Performance Enhancement of Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membrane Using Nanocomposite Materials

Many attempts were made to enhance the performance of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes in the desalination process. Using ion exchange (IX) bed before RO process and modifying the structure of RO membranes are some of these attempts. Thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane is the novel type of RO membranes which is the best in nanofiltration applications. TFN membranes have many new advantages due to the change of their structure in comparison with traditional membranes. In this study the performance of a TFN membrane was compared with that of standard thin film composite (TFC) spiral wound water desalination RO membrane for filtration of IX produced water. The results from the filtration process showed that the flux and water permeability of TFN are 1.55 and 1.56 times that of TFC for feed water with 2050 ppm NaCl concentration with nearly unchanged level of the membrane salt rejection, which will reduce the filtrated water cost

Characterization of the ABC methionine transporter from Neisseria meningitidis reveals that MetQ is a lipoprotein

NmMetQ is a substrate binding protein (SBP) from Neisseria meningitidis that has been identified as a surface-exposed candidate antigen for meningococcal vaccines. However, this location for NmMetQ challenges the prevailing view that SBPs in Gram-negative bacteria are localized to the periplasmic space to promote interaction with their cognate ABC transporter embedded in the bacterial inner membrane. To address the roles of NmMetQ, we characterized NmMetQ with and without its cognate ABC transporter (NmMetNI). Here, we show that NmMetQ is a lipoprotein (lipo-NmMetQ) that binds multiple methionine analogs and stimulates the ATPase activity of NmMetNI. Using single-particle electron cryo-microscopy, we determined the structures of NmMetNI in the absence and presence of lipo-NmMetQ. Based on our data, we propose that NmMetQ tethers to membranes via a lipid anchor and has dual function/topology, playing a role in NmMetNI-mediated transport at the inner-membrane in addition to moonlighting functions on the bacterial surface

Haren: A Framework for Ad-Hoc Thread Scheduling Policies for Data Streaming Applications

In modern Stream Processing Engines (SPEs), numerous diverse applications, which can differ in aspects such as cost, criticality or latency sensitivity, can co-exist in the same computing node. When these differences need to be considered to control the performance of each application, custom scheduling of operators to threads is of key importance (e.g., when a smart vehicle needs to ensure that safety-critical applications always have access to computational power, while other applications are given lower, variable priorities).Many solutions have been proposed regarding schedulers that allocate threads to operators to optimize specific metrics (e.g., latency) but there is still lack of a tool that allows arbitrarily complex scheduling strategies to be seamlessly plugged on top of an SPE. We propose Haren to fill this gap. More specifically, we (1) formalize the thread scheduling problem in stream processing in a general way, allowing to define ad-hoc scheduling policies, (2) identify the bottlenecks and the opportunities of scheduling in stream processing, (3) distill a compact interface to connect Haren with SPEs, enabling rapid testing of various scheduling policies, (4) illustrate the usability of the framework by integrating it into an actual SPE and (5) provide a thorough evaluation. As we show, Haren makes it is possible to adapt the use of computational resources over time to meet the goals of a variety of scheduling policies

Biological activities of Pereskia bleo extracts

The aim of this study is to screen the hexane, dicholoromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Pereskia bleo (PB) for their antibacterial, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties using disc diffusion method, DPPH assay and MTT cytotoxicity test, respectively. It is found that hexane and methanol extracts showed highly and moderately, respectively, considerable antibacterial activity towards two Gram-negative bacteria, P. aeruginosa 60690 and S. choleraesuis. Ethyl acetate extract showed a week narrow spectrum activity (= 35% of streptomycin activity). The highest antibacterial activity on MRSA is obtained by DCM extract. Hexane extract was the most effective DPPH radical scavenger (37.55%). Ethyl acetate and DCM extracts were less effective free radical scavenger (16.1%). None of the extracts were cytotoxic significantly towards MCF-7, HT-29 and CEM-SS cell lines after 72 h incubation time (IC50 > 30 μg mL-1). It could be concluded that antibacterial activity of P. bleo is the most promising biological activity attributed to this plant

The prognostic value of p53 mutation in pediatric marrow hypoplasia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The tumor suppressor gene p53 is involved in the control of cell proliferation, particularly in stressed cells. p 53 gene mutations are the most frequent genetic event found in human cancers. Fanconi Anemia (FA) is the most common representative of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) with a leukemic propensity. P 53 DNA alteration has not been studied before in Egyptian children with FA.</p> <p>Patients and methods</p> <p>we investigated p53 mutation in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of forty children, FA (n = 10), acquired aplastic anemia (AAA) (n = 10), and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) as a control (n = 20), using real-time PCR by TaqMan probe assay</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mutation of p53 gene was demonstrated in the BM of 90% (9/10) of children with FA, compared to 10% (1/10) in AAA (p < 0.001), while, no p53 DNA mutation was seen in the control group. A positive correlation between DNA breakage and presence of p53 mutation was seen in FA (p < 0.02, r0.81).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>mutation of p53 gene in hypoplastic marrow especially FA may represent an early indicator of significant DNA genetic alteration with cancer propensity.</p

Traditional Roles in a Non‐Traditional Setting: Genetic Counseling in Precision Oncology

Next generation sequencing technology is increasingly utilized in oncology with the goal of targeting therapeutics to improve response and reduce side effects. Interpretation of tumor mutations requires sequencing of paired germline DNA, raising questions about incidental germline findings. We describe our experiences as part of a research team implementing a protocol for whole genome sequencing (WGS) of tumors and paired germline DNA known as the Michigan Oncology Sequencing project (MI‐ONCOSEQ) that includes options for receiving incidental germline findings. Genetic counselors (GCs) discuss options for return of results with patients during the informed consent process and document family histories. GCs also review germline findings and actively participate in the multi‐disciplinary Precision Medicine Tumor Board (PMTB), providing clinical context for interpretation of germline results and making recommendations about disclosure of germline findings. GCs have encountered ethical and counseling challenges with participants, described here. Although GCs have not been traditionally involved in molecular testing of tumors, our experiences with MI‐ONCOSEQ demonstrate that GCs have important applicable skills to contribute to multi‐disciplinary care teams implementing precision oncology. Broader use of WGS in oncology treatment decision making and American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) recommendations for active interrogation of germline tissue in tumor‐normal dyads suggests that GCs will have future opportunities in this area outside of research settings.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147078/1/jgc40655.pd

Homogeneous Bubble Nucleation driven by local hot spots: a Molecular Dynamics Study

We report a Molecular Dynamics study of homogenous bubble nucleation in a Lennard-Jones fluid. The rate of bubble nucleation is estimated using forward-flux sampling (FFS). We find that cavitation starts with compact bubbles rather than with ramified structures as had been suggested by Shen and Debenedetti (J. Chem. Phys. 111:3581, 1999). Our estimate of the bubble-nucleation rate is higher than predicted on the basis of Classical Nucleation Theory (CNT). Our simulations show that local temperature fluctuations correlate strongly with subsequent bubble formation - this mechanism is not taken into account in CNT

Injection Drug Use Is a Risk Factor for HCV Infection in Urban Egypt

OBJECTIVE: To identify current risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission in Greater Cairo. DESIGN AND SETTING: A 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted comparing incident acute symptomatic hepatitis C patients in two "fever" hospitals of Greater Cairo with two control groups: household members of the cases and acute hepatitis A patients diagnosed at the same hospitals. Controls were matched on the same age and sex to cases and were all anti-HCV antibody negative. Iatrogenic, community and household exposures to HCV in the one to six months before symptoms onset for cases, and date of interview for controls, were exhaustively assessed. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2007, 94 definite acute symptomatic HCV cases and 188 controls were enrolled in the study. In multivariate analysis, intravenous injections (OR = 5.0; 95% CI = 1.2-20.2), medical stitches (OR = 4.2; 95% CI = 1.6-11.3), injection drug use (IDU) (OR = 7.9; 95% CI = 1.4-43.5), recent marriage (OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.1-9.9) and illiteracy (OR = 3.9; 95% CI = 1.8-8.5) were independently associated with an increased HCV risk. CONCLUSION: In urban Cairo, invasive health care procedures remain a source of HCV transmission and IDU is an emerging risk factor. Strict application of standard precautions during health care is a priority. Implementation of comprehensive infection prevention programs for IDU should be considered

Efficacy and Safety of AmBisome in Combination with Sodium Stibogluconate or Miltefosine and Miltefosine Monotherapy for African Visceral Leishmaniasis: Phase II Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: SSG&PM over 17 days is recommended as first line treatment for visceral leishmaniasis in eastern Africa, but is painful and requires hospitalization. Combination regimens including AmBisome and miltefosine are safe and effective in India, but there are no published data from trials of combination therapies including these drugs from Africa. METHODS: A phase II open-label, non-comparative randomized trial was conducted in Sudan and Kenya to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three treatment regimens: 10 mg/kg single dose AmBisome plus 10 days of SSG (20 mg/kg/day), 10 mg/kg single dose AmBisome plus 10 days of miltefosine (2.5mg/kg/day) and miltefosine alone (2.5 mg/kg/day for 28 days). The primary endpoint was initial parasitological cure at Day 28, and secondary endpoints included definitive cure at Day 210, and pharmacokinetic (miltefosine) and pharmacodynamic assessments. RESULTS: In sequential analyses with 49-51 patients per arm, initial cure was 85% (95% CI: 73-92) in all arms. At D210, definitive cure was 87% (95% CI: 77-97) for AmBisome + SSG, 77% (95% CI 64-90) for AmBisome + miltefosine and 72% (95% CI 60-85) for miltefosine alone, with lower efficacy in younger patients, who weigh less. Miltefosine pharmacokinetic data indicated under-exposure in children compared to adults. CONCLUSION: No major safety concerns were identified, but point estimates of definitive cure were less than 90% for each regimen so none will be evaluated in Phase III trials in their current form. Allometric dosing of miltefosine in children needs to be evaluated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01067443