High throughput fermentation monitoring via bubble detection

The goal of this study was to develop a high throughput ethanol monitoring system incorporating the concept of multi channel bubble-based optical system, and to test this system at different sugar and yeast levels. Initially, single orifice chamber was built and tested at six controlled airflow rates. Although good correlations were observed between detected bubble volume and flow, bubble volumes were roughly 4x lower than injected volumes. The single orifice chamber was expanded to the eight orifice chamber and the bubble count and diameter was estimated using the program written in Matlab. Controlled injection tests established that bubble volume output was in the range of 30% to 64% of the injected volume. However, when the system was tested with fermentation reactors providing gas to the orifices, the correlation between computer-detected carbon dioxide values and HPLC estimated ethanol values was extremely low (R2 \u3c 0.1). Programming difficulties prevented further analysis of the data, and it is unclear whether the problems of bubble size variation and grouping can be overcome with this method

Fingerprint Powder Formulation based on Azure I1 Dye

A novel fingerprint-dusting composition based on an organic dye, azure 11, has been prepared. The proportion of the dye in the formulation is 1 per cent, the remaining being an adhesivemixture of meshed aluminum, boric acid, talc, and barium carbonate. The powder gives sharp and clear prints on a wide range of absorbent and non-absorbent surfaces, including multicoloured ones. Weak, chance prints may be detected under ultraviolet light

Studies on Waterborne Pathogen Reactivation after Disinfection

Reactivation of different Escherichia coli strains and Aeromonas hydrophila after ultraviolet (UV), ultrasound, and photocatalytic disinfection treatments was addressed in this study. Photocatalytic disinfection was carried out under low pressure ultraviolet (LP UV) irradiation at five titanium dioxide (TiO_(2)) concentrations (1 g/L, 0.5 g/L, 0.75 g/L, and 0.1 g/L) to achieve 5 log_(10) reduction of a laboratory E. coli K-12 strain (ATCC® 10798). Regrowth and reactivation of E. coli in dark and light was studied up to 4 h after disinfection period. During the repair period, flow cytometry had shown 4-5 log_(10) higher cell counts than culture based method. Photocatalysis at 0.1 g/L TiO_(2) had resulted in 50% cells with intact cell membrane during the repair period and has lowered the repair rate of the E. coli (ATCC® 10798) after disinfection. Then ultrasound (24 kHz) and UV-C irradiation were applied to inactivate four E. coli isolates (ATCC®10798, E. coli isolate from feces of feral hog and deer, and treated wastewater effluent) to nearly 8 log_(10) reduction. Photoreactivation and dark repair of E. coli isolates were studied over a 24 h period after disinfection. In general, ultrasound disinfection had resulted in higher inactivation rate of 0.52 log min^(-1) than UV-C (0.39 log min^(-1)) for E. coli isolates. The extent of percent log repair of ultrasound inactivated E. coli isolates after 24 h of dark repair and photoreactivation were 30% lower than after UV-C. The metabolic activity of E. coli cells was greatly reduced after ultrasound as shown by AlamarBlue® assay. Transmission electron micrographs of ultrasound disinfected E. coli revealed shearing and size reduction of bacterial cells. Aeromonas hydrophila (ATCC® 35654), an emerging pathogen, was inactivated using a 24 kHz continuous ultrasound and UV-C in combination with three TiO_(2) concentrations (1g/L, 0.1 g/L and 0 g/L). High inactivation rate of 1.52 log min^(-1) was observed for ultrasound disinfection in absence of TiO_(2). Aeromonas hydrophila had showed a net log reduction of 6 log_(10) after ultrasound exposure in comparison to a net 2 log_(10) reduction after UV-C over a 24 h repair period. Metabolic activity of Aeromonas hydrophila was adversely affected by ultrasonication as well. Ultrasound appears to be effective in inactivating environmental E. coli isolates and Aeromonas hydrophila in water through shearing and breaking effects, which decreased the metabolic activity as well as photoreactivation and dark repair

Organic Fingerprint Powders Based on Fluorescent Phloxine B Dye.

Novel fingerpript powders based on organic dye (phJoxine B) have been prepared using insoluble salts as adhesive matrials in place of costly resinous polymers (which most conventional powders incorporate). Sharp and clear prints have been developed on a wide range of surfaces, such as paper, I plastic, glass, bakelite, enamelled metal and polished wood. The fluorescent nature of phloxine B assists in developing weak prints und.er ultraviolet light which can assist a forensic scientist for lifting  fingerprints frqm the scene of crime and also a defence scientist for establishing the identity of deceased native soldiers as well as of prisoners of war

Silk cocoon: structure and properties

This study investigated the silk cocoon structure and its protective roles. It focussed mainly on three protection roles, viz mechanical protection (indentation), bacterial and UV protection. Silk cocoon absorbed UV-A and UV-B radiations and had the potential to be used as a photoprotective agent in sunscreens

Scientific Racism faced by Indian Fingerprint Scientists during Colonial Rule: Need to correct a Historical Wrong

In the last decade of the nineteenth century, two Indian officers of the Bengal Police, Sub-Inspectors Azizul Haque and Hem Chandra Bose worked out a mathematical formula for classifying fingerprints. This formula was soon adopted by all the nations across the globe for cataloguing criminal records. It is still being used worldwide. Unfortunately, due to the imperialist policies of the colonial rulers, the Indian policemen were sidelined and their English officer, Sir Edward Richard Henry shrewdly gave his name to the classification methodology. The world’s first fingerprint bureau was set up at Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1897 mainly by the efforts of Haque and Bose. In addition, Bose invented the telegraphic code system for fingerprints and published it in 1916. Sir Charles Stockley Collins of Scotland Yard, who is worldwide recognised as the originator of the fingerprint telegraphic technique, published his findings in 1921 — five years after Bose’s publication. Likewise, Bose devised the single-digit fingerprint classification system three years prior to Harry Battley who stole the credit for this invention. The then British government reciprocated the sagaciousness of Haque and Bose by awarding each of them an honorarium of Rs 5000/- and by conferring the titles of Khan Bahadur and Rai Bahadur, respectively on them. (After India became free these decorations were rendered meaningless, for all titles were abolished under an Act of the Constitution). However, this is not enough. Justice has been denied to Haque and Bose. Now that the colonial clouds have dispersed, it is pertinent to highlight the contribution of these police officers so that they may officially be recognised as pioneers of the science of fingerprinting

Phase Transfer Catalysis in the Aid of Fingerprint Development

This paper relates to the application of a novel spray formulation for developing latent fingermarks on a wide range of crime scene evidences. The formulation is based on a xanthene dye, rose Bengal, and a phase transfer catalyst, t-tetrabutylammonium iodide. It takes just 2-3 minutes to develop optimum on a broad spectrum of fingerprint evidences of non-porous, semi porous and porous substrates. It also detects fingerprints on items that are white and multi-colored, and smooth and rough. In addition, it develops fingerprints on a variety of adhesive tapes, including duct tape, which is used by suicide bombers to wrap explosives on their bodies. It also detects impressions on such items that have been exposed to water and high temperatures. The spray solution is prepared in water. The ingredients of the formulation are non-toxic, cheap and easily procurable

Mechanistic approach for the development of ultrafine oil-water emulsions using monoglyceride and blends of medium and long chain triglycerides: enhancement of the solubility and bioavailability of Perphenazine

A kinetically stable ultra-fine oil-water (o/w) emulsion containing Perphenazine and blends of long and medium chain triglycerides was prepared. The purpose of the ultra-fine emulsion was to increase the oral bioavailability of Perphenazine. The formulations were prepared using a low energy emulsification phase titration method. The optimized formulations consisted of blends of linseed oil and Sefsol 218 (1:1) (oil phase), polysorbate 40 (surfactant), polyethylene glycol 400 (cosurfactant) and distilled water (dispersion medium). Characterization of viscosity, refractive index, particle size distribution, spectral transmittance and surface morphology of the formulations was performed. The release rate of Perphenazine from the formulations was quantified using the everted gut sac of rat intestinal mucosa. The ex vivo release data demonstrated that the formulated nanoemulsions increased significantly the permeation rate of Perphenazine when compared with a suspension. Following oral administration of selected nanoemulsions in Wistar rats, the AUC and Cmax of Perphenazine increased by 2.9 and 2.54-fold respectively compared with the Perphenazine suspension. The observed increase in bioavailability may be due to the increase in the dissolution rate from the molecularly dissolved drug in the oil phase and an increased rate of dispersion of the drug in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract which leads to greater absorption into the blood

Functional application of noble metal nanoparticles in situ synthesized on ramie fibers

Different functions were imparted to ramie fibers through treatment with noble metal nanoparticles including silver and gold nanoparticles. The in situ synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles was achieved by heating in the presence of ramie fibers in the corresponding solutions of precursors. The unique optical property of synthesized noble metal nanoparticles, i.e., localized surface plasmon resonance, endowed ramie fibers with bright colors. Color strength (K/S) of fibers increased with heating temperature. Silver nanoparticles were obtained in alkaline solution, while acidic condition was conducive to gold nanoparticles. The optical properties of treated ramie fibers were investigated using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to observe the morphologies of silver and gold nanoparticles in situ synthesized on fibers. The ramie fibers treated with noble metal nanoparticles showed remarkable catalytic activity for reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) by sodium borohydride. Moreover, the silver nanoparticle treatment showed significant antibacterial property on ramie fibers