Peatland fungi: identification, application in dye decolourization and bacterial inactivation in greywater

Fungi have unique characteristics since they have several applications in the environment and industry due to its ability to produce the different enzyme. This study aims to isolate a new fungal strain from Pontian peatland, Johor, Malaysia to be used for dye decolourizing in the synthetic greywater as a function of laccase (LAC), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP). The bio-synthesized nanoparticles (bimetallic Zn/Cu NPs) in the secondary metabolic products generated during the enzyme production in pumpkin peels medium was evaluated for inactivating Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus seeded in greywater. The fungal isolates were identified according to phenotypic characteristics and by molecular characteristic at D1/D2 region and ITS (ITS1- ITS4) sequences. The decolourization, enzyme production and inactivation process were optimised using response surface methodology (RSM). The mechanism of decolourization and inactivation process was investigated based on Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (FESEMEDX), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman Spectroscopy analysis. The results revealed that Aspergillus iizukae EAN605, Aspergillus arenarioides EAN603, Penicillium pedernalense EAN604, Purpureocillium lilacinum EAN601, Paraconiothyrium brasiliense EAN202 and Parengyodontium album EAN602 were new strains and first time recorded in Malaysia. The best dye decolourization (78.34%) was 57.15 mg 100 mL of dye, pH 6 and after 8.5 days (R -1 2 of pumpkin peels, =77.9%). The oxidative enzyme production was recorded with 20 g 100 mL -1 of inoculum size, at pH 5.5 and after 10 days, where 6.15, 2.58 and 127.99 U mg 1 , 4.6 mL/100 mL -1 of LAC, MnP and LiP was produced, respectively. The inactivation of E. coli and S. aureus by Zn/Cu NPs was effective with 0.028 mg mL -1 of Zn/Cu NPs, at pH 6 and after 60 mins with 5.6 and 5.2 log reduction respectively. The decolourization mechanism took place due to the action of oxidative enzymes on the inner membrane of fungal mycelium and in the surrounded medium. The inactivation process acts by the destruction of the chemical composition of the bacterial cell wall and membrane. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that peatland has high fungal diversity to be used in the dye decolourization and synthesis of NPs for inactivating pathogenic bacteria in the greywater. -

Identification Of Fungi Isolated From Clinical Wastes And Inactivation Of Fungal Spores By Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Sisa klinikal dianggap sebagai sumber yang mendatangkan jangkitan kepada manusia disebabkan adanya mikroorganisma patogenik seperti bakteria, virus dan kulat. Untuk merawat bahan sisa klinikal, pembasmian kuman menggunakan bahan kimia dan pendedahan kepada sinaran rawatan sisa klinikal termasuk menginsinerasikan, biasa digunakan, namun kaedah ini tidak dapat membunuh patogen sepenuhnya. Clinical wastes are considered as a serious infectious source to humans due to the existence pathogenic microorganism such as bacteria, virus and fungi. For the treatment of clinical wastes, chemical disinfection and irradiations methods including UV are commonly used, however, these treatment methods are unable to destroy pathogens completely

Survival and disinfection of SARS-Cov-2 in environment and contaminated surface

The detection of SARS-Cov-2 in the sewage and water resources has increased the awareness among the people about the possibility survival of SARS-Cov-2 in the environment and the potential to transmit into the human through food chain or water resources. Moreover, the surface contaminated by the virus need to be disinfected frequently by using an effective disinfectant, the current chapter discussed the efficiency of the most traditional treatment process of the sewage and wastewater, and their role in the elimination of the virus as well as the sterility assurance level concept. Moreover, the chemical disinfectant used currently and their temporary efficiency has been reviewed

Pathophysiology, histopathology and therapeutic of SARS-CoV-2

The rapid transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the world has induced the scientist to understand the histopathology of the virus and then to find an effective drug. However, many of the point associated with the virus pathogenicity still unknown and need more studies. In this chapter the pathophysiology, histopathology and therapeutic of SARS-CoV-2 has been reviewed. It was appeared that pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 is belonging to the viral with genome structure which acting by blocking the host innate immune response. Both chloroquine and hydroxyl-chloroquine have similar structure and mechanism action and they are among the most effective antiviral for treating the patents with the SARS-CoV-2. Chloroquine works by inhibition the intracellular organism by increasing the pH

Qualitative characterization of healthcare wastes

The biological hazard inherent in the clinical wastes should be considered during the management and treatment process as well as the disposal into the environment. In this chapter, the risks associated with the clinical wastes as well as the management of these wastes are discussed. The chapter focused on reviewing the types of healthcare wastes generated from hospitals and clinics as well as the regulations and management practices used for these wastes. Moreover, the health risk associated with the infectious agents which have the potential to be transmitted into the environment. It has appeared that the clinical wastes represent real hazards for the human health and the environment if they were not managed properly

Oil palm leaf fibre and its suitability for paper-based products

Due to the shortage of wood as origin materials for paper-based production, agro-residue materials have been explored in the quest of finding the best alternative fibre. Oil palm leaf (OPL) is one of agro-residue that has potential due to its comparable characteristics with wood fibre. Studies on chemical compositions, fibre morphology, and mechanical property of OPL have been carried out aiming to evaluate its potential as a substitute raw material for pulp and paper-based production. The chemical compositions were analysed according to the TAPPI standard, Kurscher-Hoffner and chlorite methods accordingly. The mechanical property (tensile, tearing and bursting strengths) were determined as described in TAPPI test methods. Fibre dimensions were determined using Franklin method and analysed under the optical microscope. The content of cellulose in the OPL is determined to be 43.8%. Although, this result is lower than wood fibre (53%), OPL has higher hemicellulose content (36.4%) than the wood fibre (27.5%). In addition, the lignin content (19.7%) of OPL is in the low range of those in wood resources (18 - 25%). These parameters are important components to produce good quality pulp and will provide high mechanical strength of the paper-based products. The measured fibre length of oil palm leaf (1.13 mm) is shorter than the wood fibre (1.90 mm). Meanwhile, the mechanical property of OPL showed lower indexes than wood resources, however, tear (1.80 mN.m2/g) and burst (0.95 kPa.m2/g) indexes of OPL are higher than other published and successful wood resources (Eucalyptus). Based on the analyses, the oil palm leaf is indeed a suitable alternative of raw material for pulp and paper-based industries

Identification of Fungi Isolated from Clinical Wastes

The distrubition of fungi in the hospitals wastes are coming from the clinical wastes specimens used for the disgnistic process. The aim of the present study was to identify the fungal isolates obtained from clinical wastes based on phenotype method. The fungal isolates were obtained by the direct plate method on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium and incubated at 28â—¦C for 7 to 14 days, therafter purified by single spore isolation. The cultural characteristics of the fungal isolates were described on different media, while the morphologies were observed using a light microscope. Eight fungal species from five genera were identified and included Curvularia Trichoderma spp. Rhizopus sp. Fusarium spp. Oidiodendron sp. These results indicated that the clinical wastes have a diversity of fungi which might possess health risk to humans if these fungi have not inactivated in the clinical wastes before the final disposal into the environment

Optimizing of pharmaceutical active compounds biodegradability in secondary effluents by β-lactamase from Bacillus subtilis using central composite design

Biodegradation of pharmaceuticals active compounds (PACs) in secondary effluents by using B. subtilis 2012WTNC as a function of β-lactamase was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) designed by central composite design (CCD). Four factors including initial concentration of bacteria (1–6 log10 CFU mL−1), incubation period (1–14 days), incubation temperature (20–40 °C) and initial concentration of PACs (1–5mg L−1) were investigated. The optimal operating factors for biodegradation process determined using response surface methodology (RSM) was recorded with 5.57 log10 CFU mL−1 of B. subtilis, for 10.38 days, at 36.62 °C and with 4.14 mg L−1 of (cephalexin/amoxicillin) with R2 coefficient of 0.99. The biodegradation was 83.81 and 93.94% respectively. The relationship among the independent variables was significant (p < 0.05) with 95% of confidence level at the best operating parameters. The bioassay for PACs after the degradatio

A cognitive task approach on the influence of office automation software in secretarial practice

Inefficiency in secretarial services in the application of office automation software has been of great concern to both secretaries and their employers. This inefficiency causes unnecessary delays in information processing and dissemination in the organization. The problem is rooted from the secretaries’ lacking in appropriate application of cognitive skills, proficiency in information handling as well as working experiences, and these establish the problem statement of the study. One of the important gaps this study has bridged is establishing the key elements that can assist the secretaries to perform their office tasks effectively. Efforts made to identify similar studies on secretaries’ profession were to no avail perhaps due to its non-availability or absence. It was discovered that the secretary’s level of applying perception and attention during working hours is extremely limited which contributed to poor or slow pace of service delivery. The objectives of this study are to explore the secretaries office automation software cognitive task, to investigate elements of office automation software cognitive tasks that influence secretarial practice and to investigate how office automation software supports the secretaries in the execution of tasks. Snowballing sampling was used to identify participants who have fulfilled a criterion set out in the study. Therefore, twelve (12) UTHM secretarial staff who are using office automation software in their office duties were chosen to participate in the study. The study employs qualitative method, thus interviews were carried out to collect data. Thematic data analysis was done using card index. Findings revealed that the secretaries need short and long term training in order to be relevant in their working places as well as to be updated in the use of office automation software. Further results revealed that office automation software supports the secretaries in the execution of cognitive tasks. The result also revealed the development of components of office automation software cognitive tasks in secretarial practice. These components were used by the secretaries in the execution of tasks such as word processing, scheduling of appointments and other secretarial duties. Another important finding revealed that, technology has changed the working environment of the secretaries which has made it imperative for them to continue using office automation software in the execution of their tasks. This has brought the idea of how office automation software supports the secretaries in the execution of their office tasks

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed