Optimization of chromium removal by the chromium resistant mutant of the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans in a continuous flow bioreactor

BACKGROUND: Chromium removal potential of the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans and its chromium resistant strain Cr^rI8 has been optimized. Optimized parameters include biomass load, pH, temperature and dilution rate of the bioreactor. RESULTS: Results show that chromium resistant strain has high EC₅₀ dose for chromium compared to wild strain. Chromium removal potential of both strains is strongly influenced by various factors. Optimized conditions in batch system included pH 6.5, temperature 28 °C, biomass load 150 µg protein mL^?1 for 30 µmol L^?1 Cr⁶⁺ solution. In continuous flow bioreactor at optimum pH (6.5) and temperature (28 °C) at a fixed biomass of 10 mg protein and 30 µmol L^?1 Cr⁶⁺, metal removal efficiency varied with dilution rate. For A. nidulans continuous flow bioreactor, optimum dilution rate was 0.076 h^?1 (64.6 per cent metal removal) while for Cr^rI8 it was 0.152 h^?1 (85.8 per cent metal removal). Operative time of the Cr^rI8 bioreactor was also more (85 h) compared to A. nidulans bioreactor (45 h). CONCLUSION: Under optimized conditions resistant strain Cr^rI8 removed more Cr⁶⁺ compared to A. nidulans and thus has the potential to be exploited for Cr⁶⁺ removal from industrial effluents at large scale. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Impact of G-Quadruplex Structures on Methylation of Model Substrates by DNA Methyltransferase Dnmt3a

In mammals, de novo methylation of cytosines in DNA CpG sites is performed by DNA methyltransferase Dnmt3a. Changes in the methylation status of CpG islands are critical for gene regulation and for the progression of some cancers. Recently, the potential involvement of DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) in methylation control has been found. Here, we provide evidence for a link between G4 formation and the function of murine DNA methyltransferase Dnmt3a and its individual domains. As DNA models, we used (i) an isolated G4 formed by oligonucleotide capable of folding into parallel quadruplex and (ii) the same G4 inserted into a double-stranded DNA bearing several CpG sites. Using electrophoretic mobility shift and fluorescence polarization assays, we showed that the Dnmt3a catalytic domain (Dnmt3a-CD), in contrast to regulatory PWWP domain, effectively binds the G4 structure formed in both DNA models. The G4-forming oligonucleotide displaced the DNA substrate from its complex with Dnmt3a-CD, resulting in a dramatic suppression of the enzyme activity. In addition, a direct impact of G4 inserted into the DNA duplex on the methylation of a specific CpG site was revealed. Possible mechanisms of G4-mediated epigenetic regulation may include Dnmt3a sequestration at G4 and/or disruption of Dnmt3a oligomerization on the DNA surface.     

Modeling the viral load dependence of residence times of virus-laden droplets from COVID-19-infected subjects in indoor environments

In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation, exposure assessment and control strategies for aerosol transmission path are feebly understood. A recent study pointed out that Poissonian fluctuations in viral loading of airborne droplets significantly modifies the size spectrum of the virus-laden droplets (termed as “virusol”) (Anand and Mayya, 2020). Herein we develop the theory of residence time of the virusols, as contrasted with complete droplet system in indoor air using a comprehensive “Falling-to-Mixing-Plate-out” model that considers all the important processes namely, indoor dispersion of the emitted puff, droplet evaporation, gravitational settling, and plate out mechanisms at indoor surfaces. This model fills the existing gap between Wells falling drop model (Wells, 1934) and the stirred chamber models (Lai and Nazarofff, 2000). The analytical solutions are obtained for both 1-D and 3-D problems for non-evaporating falling droplets, used mainly for benchmarking the numerical formulation. The effect of various parameters is examined in detail. Significantly, the mean residence time of virusols is found to increase nonlinearly with the viral load in the ejecta, ranging from about 100 to 150 s at low viral loads (<10⁴/ml) to about 1100–1250 s at high viral loads (>10¹¹/ml). The implications are discussed.     

Novel angular binary pattern (NABP) and kernel based convolutional neural networks classifier for cataract detection

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Cataract is considered as one of the foremost causes of blindness, especially among older people. In India, by the age 80, nearly half of older population either...     

Adsorptive removal of water poisons from contaminated water by adsorbents

Adsorptive removal of water poisons such as Pb(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Hg(II), CN(-), microbes, nerve and blister agents (concentration range from 100 to 1000 mg/L) were studied by using adsorbents such as active carbon, impregnated carbon and bentonite loaded fabric strip. Removal of water poisons (99.5%) could be achieved with an optimum stirring time of 5-15 min and weight of adsorbent of 0.8-8.0 g/100mL contaminated water, respectively. However, 85% bentonite loading was found to be most effective for Pb(II) removal. Effect of contaminants concentration was also studied.     

Measurement of 220Rn/222Rn progeny deposition velocities on surfaces and their comparison with theoretical models

The deposition velocities of ²²²Rn (radon) and ²²⁰Rn (thoron) progeny species have been measured in a chamber, in a test house, and in dwellings by relating the atom deposition fluxes of these species to their atom concentrations in air. These measurements were carried out using absorber-mounted nuclear track detectors (LR-115) which selectively register the tracks due to alpha emissions from ²¹²Po and ²¹⁴Po from the deposited atoms of ²²⁰Rn and ²²²Rn progeny species, respectively. These are termed as DRPS (direct radon progeny sensor) and DTPS (direct thoron progeny sensor). Measurement of parameters such as ventilation rate, particle size distribution and unattached fractions were also carried out along with deposition velocity. The experimental data on deposition velocity in test house and chamber were compared with the predictions based on the indoor progeny dynamics model and particle deposition models. These showed excellent agreement with experimental values although the data on radon progeny showed slightly higher dispersion. The progeny deposition velocities were also measured in living rooms of dwellings in Mumbai and were found to be close to the model results which in turn imply that in the long term, the average environmental conditions are similar to that in the test house. These results point at a plausible constancy of long time averaged indoor deposition velocities. From these studies, we are inclined to assign summary values of deposition velocities of 0.075 m h^?1 for ²²⁰Rn progeny and 0.132 m h^?1 for ²²²Rn progeny, for indoor conditions.     

Mammography dosimetry using an in-house developed polymethyl methacrylate phantom

Phantom-based measurements in mammography are well-established for quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures involving equipment performance and comparisons of X-ray machines. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is among the best suitable materials for simulation of the breast. For carrying out QA/QC exercises in India, a mammographic PMMA phantom with engraved slots for keeping thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLD) has been developed. The radiation transmission property of the developed phantom was compared with the commercially available phantoms for verifying its suitability for mammography dosimetry. The breast entrance exposure (BEE), mean glandular dose (MGD), percentage depth dose (PDD), percentage surface dose distribution (PSDD), calibration testing of automatic exposure control (AEC) and density control function of a mammography machine were measured using this phantom. MGD was derived from the measured BEE following two different methodologies and the results were compared. The PDD and PSDD measurements were carried out using LiF: Mg, Cu, P chips. The in-house phantom was found comparable with the commercially available phantoms. The difference in the MGD values derived using two different methods were found in the range of 17.5-32.6 %. Measured depth ranges in the phantom lie between 0.32 and 0.40 cm for 75 % depth dose, 0.73 and 0.92 cm for 50 % depth dose, and 1.54 and 1.78 cm for 25 % depth dose. Higher PSDD value was observed towards chest wall edge side of the phantom, which is due to the orientation of cathode-anode axis along the chest wall to the nipple direction. Results obtained for AEC configuration testing shows that the observed mean optical density (O.D) of the phantom image was 1.59 and O.D difference for every successive increase in thickness of the phantom was within±0.15 O.D. Under density control function testing, at -2 and -1 density settings, the variation in film image O.D was within±0.15 O.D of the normal density setting '0' and at +2 and +1 density setting, it was observed to be within±0.30 O.D. This study indicates that the locally made PMMA TLD slot phantom can be used to measure various mammography QC parameters which are essentially required for better outcomes in mammography.     

Adaptive control of a class of nonlinear systems with convex/concave parameterization

This paper deals with adaptive control of a class of second-order nonlinear systems with a triangular structure and convex/concave parameterization. In Annaswamy et al. (Automatica 33(11) (1998) 1975–1995) it was shown that nonlinearly parameterized systems that satisfy certain matching conditions can be adaptively controlled in a stable manner. In this paper, we relax these matching conditions and include additional dynamics between the nonlinearities and the control input. Global boundedness and convergence to within a desired precision is established. No overparameterization of the adaptive controller is required.