Biomass-supported catalysts on Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and Rhodobacter sphaeroides

A Rhodobacter sphaeroides-supported dried, ground palladium catalyst (‘‘Rs-Pd(0)’’) was compared with a Desulfovibrio desulfuricans-supported catalyst (‘‘Dd-Pd(0)’’)and with unsupported palladium metal particles made by reduction under H2 (‘‘Chem-Pd(0)’’). Cell surface-located clusters of Pd(0) nanoparticles were detected on both D. desulfuricans and R. sphaeroides but the size and location of deposits differed among comparably loaded preparations.\ud \ud These differences may underlie the observation of different activities of Dd-Pd(0) and Rs-Pd(0) when compared with respect to their ability to promote hydrogen release from hypophosphite and to catalyze chloride release from chlorinated aromatic compounds. Dd-Pd(0) was more effective in the reductive dehalogenation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), whereas Rs-Pd(0) was more effective in the initial dehalogenation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) although the rate of chloride release from PCP was comparable with both preparations after 2 h

Chemical synthesis and application of zirconium and titanium polymer compounds for the preparation of Tc-99m and Re-188 chromtographic generators

PZC adsorbent for the preparation of PZC based chromatographic Tc-99m and / or Re-188 generators was successfully synthesized and its chemical composition, molecular structure was determined. 99Mo and/or 188W -adsorption on PZC in different solutions and 99mTc and/or 188Re elution from PZC columns were investigated. Mo- adsorption capacity of about 285 mgMo/gPZC and Tc-99m elution yield of higher than 90% were achieved with PZC adsorbent. Mo-99 breakthrough of 0.015% and Molybdenum element breakthrough of lower than 5μg Mo/ml were found in Tc-99m eluate. W- adsorption capacity of about 520 mgW/gPZC and Re-188 elution yield of higher than 80% were also achieved with PZC adsorbent. W-188 breakthrough of 0.015% and Tungsten element breakthrough of lower than 5 μg W /ml were found in Tc-99m eluate. A good relationship between the W- or Mo-content of adsorption solution and the adsorption capacity, adsorption percentage, chemical breakthrough and relevant radionuclide elution yield was found

Synthesis, characterization and application of zirconium and titanium inorganic polymer sorbents for the preparation of chromatographic 99mTc and 188Re generators

The Zirconium polymer compound (PZC) and Titanium polymer compound (PTC) based adsorbents for the preparation of chromatographic 99mTc and 188Re generators were synthesized. Chemical composition, molecular structure and physicochemical characteristics of these adsorbents were investigated. The adsorption propertiies of PZC and PTC sorbents in the different Molybdate and Tungstate solutions and the daughter nuclide elution performance were investigated. The Molybdenum adsorption capacities of about 275 mgMo/gPZC and 270 mgMo/gPTC and the 99mTc elution yield higher than 90% were achieved with both sorbents. The 99Mo breakthrough of 0.015% and Molybdenum element breakthrough lower than 2μg Mo/ml were found in the 99mTc eluate. The Tungsten adsorption capacities of about 520mgW/gPZC and 515 mgW/gPTC and the 188Re elution yield higher than 80% were also achieved with both PZC and PTC sorbents. The 188W breakthrough of 0.015% and Tungsten element breakthrough lower than 5 μg W /ml were found in the 188Re eluate.The parent nuclide adsorption capacity and the daughter nuclide elution performance of PTC sorbent resembled closely that of PZC one, except that the breakthrough of 99Mo and 188W parent nuclides was higher and PTC column needed smaller saline volume to elute 99mTc and 188Re daughter nuclides. The188Re eluate concentration process was developed by eluting 188Re from the tandem system of 188W-PTC – Alumina columns with the different concentration saline solutions. The concentration factor higher than 6 was achieved by this concentration technique which offered a potential application for the clinically applicable 188W-188Re generator production using low specific radioactivity 188W produced in rather low power research reactors

Genetic landscape of autism spectrum disorder in Vietnamese children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex disorder with an unclear aetiology and an estimated global prevalence of 1%. However, studies of ASD in the Vietnamese population are limited. Here, we first conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) of 100 children with ASD and their unaffected parents. Our stringent analysis pipeline was able to detect 18 unique variants (8 de novo and 10 ×-linked, all validated), including 12 newly discovered variants. Interestingly, a notable number of X-linked variants were detected (56%), and all of them were found in affected males but not in affected females. We uncovered 17 genes from our ASD cohort in which CHD8, DYRK1A, GRIN2B, SCN2A, OFD1 and MDB5 have been previously identified as ASD risk genes, suggesting the universal aetiology of ASD for these genes. In addition, we identified six genes that have not been previously reported in any autism database: CHM, ENPP1, IGF1, LAS1L, SYP and TBX22. Gene ontology and phenotype-genotype analysis suggested that variants in IGF1, SYP and LAS1L could plausibly confer risk for ASD. Taken together, this study adds to the genetic heterogeneity of ASD and is the first report elucidating the genetic landscape of ASD in Vietnamese children

Use of Desulfovibrio and Escherichia coli Pd-nanocatalysts in reduction of Cr(VI) and hydrogenolytic dehalogenation of polychlorinated biphenyls and used transformer oil

BACKGROUND Desulfovibrio spp. biofabricate metallic nanoparticles (e.g. ‘Bio-Pd’) which catalyse the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and dehalogenate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Desulfovibrio spp. are anaerobic and produce H2S, a potent catalyst poison, whereas Escherichia coli can be pre-grown aerobically to high density, has well defined molecular tools, and also makes catalytically-active ‘Bio-Pd’. The first aim was to compare ‘Bio-Pd’ catalysts made by Desulfovibrio spp. and E. coli using suspended and immobilised catalysts. The second aim was to evaluate the potential for Bio-Pd-mediated dehalogenation of PCBs in used transformer oils, which preclude recovery and re-use.\ud RESULTS Catalysis via Bio-PdD. desulfuricans and Bio-PdE. coli was compared at a mass loading of Pd:biomass of 1:3 via reduction of Cr(VI) in aqueous solution (immobilised catalyst) and hydrogenolytic release of Cl- from PCBs and used transformer oil (catalyst suspensions). In both cases Bio-PdD. desulfuricans outperformed Bio-Pd E. coli by ~3.5-fold, attributable to a ~3.5-fold difference in their Pd-nanoparticle surface areas determined by magnetic measurements (Bio-PdD. desulfuricans) and by chemisorption analysis (Bio-PdE. coli). Small Pd particles were confirmed on D. desulfuricans and fewer, larger ones on E. coli via electron microscopy. Bio-PdD. desulfuricans-mediated chloride release from used transformer oil (5.6 $\pm$ 0.8 $\mu$g mL-1 ) was comparable to that observed using several PCB reference materials. \ud CONCLUSIONS At a loading of 1:3 Pd: biomass Bio-PdD. desulfuricans is 3.5-fold more active than Bio-PdE. coli, attributable to the relative catalyst surface areas reflected in the smaller nanoparticle sizes of the former. This study also shows the potential of Bio-PdD. desulfuricans to remediate used transformer oil

Development of 68Ga Generator at ANSTO

A 68 Ge/ 68 Ga generator combined with automated 68 Ga eluate purification unit was developed to produce 68 Ga solution suitable for labelling peptide ligands for PET radiopharmaceutical applications. The sorbent of a Ti-Zr ceramic structure [1] was used as a generator column packing material. 68 Ga eluate of around 5 mL volume in 0.1 M HCl solution was purified on a small cation exchanger column with an aqueous alcohol solution mixture of hydrochloric acid, ascorbic acids and halide salts. An alkali solution was used for elution of 68 Ga from the ion exchange resin column to obtain a purified 68 Ga solution which is conditioned with acidic solutions to obtain a final 68 Ga product of pH=3-4 in 0.75 mL 0.5 M NaCl or 0.5 M sodium acetate solution. The organic solvent free 68 Ga solution product of acidity suitable for coordination chemistry based labelling of the peptide ligands was successfully used for preparation of DOTATATE and DOTATOC PET radiopharmaceuticals. The process of 68 Ga elution from the generator followed by 68 Ga eluate purification was performed using a low-cost automation bench-top system. [2] This system is designed based on the timing sequence of seven processing steps without feedback control. The variable flow rate of eluents used for elution/purification in this system also ensure the optimisation of operating times with respect to different adsorption/ desorption kinetics of 68 Ga ion species, which is controlled by the sorbent and ion exchange resin used in the generator and purification columns. © 2011, Medknow publicatio

The Influence of Physiological Status on age Prediction of Anopheles Arabiensis Using Near Infra-red spectroscopy

Determining the age of malaria vectors is essential for evaluating the impact of interventions that reduce the survival of wild mosquito populations and for estimating changes in vectorial capacity. Near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS) is a simple and non-destructive method that has been used to determine the age and species of Anopheles gambiae s.l. by analyzing differences in absorption spectra. The spectra are affected by biochemical changes that occur during the life of a mosquito and could be influenced by senescence and also the life history of the mosquito, i.e., mating, blood feeding and egg-laying events. To better understand these changes, we evaluated the influence of mosquito physiological status on NIR energy absorption spectra. Mosquitoes were kept in individual cups to permit record keeping of each individual insect’s life history. Mosquitoes of the same chronological age, but at different physiological stages, were scanned and compared using cross-validations. We observed a slight trend within some physiological stages that suggest older insects tend to be predicted as being physiologically more mature. It was advantageous to include mosquitoes of different chronological ages and physiological stages in calibrations, as it increases the robustness of the model resulting in better age predictions. Progression through different physiological statuses of An. arabiensis influences the chronological age prediction by the NIRS. Entomologists that wish to use NIR technology to predict the age of field-caught An. gambiae s.l from their study area should use a calibration developed from their field strain using mosquitoes of diverse chronological ages and physiological stages to increase the robustness and accuracy of the predictions.\u

Thermal production of axino Dark Matter

We reconsider thermal production of axinos in the early universe, adding: a) missed terms in the axino interaction; b) production via gluon decays kinematically allowed by thermal masses; c) a precise modeling of reheating. We find an axino abunance a few times larger than previous computations.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. Final version, to appear on JHE