Fermentation of biomass-generated producer gas to ethanol

The development of low-cost, sustainable, and renewable energy sources has been a major focus since the 1970s. Fuel-grade ethanol is one energy source that has great potential for being generated from biomass. The demonstration of the fermentation of biomass-generated producer gas to ethanol is the major focus of this article in addition to assessing the effects of producer gas on the fermentation process. In this work, producer gas (primarily CO, CO(2), CH(4), H(2), and N(2)) was generated from switchgrass via gasification. The fluidized-bed gasifier generated gas with a composition of 56.8% N(2), 14.7% CO, 16.5% CO(2), 4.4% H(2), and 4.2% CH(4). The producer gas was utilized in a 4-L bioreactor to generate ethanol and other products via fermentation using a novel clostridial bacterium. The effects of biomass-generated producer gas on cell concentration, hydrogen uptake, and acid/alcohol production are shown in comparison with "clean" bottled gases of similar compositions for CO, CO(2), and H(2). The successful implementation of generating producer gas from biomass and then fermenting the producer gas to ethanol was demonstrated. Several key findings following the introduction of producer gas included: (1) the cells stopped growing but were still viable, (2) ethanol was primarily produced once the cells stopped growing (ethanol is nongrowth associated), (3) H(2) utilization stopped, and (4) cells began growing again if "clean" bottled gases were introduced following exposure to the producer gas.     

Doppler ultrasound scoring to predict chemotherapeutic response in advanced breast cancer

Background

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant inherited disease. It is relatively recent that type 2C was identified as a separate group solely presenting with pheochromocytomas. As an illustration, an interesting case is presented of a pregnant woman with refractory hypertension. It proved to be the first manifestation of bilateral pheochromocytomas. The family history may indicate the diagnosis, but only identification of a germ line mutation in the DNA of a patient will confirm carriership.

Case presentation

A 27 year pregnant patient with intra uterine growth retardation presented with hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma. She underwent laparoscopic adrenelectomy and a missense mutation (Gly93Ser) in exon 1 of the VHL gene on chromosome 3 (p25 - p26) was shown in the patient, her father and her daughter confirming the diagnosis of VHL.

Conclusion

In almost all VHL families molecular genetic analysis of DNA will demonstrate an inherited mutation. Because of the involvement in several organs, periodic clinical evaluation should take place in a well coordinated, multidisciplinary setting. VHL disease can be classified into several subtypes. VHL type 2C patients present with pheochromocytomas without evidence of haemangioblastomas in the central nervous system and/or retina and a low risk of renal cell carcinoma. Therefore, in such families, periodic clinical screening can be focussed on pheochromocytomas.     

Proteomic analysis reveals USP7 as a novel regulator of palmitic acid-induced hepatocellular carcinoma cell death

Nutrient surplus and consequent free fatty acid accumulation in the liver cause hepatosteatosis. The exposure of free fatty acids to cultured hepatocyte and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines induces cellular stress, organelle adaptation, and subsequent cell death. Despite many studies, the mechanism associated with lipotoxicity and subsequent cell death still remains poorly understood. Here, we have used the proteomics approach to circumvent the mechanism for lipotoxicity using hepatocellular carcinoma cells as a model. Our quantitative proteomics data revealed that ectopic lipids accumulation in cells severely affects the ubiquitin-proteasomal system. The palmitic acid (PA) partially lowered the expression of deubiquitinating enzyme USP7 which subsequently destabilizes p53 and promotes mitotic entry of cells. Our global phosphoproteomics analysis also provides strong evidence of an altered cell cycle checkpoint proteins’ expression that abrogates early G2/M checkpoints recovery with damaged DNA and induced mitotic catastrophe leading to hepatocyte death. We observe that palmitic acid prefers apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) mediated cell death by depolarizing mitochondria and translocating AIF to the nucleus. In summary, the present study provides evidence of PA-induced hepatocellular death mediated by deubiquitinase USP7 downregulation and subsequent mitotic catastrophe.Subject terms: Apoptosis, Protein-protein interaction networks     

Design,synthesis, and characterization of 2,2-bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-2-(phosphonatomethylamino)acetate as a herbicidal and biological active agent

The present study was designed to synthesize the bioactive molecule 2,2-bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-2-(phosphonatomethylamino)acetate (1), having excellent applications in the field of plant protection as a herbicide. Structure of newly synthesized molecule 1 was confirmed by using the elemental analysis, mass spectrometric, NMR, UV-visible, and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. To obtain better structural insights of molecule 1, 3D molecular modeling was performed using the GAMESS programme. Microbial activities of 1 were checked against the pathogenic strains Aspergillus fumigatus (NCIM 902) and Salmonella typhimurium (NCIM 2501). Molecule 1 has shown excellent activities against fungal strain A. fumigates (35 μg/l) and bacterial strain S. typhimurium (25 μg/l). To check the medicinal significance of molecule 1, interactions with bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein were checked. The calculated value of binding constant of molecule 1–BSA complex was 1.4 × 10⁶ M^?1, which were similar to most effective drugs like salicylic acid. More significantly, as compared to herbicide glyphosate, molecule 1 has exhibited excellent herbicidal activities, in pre- and post-experiments on three weeds; barnyard grass (Echinochloa Crus), red spranglitop (Leptochloa filiformis), and yellow nuts (Cyperus Esculenfus). Further, effects of molecule 1 on plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) strains were checked. More interestingly, as compared to glyphosate, molecule 1 has shown least adverse effects on soil PGPR strains including the Rhizobium leguminosarum (NCIM 2749), Pseudomonas fluorescens (NCIM 5096), and Pseudomonas putida (NCIM 2847).     

In vitro Inhibition of Clinical Isolates of Otitis Media Pathogens by the Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius BLIS K12

Otitis media is a common childhood infection, frequently requiring antibiotics. With high rates of antibiotic prescribing and increasing antibiotic resistance, new strategies in otitis media prevention and treatment are needed. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro inhibitory activity Streptococcus salivarius BLIS K12 against otitis media pathogens. Efficacy of the bacteriocin activity of S. salivarius BLIS K12 against the otitis media isolates was assessed using the deferred antagonism test. Overall, 48% of pathogenic isolates exhibited some growth inhibition by S. salivarius BLIS K12. S. salivarius BLIS K12 can inhibit the in vitro growth of the most common pathogens.