Electricity Production by Microbial Fuel Cell Using Cheese Whey Wastewater of the Dairy Industry in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Microbial fuel cell is an alternative technology for energy generation aiming to recover chemical energy from biodegradable wastewater to and convert it to electricity. In this study, a small laboratory-scale microbial fuel cell was evaluated to generate electricity using cheese whey wastewater as the sole nutrient source. The open-circuit potential and the stable voltage output with 1000 Ω external resistance of the fuel cell using only cheese whey wastewater as anolyte were 0.925 V and 0.379 V, respectively. The power density achieved by the cell was 7.18 mW m–2, with a maximum current density of 35.75 mA m–2. The series connection of seven fuel cells produced the open-circuit potential of 7 V that could run a 4 V LED light strip for more than 3 hours. Cheese whey-microbial fuel cell can be considered as a cost-effective renewable energy source for the operation of low energy demanding devices in the future. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

An automatic analysis framework for FDOPA PET neuroimaging

In this study we evaluate the performance of a fully automated analytical framework for FDOPA PET neuroimaging data, and its sensitivity to demographic and experimental variables and processing parameters. An instance of XNAT imaging platform was used to store the King's College London institutional brain FDOPA PET imaging archive, alongside individual demographics and clinical information. By re-engineering the historical Matlab-based scripts for FDOPA PET analysis, a fully automated analysis pipeline for imaging processing and data quantification was implemented in Python and integrated in XNAT. The final data repository includes 892 FDOPA PET scans organized from 23 different studies. We found good reproducibility of the data analysis by the automated pipeline (in the striatum for the Kicer: for the controls ICC = 0.71, for the psychotic patients ICC = 0.88). From the demographic and experimental variables assessed, gender was found to most influence striatal dopamine synthesis capacity (F = 10.7, p < 0.001), with women showing greater dopamine synthesis capacity than men. Our automated analysis pipeline represents a valid resourse for standardised and robust quantification of dopamine synthesis capacity using FDOPA PET data. Combining information from different neuroimaging studies has allowed us to test it comprehensively and to validate its replicability and reproducibility performances on a large sample size

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies

In silico analysis of salt responsive survival associated motifs in rice promoter

In stressed condition, several specific transcription factors bind to corresponding regulatory elements or motifs resulting in the expression of appropriate genes, which helps the plant to survive in that condition. Till now, several motifs have been identified though computationally validating those motifs is a major research concern. Considering this, we present an in silico method to validate the presence of such motifs in the promoter of rice genes, which could be associated with the survival of rice in saline environments. For this, we present a statistical approach that consists of three consecutive steps: finding overrepresented oligomers in sensitive variety, identifying the potential motif from the overrepresented oligomers and validating oligomers in the promoters of up regulated genes of tolerant variety using the motif of the sensitive one. In our experiment, we have initially identified 5 potential pentamers and then the most represented one (ACGAC) was used to validate previously described motifs overrepresented in promoters of genes in different abiotic stress tolerant rice to justify their association with survival. Ultimately, our method has shown promises to better identify motifs in promoters of genes up regulated during salt stress according to their likelihood to be associated with the plant survival

Context of water transport related drownings in Bangladesh: A qualitative study

Background: Bangladesh has one of the highest drowning mortality rates in the world. The use of unregulated water transportation may contribute to this burden, with 38% of all passenger traffic occurring by water. The present study aims to identify provider and end user perception on water transport related drowning risk, and barriers and facilitators for improving water safety practices. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in a riverine area of Bangladesh, the Barishal division. Data was collected through 18 in-depth interviews, two small group discussions and six observations in February-March 2016. Content analysis was conducted, guided by domains of Haddon's matrix for injury prevention. Results: A range of unsafe behaviours, practices and conditions were identified at pre event, event and post event stages of water transport related drownings. It was also recognised it is not only the regulation of water transport but other factors such as occupational insecurities, poor access to rescue services and healthcare, migration and capacity for skill development among providers that contribute to unsafe water transport practices and drowning risk. Conclusion: There are some immediate measures that can be implemented, with some monitoring and accountability processes for water transport safety. However, there is need for robust data to quantify transport related drowning, making a case for prioritization and action by relevant stakeholder such as government and transport providers

Rapid investigation of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Phaleria macrocarpa extracts using FTIR-ATR based fingerprinting

Phaleria macrocarpa, known as “Mahkota Dewa”, is a widely used medicinal plant in Malaysia. This study focused on the characterization of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of P. macrocarpa extracts using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)-based metabolomics. P. macrocarpa and its extracts contain thousands of compounds having synergistic effect. Generally, their variability exists, and there are many active components in meager amounts. Thus, the conventional measurement methods of a single component for the quality control are time consuming, laborious, expensive, and unreliable. It is of great interest to develop a rapid prediction method for herbal quality control to investigate the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of P. macrocarpa by multicomponent analyses. In this study, a rapid and simple analytical method was developed using FTIR spectroscopy-based fingerprinting. A total of 36 extracts of different ethanol concentrations were prepared and tested on inhibitory potential and fingerprinted using FTIR spectroscopy, coupled with chemometrics of orthogonal partial least square (OPLS) at the 4000–400 cm−1 frequency region and resolution of 4 cm−1. The OPLS model generated the highest regression coefficient with R2Y = 0.98 and Q2Y = 0.70, lowest root mean square error estimation = 17.17, and root mean square error of cross validation = 57.29. A five-component (1+4+0) predictive model was build up to correlate FTIR spectra with activity, and the responsible functional groups, such as –CH, –NH, –COOH, and –OH, were identified for the bioactivity. A successful multivariate model was constructed using FTIR-attenuated total reflection as a simple and rapid technique to predict the inhibitory activity

An automatic analysis framework for FDOPA PET neuroimaging

In this study we evaluate the performance of a fully automated analytical framework for FDOPA PET neuroimaging data, and its sensitivity to demographic and experimental variables and processing parameters. An instance of XNAT imaging platform was used to store the King’s College London institutional brain FDOPA PET imaging archive, alongside individual demographics and clinical information. By re-engineering the historical Matlab-based scripts for FDOPA PET analysis, a fully automated analysis pipeline for imaging processing and data quantification was implemented in Python and integrated in XNAT. The final data repository includes 892 FDOPA PET scans organized from 23 different studies. We found good reproducibility of the data analysis by the automated pipeline (in the striatum for the Kicer: for the controls ICC = 0.71, for the psychotic patients ICC = 0.88). From the demographic and experimental variables assessed, gender was found to most influence striatal dopamine synthesis capacity (F = 10.7, p < 0.001), with women showing greater dopamine synthesis capacity than men. Our automated analysis pipeline represents a valid resourse for standardised and robust quantification of dopamine synthesis capacity using FDOPA PET data. Combining information from different neuroimaging studies has allowed us to test it comprehensively and to validate its replicability and reproducibility performances on a large sample size