Biodiesel Production From Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Oleaginous Microbes: Prospects for Integrated Biofuel Production

Biodiesel is an eco-friendly, renewable, and potential liquid biofuel mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiesel has been produced initially from vegetable oils, non-edible oils, and waste oils. However, these feedstocks have several disadvantages such as requirement of land and labor and remain expensive. Similarly, in reference to waste oils, the feedstock content is succinct in supply and unable to meet the demand. Recent studies demonstrated utilization of lignocellulosic substrates for biodiesel production using oleaginous microorganisms. These microbes accumulate higher lipid content under stress conditions, whose lipid composition is similar to vegetable oils. In this paper, feedstocks used for biodiesel production such as vegetable oils, non-edible oils, oleaginous microalgae, fungi, yeast, and bacteria have been illustrated. Thereafter, steps enumerated in biodiesel production from lignocellulosic substrates through pretreatment, saccharification and oleaginous microbe-mediated fermentation, lipid extraction, transesterification, and purification of biodiesel are discussed. Besides, the importance of metabolic engineering in ensuring biofuels and biorefinery and a brief note on integration of liquid biofuels have been included that have significant importance in terms of circular economy aspects.Fil: Chintagunta, Anjani Devi. Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research. Department of Biotechnology; IndiaFil: Zuccaro, Gaetano. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia. Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II; ItaliaFil: Kumar, Mahesh. Central Agricultural University; IndiaFil: Kumar, S. P. Jeevan. Indian Institute of Seed Science; India. Directorate of Floricultural Research; IndiaFil: Garlapati, Vijay Kumar. Jaypee University of Information Technology; IndiaFil: Postemsky, Pablo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; ArgentinaFil: Kumar, N. S. Sampath. Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research. Department of Biotechnology; IndiaFil: Chandel, Anuj K.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Simal Gandara, Jesus. Universidad de Vigo; Españ

Plasma chemokines CXCL10 and CXCL9 as potential diagnostic markers of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis still remains to be a challenge with the currently used immune based diagnostic methods particularly Interferon Gamma Release Assay due to the sensitivity issues and their inability in differentiating stages of TB infection. Immune markers are valuable sources for understanding disease biology and are easily accessible. Chemokines, the stimulant, and the shaper of host immune responses are the vital hub for disease mediated dysregulation and their varied levels in TB disease are considered as an important marker to define the disease status. Hence, we wanted to examine the levels of chemokines among the individuals with drug-resistant, drug-sensitive, and latent TB compared to healthy individuals. Our results demonstrated that the differential levels of chemokines between the study groups and revealed that CXCL10 and CXCL9 as potential markers of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive TB with better stage discriminating abilities

The dominant Anopheles vectors of human malaria in the Asia-Pacific region: occurrence data, distribution maps and bionomic précis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The final article in a series of three publications examining the global distribution of 41 dominant vector species (DVS) of malaria is presented here. The first publication examined the DVS from the Americas, with the second covering those species present in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Here we discuss the 19 DVS of the Asian-Pacific region. This region experiences a high diversity of vector species, many occurring sympatrically, which, combined with the occurrence of a high number of species complexes and suspected species complexes, and behavioural plasticity of many of these major vectors, adds a level of entomological complexity not comparable elsewhere globally. To try and untangle the intricacy of the vectors of this region and to increase the effectiveness of vector control interventions, an understanding of the contemporary distribution of each species, combined with a synthesis of the current knowledge of their behaviour and ecology is needed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Expert opinion (EO) range maps, created with the most up-to-date expert knowledge of each DVS distribution, were combined with a contemporary database of occurrence data and a suite of open access, environmental and climatic variables. Using the Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) modelling method, distribution maps of each DVS were produced. The occurrence data were abstracted from the formal, published literature, plus other relevant sources, resulting in the collation of DVS occurrence at 10116 locations across 31 countries, of which 8853 were successfully geo-referenced and 7430 were resolved to spatial areas that could be included in the BRT model. A detailed summary of the information on the bionomics of each species and species complex is also presented.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This article concludes a project aimed to establish the contemporary global distribution of the DVS of malaria. The three articles produced are intended as a detailed reference for scientists continuing research into the aspects of taxonomy, biology and ecology relevant to species-specific vector control. This research is particularly relevant to help unravel the complicated taxonomic status, ecology and epidemiology of the vectors of the Asia-Pacific region. All the occurrence data, predictive maps and EO-shape files generated during the production of these publications will be made available in the public domain. We hope that this will encourage data sharing to improve future iterations of the distribution maps.</p

Plasma spray synthesis from precursors: Progress, issues, and considerations

Precursor plasma spray synthesis is an innovative and rapid method for making functional oxide ceramic coatings by starting from solution precursors and directly producing inorganic films. This emerging method utilizes molecularly mixed precursor liquids, which essentially avoids the handling and selection of powders, opening up new avenues for developing compositionally complex functional oxide coatings. Precursor plasma spray also offers excellent opportunities for exploring the nonequilibrium phase evolution during plasma spraying of multicomponent oxides from inorganic precursors. Although there have been efforts in this area since the 1980s and early 1990s with the goal of synthesizing nanoparticles, only recently has the work progressed in the area of functional systems. At the Center for Thermal Spray Research an integrated investigative strategy has been used to explore the benefits and limits of this synthesis strategy. Water- and alcohol-based sol/solution precursors derived from various chemical synthesis methods were used as feed-stocks to deposit thin/thick films of spherical and nanostructured coatings of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), yttrium iron garnet, lanthanum strontium manganate and Zr-substituted yttrium titanates, and compositions of Y2O3-Al2O3 and their microstructural space centered around stoichiometric YAG. A detailed discussion of the salient features of the radiofrequency induction plasma spraying approach, the results obtained in the investigations to develop various functional oxide coatings, and process issues and challenges are presented

Domestic animal‑related neuro‑trauma: An account, from a tertiary institute

Context: Experience of animal‑related neurotrauma at an apex institute, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India. Aims: The aim of this study is to review epidemiology, clinical findings, and outcome of animal‑related traumatic brain injury (TBI) evaluated and treated at our institute. Settings and Design: A retrospective study consisting of demographic data, clinical findings, radiological details, and outcomes. Materials and Methods: The clinical and imaging records of 30 patients treated for animal‑related TBI at the emergency services, from January to July 2010. Outcome was assessed by Glasgow outcome scale (GOS). Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS 15.0 version, descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 6190 neurotrauma cases were evaluated and treated during the study period. Among them, 30 (0.48%) were animal‑inflicted injuries. Of these cases, animal‑vehicle collision and directly animal‑inflicted injuries were 15 (50%) each. The mean age of patients were 39.46 (6-71 years). Twenty‑nine (96.66%) cases were from rural areas. Twenty‑three (76.6%) had mild, 6 (20%) had moderate, and 1 (3.3%) had severe head injury (Glasgow coma scale). Four (13.3%) patients had abnormal pupillary reaction. Associated injuries were found in 25 (83.3%) patients. CT scan was abnormal in 50% (15/30), common finding was contusion in 8 (26.6%) patients, followed by edema in 6 (20%). There were 3 (10%) spine injuries, 1 (3.3%) internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection, and 2 (6.6%) brachial plexuses injuries. Three (10%) required surgery, and 1 (3.3%) patient expired. As per the GOS, good recovery was seen in 8 (80%) patients, moderate disability in 1 (10%), and vegetative state in 1 (10%) patient

Phase evolution of yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) in a citrate-nitrate gel combustion process

Yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) powders were synthesized by a citrate-nitrate gel combustion process. Thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and time-resolved X-ray powder diffraction experiments were used to study the phase evolution. Formation of the pure YAG phase depends on the level of precursor decomposition in the combustion process. Removal of undecomposed citric acid from the starting precursor powder helps to lower the temperature at which the YAG phase begins to form and the temperature at which the pure, highly crystalline YAG phase is obtained. The value of citrate to nitrate ratio in the precursor gel affects the phase evolution for YAG

Novel synthesis and magnetocaloric assessment of functional oxide perovskites

The magnetic entropy change associated with the ferromagnetic Curie transition has been studied in La0.85Sr0.15MnO3 (LSM) perovskites obtained by both the citrate-nitrate gel autoignition and combustion thermal spray techniques. A modest magnetic entropy change can be observed in La0.85Sr0.15MnO3 by sintering the precursor-derived powder at 1200 8C for 16 h or by combustion spraying the solution precursor onto an Al substrate and annealing at 800 8C for 6 h. The combustion thermal spray process with rapid deposition rates and relatively low deposition temperature directly produces a microcrystalline perovskite phase. This microcrystalline powder can be processed more rapidly and at lower temperatures than that derived from the sol-gel syntheses process to produce material with fine crystallinity and an obvious magnetocaloric effect

Synthesis of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) by citrate-nitrate gel combustion and precursor plasma spray processes

The influence of synthesis conditions on the formation of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) powders starting from the same precursor solution was investigated by employing a citrate-nitrate (C-N) gel combustion process and a precursor plasma spraying technique. Two different C-N ratios were used in the synthesis and their influences on phase formation were studied by thermal analysis (DTA/TGA) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Time-resolved powder XRD experiments were performed for the first time on these C-N precursor materials to understand their mode of decomposition. For a C-N = 0.75, the ex-situ XRD data confirmed a single-step conversion to YIG from the amorphous precursor powder without any intermediate phase formation. However, the use of the same C-N precursor solution as a liquid feedstock material in the precursor plasma spraying (PPS) technique revealed an entirely different transformation mechanism to YIG through the intermediate phase YFeO(3). The measured values of saturation magnetization (M(S)) as well as coercive field (H(C)) of the powder samples annealed at 1500 degrees C are close to those reported for bulk YIG. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved