Decolorization and partial mineralization of a polyazo dye by Bacillus firmus immobilized within tubular polymeric gel

The degradation of C.I. Direct red 80, a polyazo dye, was investigated using Bacillus firmus immobilized by entrapment in tubular polymeric gel. This bacterial strain was able to completely decolorize 50 mg/L of C.I. Direct red 80 under anoxic conditions within 12 h and also degrade the reaction intermediates (aromatic amines) during the subsequent 12 h under aerobic conditions. The tubular gel harboring the immobilized cells consisted of anoxic and aerobic regions integrated in a single unit which was ideal for azo dye degradation studies. Results obtained show that effective dye decolorization (97.8%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction (91.7%) and total aromatic amines removal were obtained in 15 h with the immobilized bacterial cell system whereas for the free cells, a hydraulic residence time of 24 h was required for an equivalent performance in a sequential anoxic and aerobic process. Repeated-batch experiments indicate the immobilized cells could decolorize C.I. Direct red 80 and reduce medium COD in five successive batch runs with enhanced activity obtained after each consecutive run, thus suggesting its stability and potential for repeated use in wastewater treatment. UV–visible spectrophotometry and HPLC analysis were used to confirm the partial mineralization of the dye. Data from this study could be used as a reference for the development of effective industrial scale biotechnological process for the removal of dyes and their metabolites in textile wastewater

Effects of tranexamic acid on death, disability, vascular occlusive events and other morbidities in patients with acute traumatic brain injury (CRASH-3): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and decreases mortality in patients with traumatic extracranial bleeding. Intracranial bleeding is common after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can cause brain herniation and death. We aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with TBI. Methods This randomised, placebo-controlled trial was done in 175 hospitals in 29 countries. Adults with TBI who were within 3 h of injury, had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 12 or lower or any intracranial bleeding on CT scan, and no major extracranial bleeding were eligible. The time window for eligibility was originally 8 h but in 2016 the protocol was changed to limit recruitment to patients within 3 h of injury. This change was made blind to the trial data, in response to external evidence suggesting that delayed treatment is unlikely to be effective. We randomly assigned (1:1) patients to receive tranexamic acid (loading dose 1 g over 10 min then infusion of 1 g over 8 h) or matching placebo. Patients were assigned by selecting a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was head injury-related death in hospital within 28 days of injury in patients treated within 3 h of injury. We prespecified a sensitivity analysis that excluded patients with a GCS score of 3 and those with bilateral unreactive pupils at baseline. All analyses were done by intention to treat. This trial was registered with ISRCTN (ISRCTN15088122), ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01402882), EudraCT (2011-003669-14), and the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR20121000441277). Results Between July 20, 2012, and Jan 31, 2019, we randomly allocated 12 737 patients with TBI to receive tranexamic acid (6406 [50·3%] or placebo [6331 [49·7%], of whom 9202 (72·2%) patients were treated within 3 h of injury. Among patients treated within 3 h of injury, the risk of head injury-related death was 18·5% in the tranexamic acid group versus 19·8% in the placebo group (855 vs 892 events; risk ratio [RR] 0·94 [95% CI 0·86-1·02]). In the prespecified sensitivity analysis that excluded patients with a GCS score of 3 or bilateral unreactive pupils at baseline, the risk of head injury-related death was 12·5% in the tranexamic acid group versus 14·0% in the placebo group (485 vs 525 events; RR 0·89 [95% CI 0·80-1·00]). The risk of head injury-related death reduced with tranexamic acid in patients with mild-to-moderate head injury (RR 0·78 [95% CI 0·64-0·95]) but not in patients with severe head injury (0·99 [95% CI 0·91-1·07]; p value for heterogeneity 0·030). Early treatment was more effective than was later treatment in patients with mild and moderate head injury (p=0·005) but time to treatment had no obvious effect in patients with severe head injury (p=0·73). The risk of vascular occlusive events was similar in the tranexamic acid and placebo groups (RR 0·98 (0·74-1·28). The risk of seizures was also similar between groups (1·09 [95% CI 0·90-1·33]). Interpretation Our results show that tranexamic acid is safe in patients with TBI and that treatment within 3 h of injury reduces head injury-related death. Patients should be treated as soon as possible after injury. Funding National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment, JP Moulton Charitable Trust, Department of Health and Social Care, Department for International Development, Global Challenges Research Fund, Medical Research Council, and Wellcome Trust (Joint Global Health Trials scheme)

Optimization of the production of ß-carotene from molasses by Blakeslea trispora: A statistical approach

The effect of pretreatment of molasses, nitrogen sources, natural oils, fatty acids, anti-oxidant, precursors, and mixtures of the above substances on ß-carotene production by Blakeslea trispora in shake flask culture was investigated. Also, a central composite design was employed to determine the maximum ß-carotene concentration at optimum values for the process variables (linoleic acid, kerosene, antioxidant). The highest concentration of the carotenoid pigment was obtained in molasses solution treated with invertase. Corn steep liquor and yeast extract at concentrations of 5.0% and 0.5% (w/v), respectively, increased slightly the concentration of ß-carotene, while the natural oils, fatty acids, and precursors (except kerosene) did not improve the production of pigment when they were added separately to the medium. On the other hand, the mixture of linoleic acid, kerosene and antioxidant increased significantly the concentration of ß-carotene. The fit of the model was found to be good. Linoleic acid, kerosene and antioxidant had a strong linear effect on ß-carotene concentration. The concentration of ß-carotene was significantly affected by linoleic acid-antioxidant and kerosene-antioxidant interactions as well as by the negative quadratic effects of these variables. The interaction between linoleic acid-kerosene had no significant linear effect. Maximum ß-carotene concentration (790.0 mg dm-3) was obtained in culture grown in molasses solution supplemented with linoleic acid (30.74g dm-3), kerosene (27.79g dm-3) and antioxidant (10.22g dm-3). © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry

Optimization of the production of beta-carotene from molasses by Blakeslea trispora: a statistical approach

WOS: 000177228900011The effect of pretreatment of molasses, nitrogen sources, natural oils, fatty acids, antioxidant, precursors, and mixtures of the above substances on beta-carotene production by Blakeslea trispora in shake flask culture was investigated. Also, a central composite design was employed to determine the maximum beta-carotene concentration at optimum values for the process variables (linoleic acid, kerosene, antioxidant). The highest concentration of the carotenoid pigment was obtained in molasses solution treated with invertase. Corn steep liquor and yeast extract at concentrations of 5.0% and 0.5% (w/v), respectively, increased slightly the concentration of beta-carotene, while the natural oils, fatty acids, and precursors (except kerosene) did not improve the production of pigment when they were added separately to the medium. On the other hand, the mixture of linoleic acid, kerosene and antioxidant increased significantly the concentration of beta-carotene. The fit of the model was found to be good. Linoleic acid, kerosene and antioxidant had a strong linear effect on beta-carotene concentration. The concentration of beta-carotene was significantly affected by linoleic acid-antioxidant and kerosene-antioxidant interactions as well as by the negative quadratic effects of these variables. The interaction between linoleic acid-kerosene had no significant linear effect. Maximum P-carotene concentration (790.0 mg dm(-3)) was obtained in culture grown in molasses solution supplemented with linoleic acid (30.74 g dm(-3)), kerosene (27.79 g dm(-3)) and antioxidant (10.22 g dm(-3)). (C) 2002 Society of Chemical Industry