A Feasibility Study of Energy Production

This report presents the opportunity for the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility (IAWWTF) to maximize its revenue by utilizing the potential of existing Combined Heat and Power (CHP) turbines and exploring other energy sources and their possible implementations. The report also analyzes four different scenarios to maximize revenues for the plant by increasing the capacity of CHP turbines and adding other alternative sources of energy, such as biodiesel, solar photovoltaic and hydro-turbines. This feasibility study is intended for the use of the IAWWTF and professionals interested in producing electricity and heat in a more environmentally friendly way. We hope that our study will help the IAWWTF and the Ithaca communities to reduce their CO2 footprints

Genetic variants and physical activity interact to affect bone density in Hispanic children

Background: Our aim was to investigate if moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), calcium intake interacts with bone mineral density (BMD)-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to influence BMD in 750 Hispanic children (4-19y) of the cross-sectional Viva La Familia Study. Methods: Physical activity and dietary intake were measured by accelerometers and multiple-pass 24 h dietary recalls, respectively. Total body and lumbar spine BMD were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. A polygenic risk score (PRS) was computed based on SNPs identified in published literature. Regression analysis was conducted with PRSs, MVPA and calcium intake with total body and lumbar spine BMD. Results: We found evidence of statistically significant interaction effects between the PRS and MVPA on total body BMD and lumbar spine BMD (p \u3c 0.05). Higher PRS was associated with a lower total body BMD (β = − 0.040 ± 0.009, p = 1.1 × 10− 5 ) and lumbar spine BMD (β = − 0.042 ± 0.013, p = 0.0016) in low MVPA group, as compared to high MVPA group (β = − 0.015 ± 0.006, p = 0.02; β = 0.008 ± 0.01, p = 0.4, respectively). Discussion: The study indicated that calcium intake does not modify the relationship between genetic variants and BMD, while it implied physical activity interacts with genetic variants to affect BMD in Hispanic children. Due to limited sample size of our study, future research on gene by environment interaction on bone health and functional studies to provide biological insights are needed

Serum uric acid concentrations and SLC2A9 genetic variation in Hispanic children: the Viva La Familia Study

Background: Elevated concentrations of serum uric acid are associated with increased risk of gout and renal and cardiovascular diseases. Genetic studies in adults have consistently identified associations of solute carrier family 2, member 9 (SLC2A9), polymorphisms with variation in serum uric acid. However, it is not known whether the association of serum uric acid with SLC2A9 polymorphisms manifests in children

Genetic variation underlying renal uric acid excretion in Hispanic children: the Viva La Familia Study

Abstract Background Reduced renal excretion of uric acid plays a significant role in the development of hyperuricemia and gout in adults. Hyperuricemia has been associated with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease in children and adults. There are limited genome-wide association studies associating genetic polymorphisms with renal urate excretion measures. Therefore, we investigated the genetic factors that influence the excretion of uric acid and related indices in 768 Hispanic children of the Viva La Familia Study. Methods We performed a genome-wide association analysis for 24-h urinary excretion measures such as urinary uric acid/urinary creatinine ratio, uric acid clearance, fractional excretion of uric acid, and glomerular load of uric acid in SOLAR, while accounting for non-independence among family members. Results All renal urate excretion measures were significantly heritable (p <2 × 10−6) and ranged from 0.41 to 0.74. Empirical threshold for genome-wide significance was set at p <1 × 10−7. We observed a strong association (p < 8 × 10−8) of uric acid clearance with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in zinc finger protein 446 (ZNF446) (rs2033711 (A/G), MAF: 0.30). The minor allele (G) was associated with increased uric acid clearance. Also, we found suggestive associations of uric acid clearance with SNPs in ZNF324, ZNF584, and ZNF132 (in a 72 kb region of 19q13; p <1 × 10−6, MAFs: 0.28–0.31). Conclusion For the first time, we showed the importance of 19q13 region in the regulation of renal urate excretion in Hispanic children. Our findings indicate differences in inherent genetic architecture and shared environmental risk factors between our cohort and other pediatric and adult populations

Global metabolomic profiling targeting childhood obesity in the Hispanic population

Background: Metabolomics may unravel important biological pathways involved in the pathophysiology of childhood obesity

Formulation Development and Evaluation of Nanoparticulate Systems of Levofloxacin

An emerging advancement in pharmaceutical sciences and perturbing limitation of conventional drug delivery systems have triggered extensive research in novel carrier systems. There has been extensive research on novel carriers that promise patient compliance, but toxicological part is still the biggest challenge to any drug delivery systems. In the present research, we have develop levofloxacin&nbsp; nanopartulate systems&nbsp; with chitosan and sodium triphosphte&nbsp; which offer safer dosage form with increased bioavailability as well as better patient compliance. In all formulation the minimum percentage yield shows in formulation F8 (70.23%) and maximum in formulation F6 (89.23%). The highest % cumulative drug release after 8 hrs was found to be 92.658 and first order release kinetics; the r2 value for first order was found to be 0.988 Keywords: Nanoparticulate systems, Chitosan, Levofloxacin, Compliance, Bioavailability