Bioremediation of Agro-Based Pulp Mill Effluent by Microbial Consortium Comprising Autochthonous Bacteria

Small-scale agro-based pulp and paper mills are characterized as highly polluting industries. These mills use Kraft pulping process for paper manufacturing due to which toxic lignified chemicals are released into the environment. Lack of infrastructure, technical manpower, and research and development facilities restricts these mills to recover these chemicals. Therefore, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the emanating stream is quite high. For solving the above problem, four bacteria were isolated from the premises of agro-based pulp and paper mill which were identified as species of Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Pannonibacter, and Ochrobacterum. These bacteria were found capable of reducing COD up to 85%–86.5% in case of back water and 65-66% in case of back water : black liquor (60 : 40), respectively, after acclimatization under optimized conditions (pH 6.8, temperature 35°C, and shaking 200 rpm) when the wastewater was supplemented with nitrogen and phosphorus as trace elements

Relationship of APOA5, PPARγ and HL gene variants with serial changes in childhood body mass index and coronary artery disease risk factors in young adulthood

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Triglycerides is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) and is especially important in Indians because of high prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia in this population. Both genetic and environmental factors determine triglyceride levels. In a birth cohort from India, hypertriglyceridemia was found in 41% of men and 11% of women. Subjects who had high triglycerides had more rapid body mass index (BMI) or weight gain than rest of the cohort throughout infancy, childhood and adolescence. We analysed polymorphisms in <it>APOA5</it>, hepatic lipase and <it>PPARγ</it> genes and investigated their association with birth weight and serial changes in BMI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Polymorphisms in <it>APOA5</it> (-1131T > C, S19W), <it>PPARγ</it> (Pro12Ala) and hepatic lipase (-514C > T) were studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction digestion in 1492 subjects from the New Delhi Birth Cohort (NDBC). We assessed whether these polymorphisms influence lipid and other variables and serial changes in BMI, both individually and together.</p> <p>The risk allele of <it>APOA5</it> (-1131C) resulted in 23.6 mg/dl higher triglycerides as compared to normal allele (P < 0.001). Risk allele of HL (-514T) was associated with significantly higher HDL2 levels (P = 0.002). Except for the marginal association of <it>PPARγ</it> Pro12Ala variation with a lower conditional weight at 6 months, (P = 0.020) and A<it>POA5</it> S19W with a higher conditional BMI at 11 yrs of age (P = 0.030), none of the other associations between the gene polymorphisms and serial changes in body mass index from birth to young adulthood were significant.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The promoter polymorphism in <it>APOA5</it> was associated with raised serum triglycerides and that of HL with raised HDL2 levels. None of the polymorphisms had any significant relationship with birth weight or serial changes in anthropometry from birth to adulthood in this cohort.</p

Проектування та аналіз безперехідного пристрою VTFET для сенсорних додатків

У роботі повідомляється про стратегію діелектричної модуляції структури TFET для покращення зондування біомолекул. Безперехідна структура TFET запропонована для спрощення процесу виготовлення. Метали з певними роботами виходу електронів осаджуються на ділянках джерела та стоку для накопичення носіїв заряду та створення переходу. Для покращення ємності затвора використовується діелектричний high-k матеріал (HfO2). Експлуатаційні параметри пристрою визначаються співвідношенням струмів у вимкненому стані до увімкненого (IOFF/ION) і підпороговим коливанням (SS). Далі конструкцію роблять вертикальною для підсилення електричного поля, отже іонний струм збільшується до 10 – 4 А/мкм. Для покращення області захоплення біосенсора зроблена нанопорожнина біля нерухомого затвора. Моделі TCAD моделюються для діапазону чутливості шляхом заповнення біосенсора нейтральними/зарядженими біомолекулами з різними діелектричними сталими. Завдяки спільному впровадженню вертикального та бічного тунелювання чутливість пропонованого біосенсора зросла до 108. Струм стоку збільшувався зі збільшенням позитивного заряду та зменшувався зі збільшенням негативного заряду біомолекул. Чутливість у запропонованій структурі зросла в 104 рази порівняно з чутливістю, про яку повідомлялося в літературі. Це показує, що пропонований біосенсор може бути інтегрований з твердотільною схемою для використання в розумній електроніці.A dielectric modulation strategy of a TFET structure is reported in this work to improve sensing of biomolecules. A junctionless TFET structure is proposed in order to make the fabrication process easier. Metals with specific work functions are deposited on the source and drain regions to accumulate charge carriers and create the junction. A high-k gate dielectric material (HfO2) is used to improve the gate capacitance. The performance parameters of the device are given by the OFF-state to ON-state current ratio (IOFF/ION) and sub-threshold swing (SS). Further, the structure is made vertical to enhance the electric field so that ION current will increase up to 10 – 4 A/µm. A nanocavity near the fixed gate is made to improve the capture area of the biosensor. TCAD models are simulated for the sensitivity range by filling the biosensor neutral/charged biomolecules with different dielectric constants. Due to the joint introduction of vertical and lateral tunnelling, the sensitivity of the proposed biosensor increased to 108. The drain current increased with an increase in the positive charge and decreased with an increase in the negative charge of biomolecules. The sensitivity in the proposed structure increased by a factor of 104 compared to the sensitivity reported till date in the literature. This shows that the proposed biosensor can be integrated with solid state circuit to be used in wearable electronics

Impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices, Streptomyces and Pseudomonas spp. strain on finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) cv Korchara under water deficit condition

In present study, a total of 104 bacteria and 96 actinomycetes were isolated from rhizosphere plant root of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) from Almora district of Uttarakhand, India. Isolates were characterized using microscopic and morphological methods followed by their biochemical test. Based on functional tests, four most promising isolates were identified using 23S rDNA primers as Streptomyces labedae (SB-9), Streptomyces flavofuscus (SA-11), and 16S rDNA primers as Pseudomonas poae (KA-5), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (KB-7). Influence of Glomus intraradices (G.I.) singly and along with actinomycetes and Pseudomonas spp. were evaluated under irrigated and water deficit conditions. Out of eight treatments studied in this study, a higher significant increase in plant height with S. labedae SB-9 + G.I and P. poae KA-5 + G.I were recorded. In well watered and water deficient conditions, maximum shoot dry matter content was recorded in P. Poae + P. flurosence + G.I and S. labedae + S. flavofuscus + G.I inoculated plants in comparison to their respective control. Under in vitro condition, P. poae KA-5 produced higher amount of indole acetic acid (IAA) among the selected isolates. Anti-oxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and accumulation of free proline content in leaves were maximum in P. Poae + G.I inoculated plants under water deficit condition. In the presence of Streptomyces and Pseudomonas spp. a better mycorrhizal infection was observed in treated plant roots. This investigation support mutual symbiosis of Streptomyces and Pseudomonas strains with G. intraracides which had synergic effect on finger millet cv. Korchara plant under irrigated as well as under water stress condition.Keywords: Glomus intraradices, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, anti oxidants, plant growth promotion, IAA productio

Association of inflammatory genes in obstructive sleep apnea and non alcoholic fatty liver disease in Asian Indians residing in north India.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have indicated that variants of the high sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin (IL)-6 and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes are associated with the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but not in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Asian Indians. The study was conducted to investigate the association of CRP rs1130864 (1444C/T), IL-6 rs1800795 (-174G/C) and LEPR rs1137101 (Q223R) genes with OSA and NAFLD in Asian Indians residing in North India. METHODS:240 overweight/ obese subjects [body mass index (BMI>23kg/m2)], 124 with OSA and with NAFLD (group 1), 47 with OSA without NAFLD (group 2), 44 without OSA and with NAFLD (group 3) and 25 without OSA and without NAFLD (group 4) were recruited in this study. The severity of NAFLD was based on abdomen liver ultrasound and of OSA on overnight polysomnography. Clinical details, anthropometry profile, body composition, biochemical parameters and inflammatory markers were measured. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism of CRP, IL-6 and LEPR gene was performed. The associations of these polymorphisms with clinical, anthropometric and biochemical profiles were investigated. The genotypes were confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. RESULTS:The C, T and R alleles of IL-6, CRP and LEPR genes was more frequent in OSA and NAFLD subjects and significantly correlated with higher protein levels. The prevalence of variant genotypes C/T of CRP, G/C of IL-6 and Q/R of LEPR genes was significantly higher in OSA subjects as compared to non OSA subjects. Further, C/C genotype of IL-6 (G/C), T/T of CRP (C/T) and RR genotype of LEPR (Q/R) was associated with significantly higher BMI, fat mass (kg), % body fat, waist circumference, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, alkaline phosphate, aspartate transaminase and fasting insulin levels in OSA and NAFLD subjects. Using a multivariate analysis, the combined effect of three polymorphisms of CRP, IL-6 and LEPR gene variants on OSA and NAFLD risk was evaluated. Odds ratio for OSA and NAFLD with the combination of the three gene polymorphisms increased to 2.84 (95% CI: 1.08-6.54; p = 0.04) even when adjusted for sex, age and BMI. CONCLUSION:Polymorphisms of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes were associated with increased risk of OSA and NAFLD in Asian Indians

Correction: Association of inflammatory genes in obstructive sleep apnea and non alcoholic fatty liver disease in Asian Indians residing in north India.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199599.]

Imaging and analysis of Bacillus anthracis spore germination

External and internal changes occurring during the process of germination of Bacillus anthracis spores were observed through atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. AFM studies showed that in response to L-alanine (4 mM), as a germinant, the spore germinates into a vegetative cell in 3 hours. The temporal size changes occurring during the germination were gradual but the major change in size was observed between the second and third hour. TEM of spores showed the presence of varied layers, which is in accordance with previous studies. However, the integrity of these layers was lost gradually during the process of germination. The inner spore membrane remains intact even until late stages of germination, whereas the coat, outer spore membrane, and the cortical layers are discarded at the second-hour stage. The results indicate that sequential changes during the germination of a B. anthracis spore are similar to other species of the Bacillus group

Association of IL-6 gene polymorphism with clinical, body composition, anthropometry and biochemical parameters.

<p>Association of IL-6 gene polymorphism with clinical, body composition, anthropometry and biochemical parameters.</p

Inclusion and exclusion criteria.

<p>Inclusion and exclusion criteria.</p

Biochemical profiles of the subjects.

<p>Biochemical profiles of the subjects.</p