Bioelectricity generation using two chamber microbial fuel cell treating wastewater from food processing

Electricity generation from microbial fuel cells which treat food processing wastewater was investigated in this study. Anaerobic anode and aerobic cathode chambers were separated by a proton exchange membrane in a two-compartment MFC reactor. Buffer solutions and food industry wastewater were used as electrolytes in the anode and cathode chambers, respectively. The produced voltage and current intensity were measured using a digital multimeter. Effluents from the anode compartment were tested for COD, BOD₅, NH₃, P, TSS, VSS, SO₄ and alkalinity. The maximum current density and power production were measured 527 mA/m² and 230 mW/m² in the anode area, respectively, at operation organic loading (OLR) of 0.364 g COD/l.d. At OLR of 0.182 g COD/l.d, maximum voltage and columbic efficiency production were recorded 0.475 V and 21%, respectively. Maximum removal efficiency of COD, BOD₅, NH₃, P, TSS, VSS, SO₄ and alkalinity were 86, 79, 73, 18, 68, 62, 30 and 58%, respectively. The results indicated that catalysts and mediator-less microbial fuel cells (CAML-MFC) can be considered as a better choice for simple and complete energy conversion from the wastewater of such industries and also this could be considered as a new method to offset wastewater treatment plant operating costs.     

Comparison of Th1 and Th2 responses in non-healing and healing patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis

Background:

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in many regions of Iran, including the city of Mashhad. In recent years, some cases have not responded to Glucantime, the usual treatment for this disease. The cellular immune response caused by T-helper type 1 (Th1) cells has an important role in protection against leishmaniasis, and activation of the T-helper type 2 (Th2) response causes progression of the disease. By analyzing these responses we hope to find a more effective treatment than that currently in use for leishmaniasis patients.

Methods:

The cellular immune responses in 60 cases of non-healing and healing cutaneous leishmaniasis, and individuals in a control group, were analyzed by measuring cytokines released by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) when stimulated with Leishmania major antigens by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA).

Results:

Subjects from the healing group secreted more interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) (p<0.05) and less interleukins -4, -5, -10 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) (p<0.005) and -18 (IL-18) (p=0.003) than the non-healing group.

Conclusions:

The results demonstrate that secretion of cytokines that activate Th2 response including IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 in non-healing subjects was higher than healing subjects and secretion of cytokines that activate Th1 response including IL-12 and IFN-γ in healing subjects was higher relative to the non-healing subjects. In this study it has been shown that the level of IL-18 progresses disease in non-healing patients when the level of IL-12 gets decreased. Key Words: Cytokines, Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Glucantime     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular haloalkaline serine protease from the moderately halophilic bacterium, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus iranensis (</Emphasis>X5B)

This study reports the purification and characterization of an extracellular haloalkaline serine protease from the moderately halophilic bacterium, Bacillus iranensis, strain X5B. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by acetone precipitation, ultrafiltration and carboxymethyl (CM) cation exchange chromatography, respectively. The purified protease was a monomeric enzyme with a relative molecular mass of 48–50 kDa and it was inhibited by PMSF indicating that it is a serine-protease. The optimum pH, temperature and NaCl concentration were 9.5, 35 °C and 0.98 M, respectively. The enzyme showed a significant tolerance to salt and alkaline pH. It retained approximately 50 % of activity at 2.5 M NaCl and about 70 % of activity at highly alkaline pH of 11.0; therefore, it was a moderately halophilic and also can be activated by metals, especially by Ca²⁺. The specific activity of the purified protease was measured to be 425.23 μmol of tyrosine/min per mg of protein using casein as a substrate. The apparent K _m and V _max values were 0.126 mM and 0.523 mM/min, respectively and the accurate value of k _cat was obtained as 3.284 × 10^?2 s^?1. These special and important characteristics make this serine protease as valuable tool for industrial applications.     

Depositional environment of the Upper Cretaceous orbitolinid-rich microfacies in the Kuh-e Mazar anticline (Kerman Province,Central Iran)

This study is focused on the depositional model and paleoenvironmental distribution patterns of orbitolinids-rich microfacies in an Upper Cretaceous carbonate succession in the Kuh-e Mazar anticline in Kerman Province, Central Iran. Twelve microfacies indicating a tidal flat (including intertidal and supratidal) and an inner ramp (consisting of subtidal lagoon and orbitolinid–rudist barrier shoal) belonging to a shallow-water ramp-type carbonate platform were recognised. Generally, the orbitolinid associations in the carbonate ramp are indicative of shallow warm waters with normal salinity. The occurrence and abundance of thick or conical orbitolinids in both shoal and lagoon show that such associations were well adapted to different environmental conditions including different depth, substrate stability and water energy. The slightly discoidal, almost discoidal and discoidal forms were only present in the deeper depths of the environment including the lagoon with muddy and more stable substrates and lower water energy. However, the orbitolinids in the inner part of the carbonate ramp were scarce or almost absent in the deep inner to middle lagoon due to the deep restricted environmental conditions unfavourable for benthic marine life.     

Design,Synthesis, and Cholinesterase Inhibition Assay of Coumarin‐3‐carboxamide‐N‐morpholine Hybrids as New Anti‐Alzheimer Agents

A new series of coumarin‐3‐carboxamide‐N‐morpholine hybrids 5a – 5l was designed and synthesized as cholinesterases inhibitors. The synthetic approach for title compounds was started from the reaction between 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde derivatives and Meldrum's acid to afford corresponding coumarin‐3‐carboxylic acids. Then, amidation of the latter compounds with 2‐morpholinoethylamine or N‐(3‐aminopropyl)morpholine led to the formation of the compounds 5a – 5l . The in vitro inhibition screen against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) revealed that most of the synthesized compounds had potent AChE inhibitory while their BuChE inhibitions are moderate to weak. Among them, propylmorpholine derivative 5g (N‐[3‐(morpholin‐4‐yl)propyl]‐2‐oxo‐2H‐chromene‐3‐carboxamide) bearing an unsubstituted coumarin moiety and ethylmorpholine derivative 5d (6‐bromo‐N‐[2‐(morpholin‐4‐yl)ethyl]‐2‐oxo‐2H‐chromene‐3‐carboxamide) bearing a 6‐bromocoumarin moiety showed the most activity against AChE and BuChE, respectively. The inhibitory activity of compound 5g against AChE was 1.78 times more than that of rivastigmine and anti‐BuChE activity of compound 5d is approximately same as rivastigmine. Kinetic and docking studies confirmed the dual binding site ability of compound 5g to inhibit AChE.     

Highly Efficient Solar‐Driven Carbon Dioxide Reduction on Molybdenum Disulfide Catalyst Using Choline Chloride‐Based Electrolyte

Conversion of CO₂ to energy‐rich chemicals using renewable energy is of much interest to close the anthropogenic carbon cycle. However, the current photoelectrochemical systems are still far from being practically feasible. Here the successful demonstration of a continuous, energy efficient, and scalable solar‐driven CO₂ reduction process based on earth‐abundant molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) catalyst, which works in synergy with an inexpensive hybrid electrolyte of choline chloride (a common food additive for livestock) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) is reported. The CO₂ saturated hybrid electrolyte utilized in this study also acts as a buffer solution (pH ≈ 7.6) to adjust pH during the reactions. This study reveals that this system can efficiently convert CO₂ to CO with solar‐to‐fuel and catalytic conversion efficiencies of 23% and 83%, respectively. Using density functional theory calculations, a new reaction mechanism in which the water molecules near the MoS₂ cathode act as proton donors to facilitate the CO₂ reduction process by MoS₂ catalyst is proposed. This demonstration of a continuous, cost‐effective, and energy efficient solar driven CO₂ conversion process is a key step toward the industrialization of this technology.