the diagnosis, we observed a 50% reduction in danaparoid administration in HIT-suspected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: The thrombin generation test (TGT) describes the ability of the plasma to generate thrombin. Its usefulness in septic patients has yet to be assessed. METHODS: Patients admitted for severe sepsis in a medical intensive care unit were sampled for TGT on day 0, 3, 6, and 10. TGT data were compared to "classical" hemostastic tests and to outcome parameters, notably disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) according to International Society for Thrombosis and Hemostasis criteria as well as survival. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were recruited of whom 11 received therapeutic anticoagulation and showed profoundly-altered TGT parameters. In comparison to healthy subjects, the 67 septic patients without DIC exhibited longer Lag times, higher Rate Indices, no change in peak or amount of thrombin generated, although the return to baseline was prolonged. In the 24 DIC patients, Lag time and Rate Index did not differ from healthy subjects (Rate Index being significantly lower than in Sepsis patients). The decreases in peak and amount of thrombin generated were not significant. Return to baseline was prolonged comparatively to Sepsis patients. Due to a large overlap of TGT values between groups, the ability of TGT parameters to diagnose DIC or predict survival was respectively poor or absent. CONCLUSION: The thrombin Generation Test displayed particular patterns in septic patients and in septic DIC patients. The wide overlap between patients in TGT values prevents the usefulness of this test in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new test method for evaluating the resistance of cementitious products and materials to biogenic acid attack has been developed. It consists of inoculating pipes with a highly diverse microbial consortium (from an urban wastewater treatment plant), and trickling a feeding solution containing a safe and soluble reduced sulfur source over the inoculated surface in order to select a sulfur-oxidizing activity. A sulfur substrate, thiosulfate, was used in the feeding solution, which facilitated the monitoring of the bacterial activity, and of the leaching of cementitious ions. The functioning of the test in terms of selection of sulfur oxidizing microorganisms, acid and sulfate production, and degradation mechanisms occurring in the cementitious materials has been validated previously. This paper aims (i) to evaluate the reproducibility and repeatability of the test when the source of the sludge used for the inoculation is changed and (ii) to optimize the test design. The following changes were carried out with a view to intensifying the biological and chemical reactions: change of sulfur substrate (tetrathionate instead of thiosulfate), increased sulfur flow rate at the surface of the biofilm, and increased temperature. The results highlight good reproducibility of the test: the change in the inoculum and in the sulfur substrate led to the same phenomena in terms of (i) transformation of reduced sulfur species into sulfate and production of acid and (ii) degradation mechanisms of the cement linings. Moreover, the change of the sulfur substrate combined with the reduction of the exposed surface locally intensified the alteration kinetics. In contrast, in the experimental conditions, the increase in temperature did not seem to have any positive influence on the microbial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This new biological test of water toxicity is based on monitoring of specific conductivity changes of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae suspension as a result of yeast fermentation activity inhibition in toxic conditions. The test was verified on ten substances with various mechanisms of toxic effect and the results were compared with two standard toxicity tests based on Daphnia magna mobility inhibition (EN ISO 6341) and Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition (EN ISO 11348-2) and with the results of the S. cerevisiae lethal test ( Rumlova and Dolezalova, 2012 ). The new biological test – S. cerevisiae conductometric test – is an express method developed primarily for field conditions. It is applicable in case of need of immediate information about water toxicity. Fast completion is an advantage of this test (time necessary for test completion is about 60 min), the test is simple and the test organism – dried instant yeast – belongs among its biggest advantages because of its long-term storage life and broad availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]