OPTIMIZATION OF PROCESS PARAMETERS USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY FOR REMOVAL OF PHENOL BY NANO ZERO VALENT IRON IMPREGNATED CASHEW NUT SHELL

Objective: The present research is an attempt to optimize the process parameters for phenol removal from aqueous solution using Nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) impregnated cashew nut shell (NZVI-CNS) by adopting statistical tool Response Surface Methodology-Box Behnken Design (RSM-BB).Methods: Box Behnken Design (RSM-BB) design was used to explore the effect of variables on the removal of phenol. In RSM-BB method, high and low values were assigned for the five variables viz. initial pH, NZVI-CNS dosage, initial concentration, contact time and temperature. The preparation was carried out by simple liquid-phase reduction method, namely borohydride reduction method.Results: The results of RSM-BB method showed the significant effect of pH (A), Dose (B), initial concentration (C), time (D), and temperature (E) on phenol removal from aqueous solution. The results of ANOVA and regression of the second order model showed that the linear effects of Dose (B) and Temperature and cross products effects of temperature and pH were more significant. All the critical variables having the greatest effect on the removal of phenol from Nano zero valent iron impregnated cashew nut shell.Conclusion: Nano zero valent iron impregnated cashew nut shell successfully employed to remove phenol from aqueous solution. The factors optimized in the present work would helpful in phenol removal from aqueous solution.Â

Stabilization of bacterial cells culture on immobilized Alginate beads and optimization of Congo red decolorization

The paper deals with the primary objective to optimize different parameters such as concentration, temperature, pH, time and size of cells for the decolorization of azo dye (Congo red) by using bacterial isolates by the method of immobilized bacterial cells. Staphylococcus aureus immobilized beads show a maximum dye decolorization of 94% under optimum condition and found to be more efficient in dye decolorization. The optimum value for degradation is found to be 35°C, for 400 mg/L of concentration of dye at the medium pH of 7. The order of the reaction was found to be first order with the rate constant of 0.073 h-1. The dye adsorbed on the bead surface follows Freundlich adsorption isotherm with the constant values are K = 1.368 and 1/n = 0.773. Studies have been carried out by FTIR, GC-MS analysis for confirming the biodegradation of Congo Red by the immobilized bacterial cells. The results reported warrant further investigation to establish the usefulness of these isolates for bioremediation and biodegradation application such as wastewater treatment

Stabilization of bacterial cells culture on immobilized Alginate beads and optimization of Congo red decolorization

544-552The paper deals with the primary objective to optimize different parameters such as concentration, temperature, pH, time and size of cells for the decolorization of azo dye (Congo red) by using bacterial isolates by the method of immobilized bacterial cells. Staphylococcus aureus immobilized beads show a maximum dye decolorization of 94% under optimum condition and found to be more efficient in dye decolorization. The optimum value for degradation is found to be 35°C, for 400 mg/L of concentration of dye at the medium pH of 7. The order of the reaction was found to be first order with the rate constant of 0.073 h-1. The dye adsorbed on the bead surface follows Freundlich adsorption isotherm with the constant values are K = 1.368 and 1/n = 0.773. Studies have been carried out by FTIR, GC-MS analysis for confirming the biodegradation of Congo Red by the immobilized bacterial cells. The results reported warrant further investigation to establish the usefulness of these isolates for bioremediation and biodegradation application such as wastewater treatment

EVALUATION OF PHYTASE PRODUCTION BY HYPOCREA LIXII SURT01 IN SUBMERGED AND SOLID-STATE FERMENTATIONS

Objective: Phytases have important applications in human and animal nutrition because they hydrolyze the phytate present in legumes, cereal grains and oil seeds to release inorganic phosphate. Supplementation of phosphate to the poultry causes a serious problem of eutrophication. This can be reduced by incorporating phytase in poultry feed. Present study explains extracellular phytase production by SmF and SSF from a fungal strain Hypocrea lixii SURT01. Methods: Extracellular phytase production by Hypocrea lixii SURT01 was evaluated in media containing various refined carbon sources (Fructose, Sucrose, Maltose and lactose in concentration ranging from 1.5% to 7.5%) along with standard medium under submerged fermentation (SmF). At the same time, phytase production was studied under Solid State Fermentation (SSF) with four different substrate such as barley, green gram, bengal gram and black gram. Results: In SmF out of different carbon sources in various concentrations, 6% sucrose showed maximum enzyme production (245U/ml). In SSF, barley showed highest phytase yield (1638 Units/ml) on 5th day of incubation. Conclusion: Evaluation of Solid state fermentation showed enhanced phytase production when compared to Submerged Fermentation

ANALYSIS OF GUT FLORA FROM DAMP WOOD TERMITES (TRINERVITERMES SPP.) AND EXTRACTION, CHARACTERIZATION OF CELLULASE FROM THE ISOLATE

Objective: The objective of the study was to isolate, characterize, identify, and compare the potentials of cellulolytic strains isolated from the gut of damp wood termites (Trinervitermes species) collected from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Methods: Termites were collected and used as hoard of cellulase producers and screened for the cellulase producers using carboxymethyl cellulose as the sole source of carbon and were authenticated using Congo red plate screening method. The isolates showing a significant zone of clearance were further confirmed by biochemically characterized.Results: Nine effective isolates were characterized and three strained were used for analysis. The organisms were subjected with substrate, temperature (25°C, 37°C, and 45°C), and pH to optimize the cultural condition. The enzyme activity was estimated using endoglucanase, FPase after incubating at appropriate conditions. Five isolates showing a significant zone of clearance were selected, out of which three belonged to Bacillus and one each to Staphylococcus. Optimization of media and genetic modification of the strains can further convalesce their competence. All the isolates have ensuring application in view of use in future.Conclusion: An effective strain of bacteria was isolated from the gut of termites can be used as a potential candidate for the production of cellulase in industries

Production, optimization and characterisation of chitosanase of Bacillus sp. and its applications in nanotechnology

Chitosanases is a class of enzymes which hydrolyse chitosan, a natural biopolymer consisting of d-glucosamine in various degrees. In this study, chitosanase producing Bacillus sp. was isolated from soil sample. Chitosanase production was optimized using response surface methodology and the produced chitosanase was characterized. The crude enzyme was found to possess antibacterial and antifungal activity. Chitosanase enzyme was used for trimming chitosan based polymeric nanoparticles produced using sodium trimetaphosphate chelator. Chitosanase enzyme was also utilized for synthesis of silver nanoparticles which were then characterized by UV–Vis, FTIR, SEM, TEM and AFM. The produced nanoparticles were checked for antibacterial and antifungal activity

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and it’s correlation with forced expiratory volume in one second: a tertiary care centre study

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common all over the Indian subcontinent, with a prevalence of 70-100% in the general population. Vitamin D deficiency has a role in several diseases of the respiratory system including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Studies have shown that vitamin D deficient COPD patients have lower lung function measured by FEV1. We conducted a study to see prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in COPD patients and it’s correlation with Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second.Methods: A cross sectional observational study was performed in a tertiary care hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana during the period of one and half year. This included 104 COPD cases attending outpatient department of pulmonary medicine. Serum vitamin D levels were measured, and spirometry was done in all patients and data was analyzed accordingly.Results: Among 104 patients, 87 were males and 17 were females. Most of the study population (44.2%) was aged between 60-70 years. Mean BMI was 26.40 (±5.77) kg/m2. Majority of study populations (66.34%) were in GOLD stage 1 and 2. The mean Vitamin D value of the study population was 20.77±11.74ng/ml. Majority of the COPD patients were vitamin D deficient (69.2%). 25.0 % was severely deficient of vitamin D. The mean FEV1 volume (%) was 83.15±11.53, 60.97±17.47, 30.71±7.96 in sufficient, deficient and severe deficient patients.Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is common in COPD patients. Serum vitamin D deficiency increases with increased severity of COPD. There is positive correlation between serum vitamin D levels and post bronchodilator FEV1 (%).

In-vitro screening of amylase producing halophilic bacteria isolated from seawater

In this study, eight halobacterial strains were isolated from seawater. Among the eight isolates, four strains grew well in nutrient medium with 40 g/100 mL of sodium chloride concentration. Amongst all, HA01 was found to show highest amylase activity than others. Highest amylase producing bacteria, i.e. HA01 was subjected for 16S rRNA sequence based identification and it was found to be Aquabacterium sp. strain AS02. The organism showed optimal amylase production at pH 7 and temperature of 42 °C and NaCl concentration of 3 M. The two substrates (banana peel and potato peel) were used for the amylase production among which banana peel showed that highest amylase activity of 6.12 U/mL than potato peel (4.27 U/mL)

Incisional hernia following colorectal cancer surgery according to suture technique: Hughes Abdominal Repair Randomized Trial (HART).

BACKGROUND: Incisional hernias cause morbidity and may require further surgery. HART (Hughes Abdominal Repair Trial) assessed the effect of an alternative suture method on the incidence of incisional hernia following colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: A pragmatic multicentre single-blind RCT allocated patients undergoing midline incision for colorectal cancer to either Hughes closure (double far-near-near-far sutures of 1 nylon suture at 2-cm intervals along the fascia combined with conventional mass closure) or the surgeon's standard closure. The primary outcome was the incidence of incisional hernia at 1 year assessed by clinical examination. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. RESULTS: Between August 2014 and February 2018, 802 patients were randomized to either Hughes closure (401) or the standard mass closure group (401). At 1 year after surgery, 672 patients (83.7 per cent) were included in the primary outcome analysis; 50 of 339 patients (14.8 per cent) in the Hughes group and 57 of 333 (17.1 per cent) in the standard closure group had incisional hernia (OR 0.84, 95 per cent c.i. 0.55 to 1.27; P = 0.402). At 2 years, 78 patients (28.7 per cent) in the Hughes repair group and 84 (31.8 per cent) in the standard closure group had incisional hernia (OR 0.86, 0.59 to 1.25; P = 0.429). Adverse events were similar in the two groups, apart from the rate of surgical-site infection, which was higher in the Hughes group (13.2 versus 7.7 per cent; OR 1.82, 1.14 to 2.91; P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: The incidence of incisional hernia after colorectal cancer surgery is high. There was no statistical difference in incidence between Hughes closure and mass closure at 1 or 2 years. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN25616490 (http://www.controlled-trials.com)

Phylogenetic Analysis of The Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Region in Laccase Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa ADN04 by Predicted rRNA Secondary Structure

Secondary structure and phylogenetic efficacy of the internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS1) in laccase producing organism were studied among 35 species through molecular phylogenetic analyses. The sequence of laccase gene were taken from the NCBI databases and compared with the identified sequence that was coded for laccase. Similar sequences of laccase synthesizing organisms were downloaded from the database and multiple sequence alignment was performed. The most closely related sequences were taken from each organism and RNA structure was predicted. This structure was used for comparative approach of rRNA sequences to be similar for the aligned sequence. Then the phylogenetic analysis was carried for the above sequences and the results were compared with the RNA structure for comparative analysis. During the evolution, the laccase genes from the prokaryotes were differentiated to the higher organisms was reported