Investigation of the biotransformation of pentachlorophenol and pulp paper mill effluent decolorisation by the bacterial strains in a mixed culture

Mixed culture of two bacterial strains Bacillus sp. and Serratia marcescens showed potential pentachlorophenol (PCP) degradation and decolorisation of pulp paper mill effluent. The physico-chemical quality of pulp paper mill effluent has been analyzed after 168 h incubation period degraded by mixed culture. The study revealed that it has decreased high load of BOD, COD, TS, TDS, TSS, sulphate, phosphate, total nitrogen, total phenols, metals and different salts (i.e. chloride, sodium, nitrate, potassium) at 168 h incubation period. PCP degradation in pulp paper mill effluent was confirmed by HPLC analysis. Mixed culture was found to degrade PCP up to (94%) present in pulp paper mill effluent with 1% glucose and 0.5% peptone (w/v) at 30 ± 1 °C, pH 8.0 ± 0.2 at 120 rpm in 168 h incubation period. The simultaneous release of chloride ion up to 1200 mg/l at 168 h emphasized the bacterial dechlorination in the medium. The pulp paper mill effluent degradation was also supported by decline in pH, AOX (absorbable organic halides), color, D.O., BOD, COD and PCP. The analysis of pulp paper mill effluent degradation products by GC–MS analysis revealed the formation of low molecular weight compound like 2-chlorophenol (RT = 3.8 min) and tetrachlorohydroquinone (RT = 11.86 min) from PCP extracted degraded sample. Further, mixed culture may be used for bioremediation of PCP containing pulp paper mill waste in the environment.     

InfiniBand: The “De Facto” Future Standard for System and Local Area Networks or Just a Scalable Replacement for PCI Buses?

InfiniBand is a new industry-wide general-purpose interconnect standard designed to provide significantly higher levels of reliability, availability, performance, and scalability than alternative server I/O technologies. After more than two years since its official release, many are still trying to understand what are the profitable uses for this new and promising interconnect technology, and how this technology might evolve. In this article, we provide a summary of several industry and academic perspectives on this issue expressed during a panel discussion at the Workshop for Communication Architecture for Clusters (CAC), held in conjunction with the International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IPDPS) in April 2001, in hopes of narrowing down the design space for InfiniBand-based systems.     

Effect of Soil Fabric on Transport of a LNAPL through Unsaturated Fine-Grained Soils: A Centrifugal Model Study

Centrifugal model tests were performed to study the impact of the fabric of a fine-grained soil on transport of a light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL). An image processing technique was developed to extract contaminant transport and fate data from the centrifugal model. Two unconsolidated sites with different moisture contents and a saturated site consolidated due to self-weight were simulated using the centrifuge. The LNAPL migrated in the vertical direction as a narrow plume and formed a free product pool above the saturated zone in unsaturated and unconsolidated soils. However, the LNAPL migrated in the horizontal direction before moving in the vertical direction as a broad plume in the consolidated site. The test results showed that the final width of the plume in the unsaturated zone of the consolidated site was nearly two times as large as that for the unconsolidated sites. In addition, the rate of leak from the underground storage tanks (USTs) on consolidated soils was substantially higher when compared with those on the unconsolidated state. The comparison of LNAPL saturation profiles at the centerline of the centrifugal models during leakage showed that, depending on the soil fabric at a given time and depth, the LNAPL phase would be different; i.e., mobile or immobile (residual) in the same soil type. The test results provided additional insight into contribution of soil fabric on transport and fate of contaminants. The soil fabric controls the geological and hydro-geological properties of fine-grained soils and hence the contamination plume.     

RANKL在人乳牙根生理性吸收不同时期不同细胞的表达

目的：探讨核因子KB受体活化剂配体（receptor activator of the nuclear factor—κappa Bligand,RANKL）在人乳牙根消失不同时间段牙髓细胞内的表达及分化。方法：临床选取牙根生理早中晚期的乳牙各10颗,用原位杂交方法检测RANKL细胞因子在人的乳牙根消失的时候不同时期牙髓细胞内的mRNA表达情况。结果：牙髓细胞、成牙本质细胞RANKL原位杂交染色阳性,表达比对照组高（P〈0．05）。消失比较早的时候与消失中、晚的时候,比较各种细胞内RANKL表达差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,而消失中间的时候和消失比较晚的各种细胞内的RANKL表达差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：RANKL参与了乳牙牙根的消失过程,牙髓细胞、成牙本质细胞可能促进了破骨细胞分化成熟。     

Development of functional glow-in-the-dark photoluminescence linen fabrics with ultraviolet sensing and shielding

Linen fibres were coated with a glow-in-the-dark photoluminescence, flame-retarding, and hydrophobic smart nanocomposite using the pad-dry-curing process. Ecologically friendly ammonium polyphosphate and lanthanide-activated strontium aluminium oxide (LSAO) nanoparticles were immobilized into linen fabric using eco-friendly room-temperature-vulcanizing silicone rubber. Different analytical techniques were used to examine the morphological characteristics and elemental compositions of LSAO nanoparticles and treated linen textiles. The self-extinguishing properties of the treated linen textiles were tested for their fire resistance. After 24 washing cycles, the coated linen samples retained their flame-retarding properties. The treated linen's superhydrophobicity rose in direct proportion to the LSAO concentration. After being excited at 365 nm, the colourless luminescent film that was coated on linen surface gave out an emission wavelength of 519 nm. The photoluminescent linen was monitored to create a range of different colours, including off-white in daytime light and green under ultraviolet (UV) light radiation, according to the Commission Internationale de l'éclairage laboratory colorimetric coordinates and photoluminescence spectra. Emission, excitation, and lifetime spectral analysis of the treated linen revealed persistent phosphorescence. For mechanical and comfort evaluation, the coated linen textiles' bending length and air permeability were assessed. Good UV light shielding and enhanced antibacterial activity were detected in the treated linens.     

Comparison of reproductive parameters in male yellow-blotched map turtles (Graptemys flavimaculata) from a historically contaminated site and a reference site

From May to September of 1998, we collected monthly plasma samples from male yellow-blotched map turtles captured at two sites in the Pascagoula River drainage, Mississippi. One site (Vancleave) has a documented history of pollution from industrial sources (principally 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, TCDD). Fish consumption advisories at the Vancleave site were lifted in 1996 and current impacts appear minimal. However, the yellow-blotched map turtle, a federally protected species, continues to decline in numbers. To determine if endocrine disruption could be a factor in the low reproductive rates observed in Vancleave turtles, we examined levels of plasma testosterone (T) and estradiol-17β (E₂) from males at this site and a second site (Leaksville), which has no known source of industrial pollution. Plasma was also tested for vitellogenin (VTG), which, in males, can be a biomarker of exposure to estrogenic contaminants. No males had detectable plasma VTG nor did mean monthly E₂ levels differ between sites. However, 10% of males from the historically polluted site were found to have high levels of E₂ (equivalent to levels found in females) and T was significantly lower for males captured at this site for 3 of 5 months. Our data suggest that the current impact of contaminants on reproduction in this population is limited. However, a portion of the population may have been affected developmentally, as represented by differences in reproductive parameters detected between sites.     

Effects of temperature and temperature shock on the performance and microbial community structure of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor

Effects of temperature and temperature shock on the performance and microbial community structure of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) treating thermomechanical pulping pressate were studied for 416 days. The results showed that the SAnMBR system were highly resilient to temperature variations in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The residual COD in treated effluent was slightly higher at 55 °C than that at 37 and 45 °C. There were no significant changes in biogas production rate and biogas composition. However, temperature shocks resulted in an increase in biogas production temporarily. The SAnMBR could tolerate the 5 and 10 °C temperature shocks at 37 °C and the temperature variations from 37 to 45 °C. The temperature shock of 5 and 10 °C at 45 °C led to slight and significant disturbance of the performance, respectively. Temperature affected the richness and diversity of microbial populations.     

Lipase from new isolate Bacillus cereus ATA179: optimization of production conditions,partial purification,characterization and its potential in the detergent industry

In this study, 341 Bacillus sp. strains were isolated from agricultural soils of Turkey. The potent extracellular lipase producer was selected. It was identified by 16S rRNA, named as Bacillus cereus ATA179. Optimal nutritional and physical parameters for lipase production were determined. Sucrose as the carbon source, (NH₄)₂HPO₄ as the nitrogen source, CaCl₂ as the metal ion were obtained. The best results of physical parameters were stated at 45°C, pH 7.0, shaking rate 50 rpm, inoculation amount 7% and inoculum age 24 h. ATA179 strain showed a 51% increase in enzyme production in the modified medium created by optimizing nutritional and physical conditions. Optimum pH value and temperature were found as 6.0 and 55 °C, respectively. CaCl₂, Tween 20, Triton X-100 had an activating effect on enzyme activity. V_max and K_m kinetic values were found as 18.28 U/mL and 0.11 mM, respectively. The molecular weight was determined as 47 kDa. Lipase was found to be stable up to 75 days at -20 ºC. The potential of the enzyme in detergent industry was also investigated. It was not affected by detergent additives, but was found to be effective in removing oils from contaminated fabrics. This new lipase may have potential to be used in detergent industry.