Laccase Immobilization Strategies for Application as a Cathode Catalyst in Microbial Fuel Cells for Azo Dye Decolourization

Enzymatic biocathodes have the potential to replace platinum as an expensive catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, enzymes are fragile and prone to loss of activity with time. This could be circumvented by using suitable immobilization techniques to maintain the activity and increase longevity of the enzyme. In the present study, laccase from Trametes versicolor was immobilized using three different approaches, i.e., crosslinking with electropolymerized polyaniline (PANI), entrapment in copper alginate beads (Cu-Alg), and encapsulation in Nafion micelles (Nafion), in the absence of redox mediators. These laccase systems were employed in cathode chambers of MFCs for decolourization of Acid orange 7 (AO7) dye. The biocatalyst in the anode chamber was Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in each case. The enzyme in the immobilized states was compared with freely suspended enzyme with respect to dye decolourization at the cathode, enzyme activity retention, power production, and reusability. PANI laccase showed the highest stability and activity, producing a power density of 38 ± 1.7 mW m−2 compared to 25.6 ± 2.1 mW m−2 for Nafion laccase, 14.7 ± 1.04 mW m−2 for Cu-Alg laccase, and 28 ± 0.98 mW m−2 for the freely suspended enzyme. There was 81% enzyme activity retained after 1 cycle (5 days) for PANI laccase compared to 69% for Nafion and 61.5% activity for Cu-alginate laccase and 23.8% activity retention for the freely suspended laccase compared to initial activity. The dye decolourization was highest for freely suspended enzyme with over 85% decolourization whereas for PANI it was 75.6%, Nafion 73%, and 81% Cu-alginate systems, respectively. All the immobilized laccase systems were reusable for two more cycles. The current study explores the potential of laccase immobilized biocathode for dye decolourization in a microbial fuel cell

Dynamic performance enhancement of a grid-connected wind farm using doubly fed induction machine-based flywheel energy storage system

This paper presents the dynamic performance enhancement of a wind farm connected to an IEEE-39 bus New England test system using doubly-fed induction machine (DFIM)-based flywheel energy storage system (FESS). The variable wind speed causes fluctuations in the output power of the wind farms. The use of FESS smoothes the power of the wind farm and improves the dynamic response of the system during fluctuating wind speeds. A DFIM-based FESS is proposed in this study which works on an effective control technique. The cascaded black-box optimization technique based proportional-integral (PI) control strategy is implemented on the FESS. The PI controllers are used to control the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) based rotor side converter (RSC) and the grid side converter (GSC) of the DFIM. The PI controller In-depth modeling and control strategy of the system under study is presented. The effectiveness of the proposed system is tested under real-time wind speed data. The validity of the system is verified by the simulation results which are carried out using PSCAD/EMTDC

Evaluation of efficacy of transdermal Nitroglycerine in the treatment of preterm labour

INTRODUCTION: Obstetrics is a fine art built on the facts gathered by scientific research. In the era of modern Obstetrics where there has been a rapid advancement in all specialities, preterm labour remains an enigma for the obstetricians of today. The social and emotional cost of perinatal mortality and morbidity associated with preterm birth is immeasurable. Ideally preterm labour should be prevented. However pharmacological inhibition of preterm labor remains an effective method to delay preterm delivery and improve neonatal outcome until a most effective means of prevention is identified. Since the Tocolysis has both potential benefits and side effects to neonate and mother, their use should be based on well designed controlled clinical studies. AIM OF THE STUDY: Aim of care around preterm birth does not always involve prevention of preterm labour and birth. In situation where clinical condition makes it desirable to prolong pregnancy, primary out come considered is time saved to * Seek advice from a perinatal care unit * Institute therapy to improve fetal lung maturity * If necessary move mother to centre with neonatal intensive care unit. Preterm fetus need glucocorticoids to enhance lung maturity. This can be achieved if delivery is postponed by 24 - 48 hours. Inhibition of uterine contraction at least for 2 days may therefore be regarded as optimal acute tocolysis. A great number of drugs are used to inhibit preterm labour. Aim of our study is to * Evaluate the effect and safety of transdermal nitroglycerine in acute tocolysis. * Effect of transdermal nitroglycerine on maternal and neonatal outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: STUDY DESIGN: It is a prospective randomized controlled trial. The study was conducted in Annal Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Trichy from August 2008 to July 2009. 100 patients with preterm labour randomly selected from patients attending antenatal OPD and from labour ward. 50 patients recruited for nitroglycerine patch and another 50 patients for bed rest alone. Both the groups received intramuscular corticosteroids. In view of the ethical issue, written informed consent was obtained. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Gestational age between 28 to 34 wks as determined by menstrual dates, clinical examination, USG. 2. Uterine contractions: 2 contractions in 10 minute period, each contraction lasting for 40 sec. 3. Progressive cervical effacement upto 75%. 4. Cervical dilatation upto 3 cm. 5. Intact membranes. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Maternal Factors: 1. Rupture of Membrane, 2. Infection, 3. Cervical dilatation greater than 3 cm, 4. Antepartum hemorrhage, 5. Pregnancy induced hypertension, 6. Chronic hypertension, 7. Cardiac disease, 8. Previous caesarean section, 9. Renal disease, 10. Pulmonary disorder – Asthmatics, ARDS. Fetal Factors: 1. Multiple gestation, 2. Fetal death / distress, 3. IUGR, 4. Congenital anomalies, 5. Polyhydramnios / Oligohydramnios, 6. Erythroblastosis. RESULTS: Study was designed with total sample of randomly selected 100 cases who were in Preterm labour, out of which 50 females were randomly allotted for Nitroglycerine patch in group A and another 50 patients in group B observed with bed rest alone. All patients on study were given corticosteroids. Prophylactic antibiotics also were given to all patients. CONCLUSION: Labour inhibiting drugs may not treat the cause of preterm labour but they only treat the symptoms i.e. uterine contractions. As these agents make the uterus refractory to stimuli for a short time the perinatal outcome is improved. In this clinical trial, the idiopathic spontaneous preterm labour whose onset was at 30 to 34 weeks of gestation had responded well to tocolytic therapy and neonatal outcome improved and no maternal mortality was observed. The maternal side effects were reversed on discontinuation of the drug. The drug had provided the fetus a valuable opportunity of being inside the mother’s womb for a period enough to make the lungs mature by administration of exogenous steroids. However decrease in the incidence of preterm labour lies in the identification of high risk patients, improving the socio-economic standard, better antenatal care, education and early detection of the onset of preterm labour. On evaluation of transdermal nitroglycerine on acute tocolysis, it is found that nitroglycerine patch is absolutely safe and successful in achieving complete tocolysis. 62 Nitroglycerine is not only safe but also has a very minimal side effects like headache on mother. It has no untoward side effect on neonate. Neonatal outcome is good in all respects like apgar score, birth weight, less neonatal admission in nitroglycerine therapy. To conclude transdermal nitroglycerine has a very good role to play as an acute tocolytic in the treatment of preterm labour and should be considered as first line drug of choice

A fibre-coupled UHV-compatible variable angle reflection-absorption UV/visible spectrometer

We present a novel UV/visible reflection-absorption spectrometer for determining the refractive index, n, and thicknesses, d, of ice films. Knowledge of the refractive index of these films is of particular relevance to the astrochemical community, where they can be used to model radiative transfer and spectra of various regions of space. In order to make these models more accurate, values of n need to be recorded under astronomically relevant conditions, that is, under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and cryogenic cooling. Several design considerations were taken into account to allow UHV compatibility combined with ease of use. The key design feature is a stainless steel rhombus coupled to an external linear drive (z-shift) allowing a variable reflection geometry to be achieved, which is necessary for our analysis. Test data for amorphous benzene ice is presented as a proof of concept, the film thickness, d, was found to vary linearly with surface exposure and a value for n of 1.43 ± 0.07 was determined

Does surgical procedure type impact postoperative pain and recovery in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap breast reconstruction?

Background: The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap is the commonest flap used for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. It is performed as a unilateral (based on one [unipedicled] or two [bipedicled] vascular pedicles) or bilateral procedure following unilateral or bilateral mastectomies. No previous studies have comprehensively analyzed analgesia requirements and hospital stay of these three forms of surgical reconstruction. Methods: A 7-year retrospective cohort study (2008–2015) of a single-surgeon’s DIEP-patients was conducted. Patient-reported pain scores, patient-controlled morphine requirements and recovery times were compared using non-parametric statistics and multivariable regression. Results: The study included 135 participants: unilateral unipedicled (n=84), unilateral bipedicled (n=24) and bilateral unipedicled (n=27). Univariate comparison of the three DIEP types showed a significant difference in 12-hour postoperative morphine requirements (P=0.020); bipedicled unilateral patients used significantly less morphine than unipedicled (unilateral) patients at 12 (P=0.005), 24 (P=0.020), and 48 (P=0.046) hours. Multivariable regression comparing these two groups revealed that both reconstruction type and smoking status were significant predictors for 12-hour postoperative morphine usage (P=0.038 and P=0.049, respectively), but only smoking, remained significant at 24 (P=0.010) and 48 (P=0.010) hours. Bilateral reconstruction patients’ mean hospital stay was 2 days longer than either unilateral reconstruction (P<0.001). Conclusions: Although all three forms of DIEP flap breast reconstruction had similar postoperative pain measures, a novel finding of our study was that bipedicled DIEP flap harvest might be associated with lower early postoperative morphine requirements. Bilateral and bipedicled procedures in appropriate patients might therefore be undertaken without significantly increased pain/morbidity compared to unilateral unipedicled reconstructions

Associations between community health workers' home visits and education-based inequalities in institutional delivery and perinatal mortality in rural Uttar Pradesh, India: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: India's National Health Mission has trained community health workers called Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to visit and counsel women before and after birth. Little is known about the extent to which exposure to ASHAs' home visits has reduced perinatal health inequalities as intended. This study aimed to examine whether ASHAs' third trimester home visits may have contributed to equitable improvements in institutional delivery and reductions in perinatal mortality rates (PMRs) between women with varying education levels in Uttar Pradesh (UP) state, India. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey data were collected from a representative sample of 52 615 women who gave birth in the preceding 2 months in rural areas of 25 districts of UP in 2014-2015. We analysed the data using generalised linear modelling to examine the associations between exposure to home visits and education-based inequalities in institutional delivery and PMRs. RESULTS: Third trimester home visits were associated with higher institutional delivery rates, in particular public facility delivery rates (adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.34), and to a lesser extent private facility delivery rates (aRR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.13), after adjusting for confounders. Associations were stronger among women with lower education levels. Having no compared with any third trimester home visits was associated with higher perinatal mortality (aRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.28). Having any versus no visits was more highly associated with lower perinatal mortality among women with lower education levels than those with the most education, and most notably among public facility births. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ASHAs' home visits in the third trimester contributed to equitable improvements in institutional deliveries and lower PMRs, particularly within the public sector. Broader strategies must reinforce the role of ASHAs' home visits in reaching the sustainable development goals of improving maternal and newborn health and leaving no one behind

Association study of two interleukin-1 gene loci with essential hypertension in a Pakistani Pathan population

An association study of IL-1 beta -511C/T and IL-1 RN 86 bp VNTR polymorphisms with essential hypertension was carried out in a sample population of 500 Pakistani Pathan subjects selected randomly, comprising groups of 235 subjects with hypertension and 265 controls. The distribution of both genotypes and alleles was not statistically different in cases and controls. In conclusion, IL-1 beta -511C/T and IL-1 RN 86 bp VNTR do not contribute to the aetiology of essential hypertension in the Pakistani Pathan population investigated here