Association between TSH status and prevalence of miscarriages and stillbirth

Thyroid hormones play a significant role in normal human body growth. Abnormalities in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels can result in pregnancy loss due to miscarriages and intrauterine death (IUD). The objective of the study was to assess the levels of association of thyroid stimulating hormone with miscarriages and IUD. The descriptive study involving 110 samples between 18-40 years of age fulfilling inclusion criteria were sampled for TSH testing (2ml blood) after attaining their written informed consent. The mean age of participants was 29.49±4.26 year. The prevalence of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism was 3.64% and 2.73%, respectively. Complications like gestational hypertension, depression and oligomenorrhea were found prevalent in these females. Majority of females were taking high/low iodine than recommended iodine level (150mcg). This work shows that there is a significant association between pregnancy loss and disturbed TSH levels among pregnant females

Process optimization for enhanced production of cellulases form locally isolated fungal strain by submerged fermentation

Cellulase has myriad applications in various sectors like pharmaceuticals, textile, detergents, animal feed and bioethanol production, etc. The current study focuses on the isolation, screening and optimization of fungal strain through one factor at a time technique for enhanced cellulase production.  In current study sixteen different fungal cultures were isolated and the culture which quantitatively exhibits higher titers of cellulase activity was identified both morphologically and molecularly by 18S rDNA and designated as Aspergillus niger ABT11. Different parameters like fermentation medium, volume, temperature, pH and nutritional components were optimized. The highest CMCase and FPase activities  was achieved in 100ml of M5 medium in the presence of 1% lactose and sodium nitrate at 30 oC, pH5 after 72 hours. The result revealed A. niger can be a potential candidate for scale up studies

Bioethanol production from urban cellulosic waste employing Alcaligenes faecalis HI-1 isolated from gut of termite Heterotermes indicola

This study assessed the potential of termite gut inhabiting bacteria towards bioconversion of cellulosic waste into biofuel. Total seven bacterial isolates from the gut of Heterotermes indicola were isolated. Among all the isolates, HI-1 produced the largest zone upon primary screening.  Untreated paper had more cellulose content (73.03%) than acid (0.5%) treated paper that was used as a lignocellulosic substrate for saccharification. Among all the isolates tested, glucose yield (1.08mg/mL) was high for HI-1 isolate. Several factors were considered for optimizing augmented glucose yield (8.57mg/mL) and growth (8.07×108cfu/mL), such as temperature 37°C, pH 4.5, 5% (w/v) substrate concentration, 6 % bacterial inoculum size, agitation 150 rpm with PEG 0.25 % and Ca2+ ions 0.002 g/L. Overall 8-fold increase in glucose yield was achieved. Enzyme activity of HI-1 showed higher endoglucanase 0.29 ± 0.01 (U/mL/min) and exoglucanase 0.15±0.01 (U/mL/min) activity under optimum conditions, mentioned above. temperature 37°C, pH 4.5, substrate concentration 5%, inoculum size 6%, surfactants PEG 0.01%, ions Ca2+(0.002g/L) and agitation (120 rpm). Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of hydrolyzed office paper yielded 5.43mg/mL bioethanol. According to 16S rRNA sequence homology, the bacterial isolate H1 was identified as Alcaligenes faecalis. Bioethanol production from office paper untreated waste proved an effective strategy. Bacteria having natural tendency towards cellulosic waste consumption are promising for bioconversion of cellulosic waste to valuable products

Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests for COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2)

The knowledge regarding diagnostic testing for SARS COV-2 is still at hit-and-trial phases, all over the world. Evolving day by day through ongoing research and extensive trials, use for SARS-COV-2 infectionsReverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and IgM/ IgG serology by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) or Electro-Chemiluminescent Immunoassay remain the main stay of diagnosis. However, the time course for the PCR positivity and seroconversion seem to vary in children and adults both, which also includes a huge population of asymptomatic individuals who are potentially labelled negative hence posing a great threat to the surrounding community.</p

Applying Silver Nanoparticles to Enhance Metabolite Accumulation and Biodiesel Production in New Algal Resources

Biofuel generation from algae can be increased by using nanotechnology. The present study emphasizes the use of silver nanoparticles on algae for algal fuel generation along with the impact of nanoparticles on biomass, metabolites and lipid profile. Silver ion amassing was enhanced in each algal species, but maximum phytoremediation was found in Ulothrix sp. Carbohydrates increased 3.2 times in Oedogonium sp., 3.3 times in Ulothrix sp., 3 times in Cladophora sp. and 2.7 times in Spirogyra sp. Additionally, the application of nanoparticles enhanced by 2 times the production of proteins in Oedogonium sp., 1.9 times in Ulothrix sp., 1.9 times in Cladophora sp. and 2.1 times in Spirogyra sp. Finally, the total lipid yield increased 60% DCW in Oedogonium sp., 56% DCW in Ulothrix sp., 58% DCW in Cladophora sp. and 63% DCW in Spirogyra sp. using 0.08 mg/L silver nanoparticle application. The lipids and fatty acid fractions from algae containing high concentrations of C16:0, C18:0 and C18:1 enhanced with silver nanoparticle addition were comparable with EN 14214 and ASTM 6751 biodiesel standards. This study indicates that the uptake of AgNPs can enhance the production of fatty acids and be commercialized as sustainable biodiesel. The algae Ulothrix sp. is evidenced as the best competent feedstock for biofuel production

Mass cultivation of various algal species and their evaluation as a potential candidate for lipid production

<div><p>Microalgae have been proposed as a promising source for biodiesel production. Focusing on algal strains for biodiesel production, efforts should be made to search new strains. Experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of growth parameters (nutrients, pH, light, aeration and temperature) and the oil percentage of eight algal strains (<i>Chlorella</i> sp., <i>Cladophora</i> sp., <i>Hydrodictylium</i> sp., <i>Oedogonium</i> sp., <i>Oscillatoria</i> sp., <i>Spirogyra</i> sp., <i>Stigeocolonium</i> sp., <i>Ulothrix</i> sp.). Results show that 6.5–7.5 is the optimum pH for the growth of all algal species. Temperature showed a greater variation (25°40°C). <i>Ulothrix</i> sp. gave more biomass productivity and is the most suitable strain for biodiesel production due to higher oil percentage (62%). Least biomass production was observed for <i>Stigeocolonium</i> sp. and least oil content was obtained from <i>Hydrodictylium</i> sp. It was observed that among these eight algal strains for biodiesel production, <i>Ulothrix and Chlorella</i> are the most promising algae species.</p></div

Adsorption Potential of Schizophyllum commune White Rot Fungus for Degradation of Reactive Dye and Condition Optimization: A Thermodynamic and Kinetic Study

The pollution due to dyes from textile sector is one of the major issues faced worldwide. This study was focused on the removal of the reactive dye, Drimaren Turquoise CL-B using Schizophyllum commune, a white rot fungus (WRF) keeping in mind the current environmental conditions. Different parameters like pH, sources of carbon & nitrogen, temperature, concentration of dye and C/N ratio were used to investigate their effect on the process. Maximum dye removal of 95.45% was obtained at pH 4.5, temperature 35°C, inoculum size 3 mL, veratryl alcohol (mediator), glucose (carbon source) and ammonium nitrate (nitrogen source). The enzyme activity was determined by employing enzyme assay. Laccase and Lignin peroxidase (LiP) activity was low while Manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity was highest. Maximum bio-sorption was achieved at pH 1 and 313 K. The pseudo-2nd-order kinetic model & Freundlich isotherm was best suited for the process of removal of dye. From these data, it is concluded that white rot fungus could possibly be the excellent biomaterial for elimination of synthetic dyes from wastewater

MHD Pulsatile Flow of Blood-Based Silver and Gold Nanoparticles between Two Concentric Cylinders

Pulsatory movements appear in a variety of fascinating applications involving periodic flow propagation and control. Pulsing encourages mixing and, as a result, mass and heat exchange with the boundaries. Pulsing also helps to decrease surface fouling by allowing solid particles to migrate. An exact solution of the Navier–Stokes equations for the transport of an incompressible viscous fluid in a channel with arbitrary pressure distribution is described in this study. The flow is defined by two primary parameters: the pulsation parameter, which is determined by the periodic pressure gradient, and the kinetic Reynolds number, which is determined by the pulsation frequency. The purpose of employing hybrid nanofluid (HNF) is to increase the base fluid’s thermal conductivity. We regard Ag and Au as nanoparticles (NPs) and blood as a base fluid for this phenomenon. Broadening this reveals that the consideration of nanoparticles has impressively extended the warm movement at the parcels of both turbulent and laminar frameworks. Attention is paid to the slope of speed, temperature, and voltage. The geometric model is therefore described using a symmetry technique. We developed the governing equation for this problem’s analytical solutions. The velocity and temperature fields solution is given in the form of the Bessel and modified Bessel functions. Graph results show the mathematical benefits of the current limits: for instance, Hartmann number M, solid volume part of nanoparticles ϕ, Reynolds number Reβ, Prandtl number Pr, intermittent slob limit, etc. The strain angles introduced in the stress contrast, frictional force, velocity profile, and temperature profile were obtained, and the characteristics of the vortex were investigated. Resources at various boundaries of the perceptual flow are examined. As with the final essence, the smoothest results are analyzed and recorded. It has also been discovered that the velocity may be regulated by the external magnetic field, which affects the temperature profiles and hence the heat transfer, which can be enhanced or lowered by mastering the magnetic field

Removal of Cr(III) from Aqueous Solution Using Labeo rohita Chitosan-Based Composite

This study focusses on the synthesis of chitosan-cellulose composite membrane derived from Labeo rohita fish scales (FS) for the removal of Cr(III) from aqueous solution, while chromium is a serious threat to groundwater. Waste FS are valorized to chitosan by demineralization, deproteination, and deacetylation successively. Cellulose was extracted from sugarcane bagasse using acidic hydrolysis. Chitosan-based cellulose composite porous membrane was fabricated by evaporating solvent from polymer solution in petri dish. The impact of pH, contact time, and absorbent dosage on the removal of Cr(III) from an aqueous solution was investigated. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to check the Cr(III). Results showed that chitosan comprising 85% degree of deacetylation was achieved by alkali treatment, while yield was 22%. FTIR analysis confirmed the chitosan and chitosan-cellulose-based composite membrane. Morphology studies showed that the cellulose was strongly staggered and due to the chitosan, the surface of cellulose became rougher, which is good to enhance the adsorption capacity. The maximum removal 57% of Cr(III) from aqueous solution was observed at pH 6 at 60 min and 50 mg dosage of adsorbent. The minimum removal (47%) of Cr (III) was found at pH 2. These results confer that Labeo rohita-based chitosan-cellulose composite membrane has great potential for the removal of metals from industrial effluents