HeW: AHash Function based on Lightweight Block Cipher FeW

A new hash function HeW: A hash function based on light weight block cipher FeW is proposed in this paper. The compression function of HeW is based on block cipher FeW. It is believed that key expansion algorithm of block cipher slows down the performance of the overlying hash function. Thereby, block ciphers become a less favourable choice to design a compression function. As a countermeasure, we cut down the key size of FeW from 80-bit to 64-bit and provide a secure and efficient key expansion algorithm for the modified key size. FeW based compression function plays a vital role to enhance the efficiency of HeW. We test the hash output for randomness using the NIST statistical test suite and test the avalanche effect, bit variance and near collision resistance. We also give the security estimates of HeW against differential cryptanalysis, length extension attack, slide attack and rotational distinguisher.

Enhanced Production of Recombinant Extractable Antigen (EA1) an Extracellular Protein and its use in Detection of Spores of Bacillus anthracis the Causative Agent of Anthrax

Detection of spores of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax in human and animals in environment is cumbersome due to the presence of spores of other closely related Bacillus species. The Extractable Antigen 1 (EA1), an extracellular protein is considered as a biomarker for detection of B. anthracis spores. In the present work, we have cloned and expressed the recombinant EA1 protein in soluble form in Escherichia coli. Optimisation of culture conditions and cultivation media was carried out to achieve enhanced soluble expression of recombinant EA1 protein. Further, the batch fermentation process was also developed using optimised conditions for scale up production of recombinant EA1 protein. The final yield of protein purified employing affinity chromatography was 42.64 mg/l of culture during batch fermentation process. The polyclonal antibodies were raised against recombinant EA in rabbit and mice and used to develop an ELISA for detection of B. anthracis spores. The specificity of the developed assay was ascertained with spores of other Bacillus species. The results corroborated that the EA1 could be a suitable biomarker for detection of B. anthracis spores

A Rapid Flow through Membrane Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Bacillus anthracis using Surface Array Protein as a Biomarker

Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis is an important disease of biowarfare and public health importance. It is imperative to develop a simple system which can detect and differentiate B. anthracis from other closely related species. The surface array protein (Sap), which is secreted during the early growth phase of bacteria can be an important biomarker for detection of B. anthracis. In the present study, we have developed a rapid flow through membrane ELISA for detection of B. anthracis. Polyclonal antibodies were used to develop a sandwich plate ELISA, which could detect 3.9 ng/ml of recombinant Sap. B. anthracis bacteria grown in culture broth could be detected after 5 h of growth. Finally, a rapid flow through membrane ELISA was developed which can be accomplished just within 2 minutes, instead of 3-4 h as required in sandwich plate ELISA. The results established that the developed flow through membrane ELISA may be used for detection of B. anthracis. The proposed method is rapid, safe and user friendly for detection of B. anthracis culture

Production and Purification of Protective Antigen of Bacillus anthracis and Development of a Sandwich ELISA for its Detection

Anthrax, a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis is important for biowarfare as well as public health point of view. The virulence factors of B. anthracis are encoded by the two plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2. Protective antigen (PA), an 83 kDa protein encoded by pXO1 along with lethal factor (LF, 90 kDa) or edema factor (EF, 89 kDa), makes the anthrax toxin responsible for causing the disease. Current detection and diagnostic systems for anthrax are mostly based on PA, a potential biomarker of B. anthracis. The objective of the present study was to produce and purify the PA for development of a sandwich ELISA for its detection. In this study, pYS5 plasmid containing the full PA gene was transformed into an 8 proteases deficient Bacillus anthracis host BH480. The PA was produced under shake flask conditions and purified using the gel filtration chromatography. The reactivity of PA with rabbit and mouse anti-PA antibodies was confirmed by Western blotting. The antibodies were purified and used for the development of a sandwich ELISA for detection of PA. The detection sensitivity of ELISA was found to be 3.9 ng/ mL PA

Drug Selective Poly (Vinyl chloride)-based Sensor of Desipramine Hydrochloride

The novel ion-pair ([TPB]- [DH]+) of the quaternary ammonium drug desipramine hydrochloride, 3-(5,6 dihydrobenzo[b][1]benzazepin-11-yl)-N-methylpropan-1-amine, has been synthesized and incorporated into a poly(vinyl chloride)-based membrane sensor for the quantification of desipramine hydrochloride in different pharmaceutical preparations. The influence of the membrane composition on the potentiometric responses of the membrane sensor has been found to substantially improve the performance characteristics. The best performance was reported with membranes having the composition (in mg) of ([TPB]- [DH]+) (5): PVC (150): o-NPOE (150). The proposed sensor (sensor no. 4) exhibits a nernstian response in the concentration range of 2.2 × 10-6 – 1.0 × 10-2 M with a detection limit of 1.2 × 10-6 M. The membrane sensor performs satisfactorily over the pH range of 2.8 – 7.4 with a fast response time of 12 seconds. The sensor no. 4 can tolerate a non-aqueous content of up to 20% and can be utilized for the determination of drug concentration in pharmaceutical preparation (tablets) and in body fluids such as urine and blood samples. The results were comparatively evaluated with Liquid Chromatography (LC). It was observed that the concentration of drug was greater in the blood sample than in the urine sample, as most of the drug is metabolized in the liver before discharge to urine

Drug Selective Poly (Vinyl chloride)-based Sensor of Desipramine Hydrochloride

The novel ion-pair ([TPB]- [DH]+) of the quaternary ammonium drug desipramine hydrochloride, 3-(5,6 dihydrobenzo[b][1]benzazepin-11-yl)-N-methylpropan-1-amine, has been synthesized and incorporated into a poly(vinyl chloride)-based membrane sensor for the quantification of desipramine hydrochloride in different pharmaceutical preparations. The influence of the membrane composition on the potentiometric responses of the membrane sensor has been found to substantially improve the performance characteristics. The best performance was reported with membranes having the composition (in mg) of ([TPB]- [DH]+) (5): PVC (150): o-NPOE (150). The proposed sensor (sensor no. 4) exhibits a nernstian response in the concentration range of 2.2 × 10-6 – 1.0 × 10-2 M with a detection limit of 1.2 × 10-6 M. The membrane sensor performs satisfactorily over the pH range of 2.8 – 7.4 with a fast response time of 12 seconds. The sensor no. 4 can tolerate a non-aqueous content of up to 20% and can be utilized for the determination of drug concentration in pharmaceutical preparation (tablets) and in body fluids such as urine and blood samples. The results were comparatively evaluated with Liquid Chromatography (LC). It was observed that the concentration of drug was greater in the blood sample than in the urine sample, as most of the drug is metabolized in the liver before discharge to urine

Adsorption of carmoisine A from wastewater using waste materials—Bottom ash and deoiled soya

The present study deals with the application of bottom ash, a power plant waste, and deoiled soya, an agricultural waste, for the adsorptive removal of carmoisine A dye from its aqueous solutions. This paper incorporates a comparative study of the adsorption characteristics of the dye on these effective adsorbents along with effects of time, temperature, concentration, and pH. Analytical techniques have been employed to find pore properties and characteristics of adsorbent materials. Batch adsorption studies, kinetic studies, and column operations have also been performed to understand the dye extraction ability of the adsorbents. The adsorption behavior of the dye has been studied using Freundlich, Langmuir, Tempkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich adsorption isotherm models. The monolayer adsorption capacity determined from the Langmuir adsorption equation has been found as 1.78 � 10�5 and 5.62 � 10�5 mol g�1 at 323 K for bottom ash and deoiled soya, respectively. Kinetic measurements suggest the involvement of pseudo-second-order kinetics in both adsorptions and each case is controlled by a particle diffusion process. Column experiments demonstrated that both adsorbents could be practically utilized in elimination of hazardous dye from effluent and dye material can be recovered by eluting NaOH through the exhausted columns

Adsorption of carmoisine A from wastewater using waste materials—Bottom ash and deoiled soya

The present study deals with the application of bottom ash, a power plant waste, and deoiled soya, an agricultural waste, for the adsorptive removal of carmoisine A dye from its aqueous solutions. This paper incorporates a comparative study of the adsorption characteristics of the dye on these effective adsorbents along with effects of time, temperature, concentration, and pH. Analytical techniques have been employed to find pore properties and characteristics of adsorbent materials. Batch adsorption studies, kinetic studies, and column operations have also been performed to understand the dye extraction ability of the adsorbents. The adsorption behavior of the dye has been studied using Freundlich, Langmuir, Tempkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich adsorption isotherm models. The monolayer adsorption capacity determined from the Langmuir adsorption equation has been found as 1.78 � 10�5 and 5.62 � 10�5 mol g�1 at 323 K for bottom ash and deoiled soya, respectively. Kinetic measurements suggest the involvement of pseudo-second-order kinetics in both adsorptions and each case is controlled by a particle diffusion process. Column experiments demonstrated that both adsorbents could be practically utilized in elimination of hazardous dye from effluent and dye material can be recovered by eluting NaOH through the exhausted columns

Comparative evaluation of Dy(III) selective poly(vinyl) chloride based membrane electrodes of macrocyclic tetraimine Schiff’s bases

Three different derivatives of macrocyclic tetraimine Schiff’s base have been synthesized and explored as a neutral ionophores for preparing poly(vinyl chloride) based membrane sensors selective to Dy3+. The addition of sodium tetraphenyl borate and various plasticizers, viz., o-NPOE, DBP, DBBP, DOP and CN has been found to substantially improve the performance of the sensors. The best performance was obtained with the sensor no. 1 having membrane of Schiff’s base (SL-1) with composition (w/w) SL-1 (4.5%): PVC (30.5%): o-NPOE (59.5%): NaTPB (5.5%). This sensor exhibits Nernstian response with slope 19.4 mV/decade of activity in the concentration range of 10−8 to 1.0×10−2M Dy3+, performs satisfactorily over wide pH range of (2.8–7.2) with a fast response time (10 s). The sensor was also found to work satisfactorily in partially non-aqueous media up to 20% (v/v) content of acetonitrile, methanol or ethanol. The proposed sensor can be used over a period of 1.5 months without significant drift in potentials. The sensor has been also utilized for the determination of Dy3+ level in different soil samples

Comparative evaluation of Dy(III) selective poly(vinyl) chloride based membrane electrodes of macrocyclic tetraimine Schiff’s bases

Three different derivatives of macrocyclic tetraimine Schiff’s base have been synthesized and explored as a neutral ionophores for preparing poly(vinyl chloride) based membrane sensors selective to Dy3+. The addition of sodium tetraphenyl borate and various plasticizers, viz., o-NPOE, DBP, DBBP, DOP and CN has been found to substantially improve the performance of the sensors. The best performance was obtained with the sensor no. 1 having membrane of Schiff’s base (SL-1) with composition (w/w) SL-1 (4.5%): PVC (30.5%): o-NPOE (59.5%): NaTPB (5.5%). This sensor exhibits Nernstian response with slope 19.4 mV/decade of activity in the concentration range of 10−8 to 1.0×10−2M Dy3+, performs satisfactorily over wide pH range of (2.8–7.2) with a fast response time (10 s). The sensor was also found to work satisfactorily in partially non-aqueous media up to 20% (v/v) content of acetonitrile, methanol or ethanol. The proposed sensor can be used over a period of 1.5 months without significant drift in potentials. The sensor has been also utilized for the determination of Dy3+ level in different soil samples