Gold Nanoparticles with Self-Assembled Cysteine Monolayer Coupled to Nitrate Reductase in Polypyrrole Matrix Enhanced Nitrate Biosensor

We have developed here a novel, highly sensitive and selective nitrate (NO– 3) biosensor by covalent immobilization of nitrate reductase (NaR) in self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of cysteine on gold nanoparticles (GNP)-polypyrrole (PPy) modified platinum electrode. Incorporation of GNP in highly microporous PPy matrix was confirmed by morphological scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. The electrochemical behavior of the NaR modified electrode exhibited the characteristic reversible redox peaks at the potential, –0.76 and –0.62 V versus Ag/AgCl. Further, the GNP-PPy nanocomposite enhanced the current response by 2-fold perhaps by enhancing the immobilization of NaR and also direct electron transfer between the deeply buried active site and the electrode surface. The common biological interferences like ascorbic acid, uric acid were not interfering with the NO– 3 measurement at low concentration levels. This biosensor showed a wide linear range of response over the concentration of NO– 3 from 1 μM to 1 mM, with higher sensitivity of 84.5 nA μM–1 and a detection limit of 0.5 μM. Moreover, the NO– 3 level present in the nitrate-rich beetroot juice and the NO– 3 release from the lipopolysaccharide treated human breast cancer cells were estimated

Seismic Evaluation of the US41 Southbound Bridge over the Ohio River at Henderson, KY

This report presents the seismic evaluation of the US41 Southbound bridge over the Ohio River connecting Evansville, Indiana and Henderson, Kentucky. The main bridge is a four-span cantilever through-truss type. The approach bridge has 9 spans on the Evansville, IN side and 20 spans on the Henderson, side. Although this bridge has not yet been subjected to a moderate or major earthquake, it is situated within the influence of the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones. The seismic evaluation program consisted of field testing and seismic response analysis. The modal properties of the main bridge were determined through field testing, and were used to calibrate a three dimensional finite element model. The finite element model was then subjected to the acceleration time histories of the 50-year earthquake event. Stresses and displacements due to projected earthquakes are found to be very low. Analytical results indicate that the main bridge superstructure will survive the projected 50-year earthquake without any damage and no loss-of-span. However, all the supports on the piers of the main bridge require additional anchor bolts or seismic isolation bearings. The Kentucky and Indiana approach spans are analyzed using the response spectrum method with simplified single-degree-of-freedom models. Ten out of twelve supports having fixed bearings on both the approach spans require additional anchor bolts or seismic isolation bearings. At three out of twenty-five supports having expansion bearings, the existing rocker bearings need to be replaced with elastomeric bearings or cable restrainers need to be provided to avoid loss-of-span

Seismic Evaluation of the US41 Northbound Bridge over the Ohio River at Henderson, KY

This report presents the seismic evaluation of the US41 Northbound bridge over the Ohio River connecting Evansville, Indiana and Henderson, Kentucky. The main bridge is a four-span cantilever through-truss type. The approach bridge has 8 spans on the Evansville, IN side and 35 spans on the Henderson, KY side. Although this bridge has not yet been subjected to a moderate or major earthquake, it is situated within the influence of the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones. The seismic evaluation program consisted of field testing and seismic response analysis. The modal properties of the main bridge were determined through field testing, and were used to calibrate a three dimensional finite element model. The finite element model was then subjected to time histories of the 50-year earthquake event. Stresses and displacements obtained were found to be within the acceptable limits. Analytical results indicate that the superstructure of the main bridge will survive the projected 50-year earthquake without any damage and no loss-of-span. However, all supports on the piers of the main bridge require additional anchor bolts or seismic isolation bearings. The approach spans were analyzed using response spectrum method with simplified single-degree-of-freedom models. Thirteen out of forty-two supports having fixed bearings on both the Kentucky and Indiana approach spans require additional anchor bolts at the fixed bearings or seismic isolation bearings

High nitrous oxide fluxes from rice indicate the need to manage water for both long- and short-term climate impacts

Global rice cultivation is estimated to account for 2.5% of current anthropogenic warming because of emissions of methane (CH4), a short-lived greenhouse gas. This estimate assumes a widespread prevalence of continuous flooding of most rice fields and hence does not include emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a long-lived greenhouse gas. Based on the belief that minimizing CH4 from rice cultivation is always climate beneficial, current mitigation policies promote increased use of intermittent flooding. However, results from five intermittently flooded rice farms across three agroecological regions in India indicate that N2O emissions per hectare can be three times higher (33 kg-N2O⋅ha−1⋅season−1) than the maximum previously reported. Correlations between N2O emissions and management parameters suggest that N2O emissions from rice across the Indian subcontinent might be 30–45 times higher under intensified use of intermittent flooding than under continuous flooding. Our data further indicate that comanagement of water with inorganic nitrogen and/or organic matter inputs can decrease climate impacts caused by greenhouse gas emissions up to 90% and nitrogen management might not be central to N2O reduction. An understanding of climate benefits/drawbacks over time of different flooding regimes because of differences in N2O and CH4 emissions can help select the most climate-friendly water management regimes for a given area. Region-specific studies of rice farming practices that map flooding regimes and measure effects of multiple comanaged variables on N2O and CH4 emissions are necessary to determine and minimize the climate impacts of rice cultivation over both the short term and long term

De novo assembly and transcriptome analysis of five major tissues of Jatropha curcas L. using GS FLX titanium platform of 454 pyrosequencing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Jatropha curcas </it>L. is an important non-edible oilseed crop with promising future in biodiesel production. However, factors like oil yield, oil composition, toxic compounds in oil cake, pests and diseases limit its commercial potential. Well established genetic engineering methods using cloned genes could be used to address these limitations. Earlier, 10,983 unigenes from Sanger sequencing of ESTs, and 3,484 unique assembled transcripts from 454 pyrosequencing of uncloned cDNAs were reported. In order to expedite the process of gene discovery, we have undertaken 454 pyrosequencing of normalized cDNAs prepared from roots, mature leaves, flowers, developing seeds, and embryos of <it>J. curcas</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From 383,918 raw reads, we obtained 381,957 quality-filtered and trimmed reads that are suitable for the assembly of transcript sequences. <it>De novo </it>contig assembly of these reads generated 17,457 assembled transcripts (contigs) and 54,002 singletons. Average length of the assembled transcripts was 916 bp. About 30% of the transcripts were longer than 1000 bases, and the size of the longest transcript was 7,173 bases. BLASTX analysis revealed that 2,589 of these transcripts are full-length. The assembled transcripts were validated by RT-PCR analysis of 28 transcripts. The results showed that the transcripts were correctly assembled and represent actively expressed genes. KEGG pathway mapping showed that 2,320 transcripts are related to major biochemical pathways including the oil biosynthesis pathway. Overall, the current study reports 14,327 new assembled transcripts which included 2589 full-length transcripts and 27 transcripts that are directly involved in oil biosynthesis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The large number of transcripts reported in the current study together with existing ESTs and transcript sequences will serve as an invaluable genetic resource for crop improvement in jatropha. Sequence information of those genes that are involved in oil biosynthesis could be used for metabolic engineering of jatropha to increase oil content, and to modify oil composition.</p

Recent trends in electrochemical biosensors of superoxide dismutases

Superoxide dismutases (SODs), a family of ubiquitous enzymes, provide essential protection to biological systems against uncontrolled reactions with oxygen- and nitrogen- based radical species. We review first the role of SODs in oxidative stress and the other biological functions such as peroxidase, nitrite oxidase, thiol oxidase activities etc., implicating its role in neurodegenerative, cardiovascular diseases, and ageing. Also, this review focuses on the development of electrochemical label-free immunosensor for SOD1 and the recent advances in biosensing assay methods based on their catalytic and biological functions with various substrates including reactive oxygen species (superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide), nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite, nitrate) and thiols using thiol oxidase activity. Furthermore, we emphasize the progress made in improving the detection performance through incorporation of the SOD into conducting polymers and nanocomposite matrices. In addition, we address the potential opportunities, challenges, advances in electrochemical-sensing platforms and development of portable analyzer for point-of-care applications

Molecularly engineered oxygen deficient magnetite decorated carbon as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

Herein, we report the in situ synthesis of poly (ferrocene-urea) (PFUA) by reacting ferrocene diacylazide and tris (4-aminophenyl) amine. The formation of urea linkages between the precursors was confirmed by Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The synthesized PFUA was pyrolyzed at different temperatures under Argon atmosphere to obtain hematite at 600 °C and magnetite embedded N-doped carbons at 800 and 1000 °C. Both hematite and magnetite was found to have particulate morphology embedded on porous N-doped carbon. The N-doping into the carbon matrix was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Further, their electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was carried out under standard conditions. PFUA pyrolyzed at 800 °C was found to exhibit better ORR activity than the other samples. The improved electrocatalytic activity toward ORR can be ascribed to the reductive environment generated during the thermal treatment of the urea linkages (formed between FDA and TAPA) which controls the structural transformation of the hematite phase to magnetite phase of iron oxide with creation of oxygen vacancies with improved Fe2+ to Fe3+ ratio