CONTENTS
Editorial Board
i-iv
Editor's comment
H. Najdenski
3-4
I.
MAN AND BIOSPHERE
K. Sharma, D. Karamanev
5-16
Antisense oligonucleotides and radionuclides
– perspectives
K. Popova, M. Mincheva, M. Yavahchova, N.
Goutev, D. Tonev
17-24
II. CLOSED ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS IN
EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS
Chr. Lasseur, M.
Mergeay
25-35
III. ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES
Gaseous fuel obtaining
via fermentation of organic landfill waste
V. Hovorukha,
O. Havryliuk, G. Gladka, B. Iryna, Y. Danko, O. Shabliy, O. Tashyrev
36-48
Anaerobic digestion of wheat straw and
micobiological assesment of the resulted
digestate
H.
Najdenski, L.
Dimitrova, V. Akivanov, V.
Hubenov, S.
Mihailova, P. Grozdanov, M.
Iliev, V.
Kussovski, L. Kabaivanova, I.
Simeonov
49-60
IV.
BIOAUTOMATICS AND BIOINFORMATICS
Growth models in
microbial ecosystems - resource or density
dependence?
J. Harmand
61-67
V.
ECOLOGICAL AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
New
developments in crop rotation
A. Sadovski
68-77
VI.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND BIOLOGY
P. Glogov, D. Dimitrov
78-82
ARTICLES
ABSTRACTS (In
Bulgarian)
83-85
VII. SCIENTIFIC FORUMS
86-87
Seventh
international conference Ecological Engineering
and Environment Protection (EEEP'2021)
with Youth
Scientific Session and MELiSSA Summer University,
30 September -3 October 2021, Varna, Bulgaria
with Youth Scientific Session and MELiSSA Summer University, 30 September -3 October 2021, Varna, Bulgaria
doi.org/10.32006/eeep.2021.1.0516
INVESTIGATING THE HISTORICAL CORRELATION BETWEEN ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATION AND GLOBAL TEMPERATURE CHANGE
Kneev Sharma, Dimitre Karamanev
Abstract. Understanding the fundamental relationship between atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and temperature rise is essential for tackling the problem of climate change that faces us today. Misconceptions regarding the relationship are widespread due to media and political influences. This investigation aims to address the popular misconception that CO2 concentration directly and naturally leads to global temperature rise. While anthropogenic CO2 emissions seem to affect the rising global atmospheric temperature with a confidence of 95%, it falters when the historical relationship using ice core data is studied. This investigation uses two statistical approaches to determine an accurate range and direction for this important relationship. Through a combined approach, it was found that historically CO2 concentration in the last 650 000 years lags global temperature rise by 1020-1080 years with a maximum correlation coefficient of 0.8371-0.8372. This result is important for the investigation of climate change.
Keywords:
environment; temperature rise; global warming; carbon
dioxide emissions.
doi.org/10.32006/eeep.2021.1.1724
ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AND RADIONUCLIDES – PERSPECTIVES
Katya B. Popova, Maria Mincheva, Maria Yavahchova, Nikolay Goutev, Dimitar Tonev
Abstract. Over the past decade, antisense technology has successfully established itself as an entirely innovative platform for research and creation of new therapies. Significant advances in the design of antisense oligonucleotides, as well as a deeper understanding of their mechanisms of action, have led to their successful clinical application in many RNA-targeted therapies. In addition, their potential for in vivo imaging by radiolabeling has been identified. Here are discussed the prospects for the use of antisense oligonucleotides in nuclear medicine and highlighted some of the advantages and disadvantages of labelling them with radionuclides.
Keywords: Antisense
oligonucleotides, radionuclides, nuclear medicine,
radiolabeling, advantages, disadvantages
doi.org/10.32006/eeep.2021.1.2535
CURRENT AND FUTURE WAYS TO CLOSED LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: VIRTUAL MELiSSA CONFERENCE, GHENT (B) (3-5 /11/2020). A Review
Christophe Lasseur & Max Mergeay
Abstract: The 3-days international virtual MELiSSA conference (November 3 to 5, 2020) about the closed life support systems was organized by the University of Ghent and IDDUP in collaboration with ESA/ESTEC (European Space Agency) and MELiSSA Foundation, and welcomed around 150 papers. The first day addressed the welcomed contributions of the 5 major space agencies, the plants & photosynthetic microorganisms used for life support in space, the simulation of planetary ecosystems as well as MELiSSA inspired circular economy and education. The second day focused on Ground demonstration and analogue testing, Photobioreactors and photosynthetic microorganisms characterization, Modelling and Systems design, Organic wastes process and Metabolome where a real breakthrough was observed as well as in human microbiome in closed environments. The last day addressed: 1) the complex problematics of urine as a major source of nutrients, 2) Terrestrial synergies, and 3) some Physical, Chemical and Microbial contaminants linked to space research.
Keywords: MELiSSA
conference,
closed life support system
doi.org/10.32006/eeep.2021.1.3648
GASEOUS FUEL OBTAINING VIA FERMENTATION OF ORGANIC LANDFILL WASTE
Vira Hovorukha, Olesia Havryliuk, Galyna Gladka, Bida Iryna, Yanina Danko,Oleksandra Shabliy, Oleksandr Tashyrev
Abstract. Fossil carbon-containing fuel is
currently one of the most common in industry and economy.
The rapid depletion of reserves of this fuel makes it
necessary to search for the alternative one. Landfills are a place where methane is spontaneously synthesized due to the decay of organic waste. Controlled and regulated
fermentation of the landfill organics can provide
biomethane as well as environmental bioremediation. The aim of the work was
to study the patterns of methane fermentation of multi
component organic waste and optimize the process to
increase the efficiency of biomethane synthesis and waste decomposition. Colorimetric and potentiometric methods were
used for pH and Eh measurement. Volumetric and
chromatographic methods were applied to control volume and composition of
synthesized gas. Fermentation parameters were calculated
with the use of mathematical and statistical ones. The achievement of high
efficiency of methane fermentation of organic waste due to
the process regulation was shown. The modeling of unregulated fermentation of organic
waste in landfills showed low efficiency of
the process. It took 69 days. Weight of waste decreased only 5 times. Hydrogen yield was 5 L/kg of waste. Methane was not synthesized. The regular mass
transfer, regulation of the process and waste grinding showed the greatest efficiency. Weight of waste decreased 20 times during
only 14 days. Hydrogen yield was 27 L/kg, methane yield was 12 L/kg of waste. Thus, the absence of regulation caused long
term decay of waste. The high efficiency is achieved due
to regulation of the fermentation process. The results will serve as
a basis for the development of industrial biotechnology
for the utilization of organic waste to reduce the volume
of existing landfills and produce methane energy. This
will further allow bioremediation of contaminated areas,
obtaining an alternative to fossil fuel biomethane.
Keywords: methane, hydrogen, multi component organic
waste, fermentation, landfills, environmental
biotechnologies
doi.org/10.32006/eeep.2021.1.4960
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF WHEAT STRAW AND MICOBIOLOGICAL ASSESMENT OF THE RESULTED DIGESTATE
Hristo Najdenski, Lyudmila Dimitrova, Veselin. Akivanov, Venelin Hubenov, Snejanka Mihailova, Petar Grozdanov, Mihail Iliev, Vesselin Kussovski, Lyudmila Kabaivanova, Ivan Simeonov
Abstract: A study on
the anaerobic digestion of wheat straw in a pilot
scale bioreactor with an organic load of 2, 5, 7, 10 and
20 g/l and a process duration of 18 to 80 days was
performed. The pilot bioreactor used has a computerized
system for control and monitoring of various operational
parameters – temperature, pH, biogas composition, etc.
Total solids, total organics and volatile fatty acids
were measured by standard methods and gas
chromatography. Daily biogas yield and its main
components (CH4, CO2, H2S)
were analysed too. During the anaerobic digestion, different species of
microorganisms have been isolated from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus
and Aeromonas,
as well as the species Terribacillus
halophilus. With a known pathogenic potential are
described Pseudomonas
sp., Enterococcus
sp. and Aeromonas
sp. Studies on the antimicrobial resistance of all
isolated strains show resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin, bacitracin, ceftriaxone,
gentamicin and vancomycin. The cellulose degrading
activity of some of the bacterial isolates, their
pathogenic potential and antimicrobial resistance are
discussed in detail in the light of the data on the
mechanisms of proven resistance.
Keywords: anaerobic
digestion, wheat straw, batch processes, organic load,
computer controlled pilot-scale biogas plant, mesophilic
bacterial consortia, digestate
doi.org/10.32006/eeep.2021.1.6167
GROWTH MODELS IN MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEMS - RESOURCE OR DENSITY DEPENDENCE?
Jérôme Harmand
Abstract.
This paper aims at discussing the two main modeling
schemes that are used to describe dynamically the growth
of microbial ecosystems, that are resource and
density-dependent growth functions, respectively. Monod
has been the first to hypothesize that this growth is,
before all, an increasing saturated function of the main
limiting substrate concentration. Contois assumed that the
growth is not only a function of the substrate but also of
the biomass density-itself, and thus the name
« density-dependent ». In re examining their
respective experiments (species used, conditions of
experiments, mode of reactor functioning, measurement
techniques), we try to understand the engines for a
density-dependent phenomenon to appear. In particular, we
refer to recent experiments where it was shown that
density-dependent appeared as soon as the biomass
structures into flocs or in the presence of filamentous
bacteria even at relatively low concentrations. Based on
this historical review of data, it is shown that
density-dependent kinetics is not systematically a
question of biomass density but rather related to its
structure within the medium and to the mobility of
microbial cells.
Keywords: modeling growth
rate, Monod, Contois, microbial ecosystems, microbial
interactions, mathematical ecology.
doi.org/10.32006/eeep.2021.1.6877
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN CROP ROTATION
Alexander N. Sadovski
Abstract: Climate change is already affecting agriculture, with effects unevenly distributed across the world. These changes will undoubtedly lead to a reconsideration of the question of the necessary crop rotations on the territory of the individual continents and sub-regions. Many researchers have conducted field experiments with different crop rotations on several soil types and have received determined results, but still lack concrete unified numerical estimates of the influence of different crops in them. This article presents several new developments of the problem in crop rotation. Different approaches to assessing the influences of predecessors are illustrated. Therefore, it is necessary to apply advanced mathematical-statistical methods and models for obtaining more precise estimates. The application of asymmetry analysis and Procrustes analysis in the evaluation of different crop rotations are given in details. Some results about favorable and unfavorable rotation pairs are given.
Keywords: crop rotation;
sustainable agriculture; asymmetry analysis, Procrustes
analysis
INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES IN THE TERRITORY OF THE LOZENSKA MOUNTAIN
Plamen Glogov, Dimitar Dimitrov
Abstract: The paper presents a comparative analysis of the data on the main climatic components for three periods: 1921-1945; 1965-1975; 2000-2015 and their connection with the distribution of Invasive alien plant species (IAS) on the territory of Lozenska Mt. Among the most important features of the mountain’s climate that favourably affect the spread of IAS are the two precipitation maximums and minimums and the period of drought. In response to climate and other environmental changes, IAS on the territory of the mountain are spread in two ways: by forming monodominant communities in extreme habitats or by integrating their populations into the local communities and gradually increasing their presence in them, accompanied by changing ecological conditions of the habitat.
Four PIAS have been identified: Opuntia fragilis (Nutt.) Haw., Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelmann, Lupinus polyphylus Lindl., Impatiens baulfourii Hook.f., to which population monitoring and control measures need to be implemented.
Key words: adaptation, climate change,
Invasive Alien Species, flora, vegetation