In this study, total heavy metal content and its effects on soil microbiological characteristics were investigated in soil samples from an area with known long-term pollution problems. The total heavy metal concentrations of contaminated soil samples were 109 and 1,558 mg/kg for Hg and As, respectively. Key microbiological parameters measured included dehydrogenase activity, ATP content and num...

A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effect of microbial phytase in pig diets on digestibility and bioavailability of Cu and Zn. Studies (n = 22) into effects of microbial phytase on digestibility and plasma levels of Cu and Zn were included in a dataset and regression analysis was performed to quantify the effect of Aspergillus niger derived 3-phytase in studies (n = 14) with a maxim...

The Italian Toscano cigar production includes a fermentation step that starts when dark fire-cured tobacco leaves are moistened and mixed with ca. 20% prefermented tobacco to form a 500-kg bulk. The dynamics of the process, lasting ca. 18 days, has never been investigated in detail, and limited information is available on microbiota involved. Here we show that Toscano fermentation is invariably...

Soils were collected from a broad leaf-Pinus massoniana mixed forest, a Chinese fir (Cunninghamialan ceolata)-Pinus massoniana mixed forest, and a pure Pinus massoniana subtropical forest for subsequent analyses to compare characteristics of soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon content. Soil organic carbon mineralization characteristics were further modeled using a double exponentia...

Various inorganic and organic pollutants in industrial soils may adversely affect soil microorganisms and terrestrial ecosystem functioning. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the microbial activity, microbial biomass, and functional diversity of soil bacteria and the metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region (Poland). We co...

Strawberries have a very short post-harvest life mostly due to their relatively high water content, intense metabolic activity and susceptibility to microbial rot. Antimicrobial low-density polyethylene nanocomposite films containing ZnO nanoparticles at different mass fractions were prepared by melt mixing and followed by compression moulding using a hot press machine. Fresh strawberries were ...

Milk is very popular drink in India and is used for various purposes like for making tea coffee, making sweets, making dairy products etc. Milk contains up to 87% of water which can be easily adulterated by unscrupulous middlemen and uneducated farm workers. The aim of this study was to diagnose chemical, microbial content of milk during preservation. Major tests considered in the research work...

INTRODUCTION To promote rational and sustainable use of soil resources and to maintain the urban soil quality, it is essential to assess urban ecosystem health. In this study, the microbiological properties of urban soils in Beijing and their spatial distribution patterns across the city were evaluated based on measurements of microbial biomass carbon and urease and invertase activities of the ...

the influence of long-term mixed organic and inorganic contamination on soil microbial activity, community structure and genetic diversity was investigated in soil samples from a coke oven plant located in upper silesia, poland. the tested soils were heavily contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs) and heavy metals. the microbial communities were characterized using the phospho...

Phytic acid, the main storage form of phosphorous in plants cannot be digested by monogastric animals and is excreted into environment. This compound also has antinutritional effect due to its negative charge which makes it able to chelate minerals and organic elements like calcium, iron, zinc and amino acids to provoke malnutrition. Alarming increase in eutrophication and cost of supplementati...