Filamentous Growth in Entrapped Microbial Cell Reactor Treating Wastewater

The overgrowth of filamentous microorganisms in wastewater treatment systems is a common adversary condition leading to foaming, poor sludge settling problems, and reduction in organic removal efficiency. Entrapped microbial cell reactors have been investigated for their uses in wastewater treatment. However, their susceptibility to filamentous growth is not known. The objective of this study is to investigate the filamentous growth and its effect on the treatment performance of an entrapped microbial cell system treating wastewater. A typical activated sludge wastewater treatment system was included for comparative purpose. Both systems were operated at the same operating conditions using synthetic wastewater. Four different hydraulic retention times (HRT) (9, 6, 3, 1.5 hours), three different dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations (2, 4.5 and 5.7 mg/1), and three different influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations ( 120, 206 and 300 mg/I) were investigated. Results showed that DO and organic loading rate (COD/HRT) did not have any effect on the organic (soluble COD and soluble biochemical oxygen demand at 5 days) removal efficiencies at high and medium HRT (9 and 6 hours), even when there was excessive filamentous growth in the entrapped microbial cell reactor. The organic removal efficiencies of the activated sludge system dropped for some cases at high and medium HRT because of excessive filamentous overgrowth. At low HRT (3 hours), there was abundant filamentous growth and a drop in the organic removal efficiencies in the entrapped microbial cell reactor. To determine the reason (between HRT and filamentous abundance) for the decreases in organic removal efficiencies by the entrapped microbial cell system at the low HRT, a very low HRT of 1.5 hours was applied. DO and organic loading rate did not affect organic removal efficiencies of the entrapped cell reactor. Reduction of the filamentous microorganisms was attempted by chlorination using sodium hypochlorite. Three different chlorine dosages, I, 0.25 and 0.50 g NaOCl/d, were applied. The dosage of 0.25 g NaOCl/d was found to be very effective in controlling the filamentous overgrowth in the entrapped microbial cell reactor. The reduction of filamentous organisms by chlorination did not result in improved organic removal efficiencies, suggesting that the very low HRT rather than the abundance of filamentous organisms was responsible for the poorer performance of the reactor. A cell morphology and organelle analysis indicated Sphaerotilus natans as the most frequently observed filamentous microorganism in the entrapped microbial cell reactor. A thick layer of biofilm was also observed on the entrapment matrix. The biofilm did not affect the performances of the reactor. These results suggested that the entrapped microbial cell reactor is subjected to filamentous overgrowth, but it has no effect on the performances of the reactor

Functional modeling through energy flow diagrams for novice engineering design students

Functional Modeling through Energy Flow Diagrams for Novice Engineering Design Students By Sadhan Sathyaseelan, MSE The University of Texas at Austin, 2015 SUPERVISOR: Richard Crawford The UTeachEngineering program from The University of Texas at Austin is currently developing a high school engineering curriculum that emphasizes design, project-based learning, and development of engineering habits of mind. One module in the curriculum uses reverse engineering of an electromechanical device to teach functional modeling, among other design methods and techniques. Experienced engineers think in terms of the functions – what a product or system must do – before they determine what it will be in its physical form. This is an abstract way of thinking that is commonly taught to engineering undergraduate students, but can be difficult for high school students to grasp. To assist novice engineers (both high school students and undergraduates), a new approach has been developed and evaluated. The Energy Flow Diagram (EFD) focuses on modeling and documenting the energy flow and transformations in the product or system. Energy conversions are prevalent in most products that are feasible for high school students to reverse engineer, and we hypothesize that the results of energy conversions are evident in the behavior of these products. In this paper, we describe the EFD and the materials developed to support its teaching. The EFD method was piloted with an assortment of students from different majors and year of study in the undergraduate level. A pre/post-test was conducted to evaluate any increase in functional thinking among novice design engineers. It was found that the tool was much simpler to understand and implement, and also provided some insights for product redesign opportunities that are similar to the current method of teaching functional modeling.Mechanical Engineerin

Formulation Development and Invitro Evaluation of Sustained Release Matrix Tablets of Nateglinide by Using Natural Polymers

AIM : Recently, sustained release drug delivery system has become the standards in the modern pharmaceutical design and intensive search has been undertaken in achieving much better drug product effectiveness, reliability and safety. Oral sustain release medication will continue to account for the largest share of drug delivery systems, due to ease of its formulation as compared to other systems. The biggest ascent of these type of systems is the ease with which they can be prepared on the large scale, and hence, easy commercialization. For treating diabetes, it has been considered important that both a post prandial blood glucose level and a fasting blood glucose level are decreased to make them to normal levels. Other antidiabetics are primarily used for decreasing either a post prandial blood glucose level or a fasting blood glucose level to make it close to a normal level, but nateglinide has been used to control both post prandial blood glucose level as well as a fasting blood glucose level. Nateglinide is a BCS class II (Insoluble, highly permeable) drug. The plasma half life of nateglinide is 1.5h. The usual oral dosage regimen is 60— 180mg taken 3 times a day for nateglinide immediate release tablets. The nateglinide controlled or sustained release formulation would be more useful than the nateglinide immediate release tablets from the view point of avoidance of side effect, or of easy control of both PBG and FBG to enable control of both PBG and FBG for moderate and severe diabetes patients. Thus, there is a need to formulate oral sustained drug delivery system of nateglinide. The oral sustained release drug delivery system of nateglinide can be formulated using various synthetic as well as natural hydrophilic polymers. The biodegradable nature and easy availability of the natural polymers makes them suitable for using as a sustained release polymer. The natural polymers also exhibit a rheological synergism between them when two polymers are mixed together. By using this property of the natural polymers can be used to reduce the total polymer concentration from the sustained release matrix tablet and once a day formulation of the nateglinide can be formulated containing least amount of polymer. Nateglinide [N-(trans-4-isopropylcyclohexylcarbonyl)-D-phenylalanine] is a novel mealtime glucose regulator approved for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. Nateglinide has a rapid onset and short duration of insulinotropic action that results in reduction of mealtime glucose rise and lowers the postabsorptive potential for hypoglycemia in humans and experimental animals.OBJECTIVE: To prepare and evaluate once a day sustained release matrix tablet of Nateglinide. To reduce the total polymer concentration using rheological synergism between two natural gums. To study the invitro performance of matrix tablet.SUMMARY:Nateglinide [N-(trans-4-isopropylcyclohexylcarbonyl)-D-phenylalanine] is a novel, highly physiologic, mealtime glucose regulator approved for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. Nateglinide is a BCS class II (Insoluble, highly permeable) drug. The plasma half life of nateglinide is 1.5h and bioavailability of 73%. The usual oral dosage regimen is 60— 180mg taken 3 times a day for nateglinide immediate release tablets. The controlled or sustained release formulation of nateglinide would be more useful than the nateglinide immediate release tablets from the view point of avoidance of side effect, improvement of compliance to patients and to enable control of both post prandial blood glucose level and fasting blood glucose level for moderate and severe diabetes patients. Hence, an attempt was made to develop a sustained-release (SR) oral dosage form of nateglinide instead of IR tablet. The present work studied the natural polymer based once a day matrix tablet of nateglinide. From the wide range of hydrophilic polymers, k – carrageenan, λ – carrageenan and locust bean gum. Combinations of the two different gums kcarrageenan and locust bean gum and λ-carrageenan and locust bean gum were formulated in different ratios 20:80, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40 and 80:20 to exploit rheological synergism between two gums. Further the formulations were prepared dorm the formulation which exhibited maximum retardation such that each contains 10% less polymer concentration than the previous formulation in order to achieve the once a day matrix tablet of nateglinide containing least amount of polymer. The blends were prepared by non-aqueous wet granulation techniques with lactose as a diluent in formulations. The dried blends were compressed with other necessary excipients. The tablets were evaluated for hardness, thickness, drug content uniformity, in-vitro drug release studies for 24 hours (USP dissolution apparatus II, phosphate buffer-pH 6.8, 50 rpm, 37±0.5ºC), water uptake studies, swelling studies and in of the matrix tablet. The amount of Nateglinide released from the tablet formulations was estimated at 210nm using a UV spectrophotometer. The kinetic analysis of selected formulations were performed and found to follow Korsmeyer-Peppas model through non-fickian transport mechanism. The following conclusions can be drawn from the above study.Nateglinide [N-(trans-4-isopropylcyclohexylcarbonyl)-D-phenylalanine] is a novel, highly physiologic, mealtime glucose regulator approved for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. Nateglinide is a BCS class II (Insoluble, highly permeable) drug. The plasma half life of nateglinide is 1.5h and bioavailability of 73%. The usual oral dosage regimen is 60— 180mg taken 3 times a day for nateglinide immediate release tablets. The controlled or sustained release formulation of nateglinide would be more useful than the nateglinide immediate release tablets from the view point of avoidance of side effect, improvement of compliance to patients and to enable control of both post prandial blood glucose level and fasting blood glucose level for moderate and severe diabetes patients. Hence, an attempt was made to develop a sustained-release (SR) oral dosage form of nateglinide instead of IR tablet. The present work studied the natural polymer based once a day matrix tablet of nateglinide. From the wide range of hydrophilic polymers, k – carrageenan, λ – carrageenan and locust bean gum. Combinations of the two different gums kcarrageenan and locust bean gum and λ-carrageenan and locust bean gum were formulated in different ratios 20:80, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40 and 80:20 to exploit rheological synergism between two gums. Further the formulations were prepared dorm the formulation which exhibited maximum retardation such that each contains 10% less polymer concentration than the previous formulation in order to achieve the once a day matrix tablet of nateglinide containing least amount of polymer. The blends were prepared by non-aqueous wet granulation techniques with lactose as a diluent in formulations. The dried blends were compressed with other necessary excipients. The tablets were evaluated for hardness, thickness, drug content uniformity, in-vitro drug release studies for 24 hours (USP dissolution apparatus II, phosphate buffer-pH 6.8, 50 rpm, 37±0.5ºC), water uptake studies, swelling studies and in of the matrix tablet. The amount of Nateglinide released from the tablet formulations was estimated at 210nm using a UV spectrophotometer. The kinetic analysis of selected formulations were performed and found to follow Korsmeyer-Peppas model through non-fickian transport mechanism. The following conclusions can be drawn from the above study.Nateglinide [N-(trans-4-isopropylcyclohexylcarbonyl)-D-phenylalanine] is a novel, highly physiologic, mealtime glucose regulator approved for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. Nateglinide is a BCS class II (Insoluble, highly permeable) drug. The plasma half life of nateglinide is 1.5h and bioavailability of 73%. The usual oral dosage regimen is 60— 180mg taken 3 times a day for nateglinide immediate release tablets. The controlled or sustained release formulation of nateglinide would be more useful than the nateglinide immediate release tablets from the view point of avoidance of side effect, improvement of compliance to patients and to enable control of both post prandial blood glucose level and fasting blood glucose level for moderate and severe diabetes patients. Hence, an attempt was made to develop a sustained-release (SR) oral dosage form of nateglinide instead of IR tablet. The present work studied the natural polymer based once a day matrix tablet of nateglinide. From the wide range of hydrophilic polymers, k – carrageenan, λ – carrageenan and locust bean gum. Combinations of the two different gums kcarrageenan and locust bean gum and λ-carrageenan and locust bean gum were formulated in different ratios 20:80, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40 and 80:20 to exploit rheological synergism between two gums. Further the formulations were prepared dorm the formulation which exhibited maximum retardation such that each contains 10% less polymer concentration than the previous formulation in order to achieve the once a day matrix tablet of nateglinide containing least amount of polymer. The blends were prepared by non-aqueous wet granulation techniques with lactose as a diluent in formulations. The dried blends were compressed with other necessary excipients. The tablets were evaluated for hardness, thickness, drug content uniformity, in-vitro drug release studies for 24 hours (USP dissolution apparatus II, phosphate buffer-pH 6.8, 50 rpm, 37±0.5ºC), water uptake studies, swelling studies and in of the matrix tablet. The amount of Nateglinide released from the tablet formulations was estimated at 210nm using a UV spectrophotometer. The kinetic analysis of selected formulations were performed and found to follow Korsmeyer-Peppas model through non-fickian transport mechanism. The following conclusions can be drawn from the above study.From the results obtained we can conclude that the polymers selected for the study, can be used individually for the sustained drug delivery of nateglinide locust bean gum was used in combination with k-carrageenan and λ-carrageenan in 60:40 and 20:80 ratios respectively with least in vitro drug release and can be used to reduce the concentration of polymer from the tablet.30% polymer reduction in case of k-carrageenan and locust bean gum and 20% with λ-carrageenan and locust bean gum combination was achieved.CONCLUSION:Once a day sustained release matrix tablets of nateglinide was prepared by using natural polymers k-carrageenan,lambda carrageenan and locust bean gum. Natural polymers were selected due to their easy availability and cheaper in coast and we can get standard uniformity and combinations of two different gums carrageenan and locust been gum were formulated in different ratios to exploit the rheological synergism between two gums in order to achive once a day matrix tablets of nateglinide further formulations were prepared from the formulations exhibited maximum retardation the controlled or sustained release formulations of nateglinide would be more useful than the nateglinide immediate release tablets from the new point of side effects improvement of compliance to patients and to enable to control of both post prandial blood glucose level and fasting blood glucose level for moderate and sever diabates patients. Hence an attempt was made to develop a sustained release oral dosage form of nateglinide instead of immediate release tablet

STABILITY EVALUATION OF TARTRAZINE BY LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-DIODE ARRAY DETECTOR AND HIGH-RESOLUTION ELECTRON SPRAY IONIZATION QUADRUPOLE TIME-OFFLIGHT MASS SPECTROMETRY/MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS

Objective: This study investigates the degradation behavior of tartrazine, a synthetic azo dye used in pharmaceutical products.Methods: For this purpose, standard solutions containing E102 were subjected to pH, oxidation, photolytic conditions and were analyzed by the developed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.Results: The results show degradation in standard solution with the formation of single degradation product in oxidative visible light condition. The formed unknown degradation product was isolated by semipreparative HPLC and characterized using ultra-HPLC coupled with high resolution tandem mass spectrometer (MS).Conclusion: The isolated component was vacuum dried and subjected to high-resolution MS analysis for the plausible structural elucidation. Based on the fragmentation pattern of one degradation product (ODP) from their MSn studies, the ODP may be identified as 2,5-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-3- (phenyldiazenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid.Â

Transition metal titanium (Ti) doped LaFeO3 nanoparticles for enhanced optical structural and magnetic properties

A series of LaFe1−xTixO3 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by simple co-precipitation technique. The synthesized samples (calcined at 800° C/3hr) were characterised for structural, optical and magnetic properties. Structural phase formation of the crystal shows orthorhombic planes of these samples phases. The average crystallite size (Dc) is decreasing with a dopant and found to be varying between ∼ 9 and 25 nm. Tailored surface morphology was analyzed using scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopes (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED) also confirms the evolution of orthorhombic phases. Diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) are recorded to evaluate the variation of optical band gap (Eg) upon titanium doping into the LaFeO3 system. The obtained results attributed that Eg values are increasing with dopant altering between 2.05 and 2.61 eV. The metal oxide (M - O) stretching vibrations and few functional groups are detected from infrared spectra (IR). The weak ferromagnetic behaviour is observed from hysteresis loop behaviour. Additionally, the large hysteresis loop behaviour induces no saturation up to 15 kOe in nanoparticles coercivity (Hc) and anisotropy constants (K1) are eventually decreasing with ‘x’ values

Identification of New PCR Targets and its Validation for Development of Nucleic Acid-based Detection Assay for Melioidosis

Burkholderia pseudomallei the gram negative, soil saprophyte is the causative agent of melioidosis in human and animals. Development of rapid, sensitive, species specific and cost effective molecular assays are needed for detection of B. pseudomallei from clinical and environmental samples and to differentiate it from other closely related bacterial species. In this study, insilico approach was used to identify new species specific gene targets for molecular diagnosis of B. pseudomallei. The identified targets were then analyzed by SYBR Green real time PCR assay for their specificity, sensitivity and presence across different Indian clinical and soil isolates of B. pseudomallei. Out of the three targets studied SYBR Green real time PCR assay targeting bpss0091 gene of B. pseudomallei was found 100% specific, having detection limit of 12.3fg/µl DNA. The bpss0091 gene target was present in all clinical and soil isolates of B. pseudomallei tested thus suggesting bpss0091 gene based SYBR Green real time PCR assay will be useful for detection of B. pseudomallei in different geographical regions

Experience with Dilute Chemical Decontamination in Indian Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors

AbstractDilute Chemical Decontamination (DCD) process has been used in several full system and components of nuclear coolant systems to effectively remove the radioactive contaminants that causes radiation field and consequent MANREM problem. The DCD process uses chemicals in very low concentrations (millimolar) and dissolves the oxide film along with the activity incorporated in the oxide film. In DCD process operated under the regenerative mode, the chemical formulation spent in the process of oxide dissolution is replenished by passing through cation exchange columns. Finally, after achieving sufficient decontamination of the system/component, the added decontamination chemicals along with the activities and metal ions released during the process are removed by mixed bed ion exchange columns and the system is restored to normal operating condition in a few days time. In PHWRs, the regenerative DCD process is applied for full primary coolant system decontamination. The chemicals are added directly to the heavy water coolant with the fuel in the core. In Indian PHWRs (MAPS#1&2, RAPS#1&2, NAPS#1&2 and KAPS#1), the process has been applied eleven times. A chemical formulation based on NTA, Citric acid and Ascorbic acid has been applied seven times with good results. Decontamination factors in the range 2-30 have been obtained in different components with good MANREM savings in the subsequent maintenance works.Efforts are on to modify the process to take care of the challenges posed by antimony isotopes. An inhibitor (Rodine-92B) based process was successfully tested in NAPS#2 for removing antimony isotopes (122Sb and 124Sb). Further refining of the antimony removal process is being worked out. Similarly, the process is being modified to effectively remove the hotspot causing stellite particles in the moderator system of PHWRs. A permanganate based process has been developed and tested in several adjustor rod drive mechanisms in KAPS and NAPS. The experience of applying/testing the DCD process in the Indian nuclear reactors is described in this paper

The Presented Study of Zn-Cu Ferrites for Their Application in “Photocatalytic Activities”

The present chapter summarizes the synthesis and characterization of Zinc Copper (ZnCu) ferrites due to their wide range of applications in many areas. ZnCu ferrites are soft magnetic materials that have exceptional electrical, magnetic, and optical properties. ZnCu ferrites possess high resistivity, permeability, permittivity, saturation magnetization and low power losses, and coercivity. The above features of ZnCu ferrites find application in designing transformers, transducers, and inductors. Ferrites are also used in magnetic fluids, sensors, and biosensors. Apart from these advantages, they play a vital role in practical appliances like mobile, laptops, mobile chargers, refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, printers, and so on. Therefore, the present focus is on the literature of techniques of the synthesis, their characterization, the effect of doping on the behavior of ZnCu ferrite, and, finally, their potential application in technology

Global variation in SARS-CoV-2 proteome and its implication in pre-lockdown emergence and dissemination of 5 dominant SARS-CoV-2 clades

SARS-CoV-2 is currently causing major havoc worldwide with its efficient transmission and propagation. To track the emergence as well as the persistence of mutations during the early stage of the pandemic, a comparative analysis of SARS-CoV-2 whole proteome sequences has been performed by considering manually curated 31,389 whole genome sequences from 84 countries. Among the 7 highly recurring (percentage frequency≥10%) mutations (Nsp2:T85I, Nsp6:L37F, Nsp12:P323L, Spike:D614G, ORF3a:Q57H, N protein:R203K and N protein:G204R), N protein:R203K and N protein: G204R are co-occurring (dependent) mutations. Nsp12:P323L and Spike:D614G often appear simultaneously. The highly recurring Spike:D614G, Nsp12:P323L and Nsp6:L37F as well as moderately recurring (percentage frequency between ≥1 and <10%) ORF3a:G251V and ORF8:L84S mutations have led to4 major clades in addition to a clade that lacks high recurring mutations. Further, the occurrence of ORF3a:Q57H&Nsp2:T85I, ORF3a:Q57H and N protein:R203K&G204R along with Nsp12:P323L&Spike:D614G has led to 3 additional sub-clades. Similarly, occurrence of Nsp6:L37F and ORF3a:G251V together has led to the emergence of a sub-clade. Nonetheless, ORF8:L84S does not occur along with ORF3a:G251V or Nsp6:L37F. Intriguingly, ORF3a:G251V and ORF8:L84S are found to occur independent of Nsp12:P323L and Spike:D614G mutations. These clades have evolved during the early stage of the pandemic and have disseminated across several countries. Further, Nsp10 is found to be highly resistant to mutations, thus, it can be exploited for drug/vaccine development and the corresponding gene sequence can be used for the diagnosis. Concisely, the study reports the SARS-CoV-2 antigens diversity across the globe during the early stage of the pandemic and facilitates the understanding of viral evolution