Gum Hydrocolloids Reinforced Silver Nanoparticle Sponge for Catalytic Degradation of Water Pollutants.

The accumulation of organic contaminants including dyes in aquatic systems is of significant environmental concern, necessitating the development of affordable and sustainable materials for the treatment/elimination of these hazardous pollutants. Here, a green synthesis strategy has been used to develop a self-assembled gum kondagogu-sodium alginate bioconjugate sponge adorned with silver nanoparticles, for the first time. The properties of the nanocomposite sponge were then analyzed using FTIR, TGA, SEM, and MicroCT. The ensued biobased sponge exhibited hierarchical microstructure, open cellular pores, good shape memory, and mechanical properties. It merges the attributes of an open cellular porous structure with metal nanoparticles and are envisaged to be deployed as a sustainable catalytic system for reducing contaminants in the aqueous environment. This nanocomposite sponge showed enhanced catalytic effectiveness (km values up to 37 min-1 g-1 and 44 min-1 g-1 for methylene blue and 4-nitrophenol, respectively), antibacterial properties, reusability, and biodegradability (65% biodegradation in 28 days).

Analysis of nitrifying bacteria growth on two new types of biomass carrier using respirometry and molecular genetic methods.

This work addresses the testing of two newly produced biomass carriers (micro- and nanofibers) and one commercially available AnoxKaldnes™ K3 carrier in a laboratory post-nitrification reactor. The carriers were prepared under parameters suitable for high-quality biomass adhesion to their surface, and each was characterized by its specific structures. As part of the evaluation of the biofilms using respirometry and molecular genetic methods, the carriers were assessed in terms of their effectiveness and comparability. The rate of biofilm development was dependent on the structure and surface properties of the individual carriers. The results showed that the biofilm most strongly adhered to nanofiber carriers, where nitrating bacteria's slower but more abundant development occurred. Microfiber carriers were more stable, but a diverse internal structure may be unsuitable in a populated carrier's early stages. The AnoxKaldnes™ K3 carriers showed the slowest growth of biofilm, but the monitored nitrifying bacteria were abundant after an extended time. AOB representatives are likely to prefer an environment with a high amount of biomass and a large active area. Conversely, NOB representatives thrive better in a slowly forming biofilm. The methods used to monitor biofilm are challenging to compare directly, but they do complement each other, which aids in verifying the individual test results. Developing new types of biomass carriers with the potential for high-quality adhesion of microorganisms is a prerequisite for the expansion of highly efficient biotechnological processes, especially for wastewater treatment.

Alkenyl succinic anhydride modified tree-gum kondagogu: A bio-based material with potential for food packaging.

Tree gums are a class of abundantly available carbohydrate polymers that have not been explored thoroughly in film fabrication for food packaging. Films obtained from pristine tree gums are often brittle, hygroscopic, and lack mechanical strength. This study focuses on the chemical modification of gum kondagogu using long-chain alkenyl groups of dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA), an esterifying agent that introduces a 12-carbon hydrophobic chain to the kondagogu structure. The esterification reaction was confirmed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of nano-cellulose as an additive on various film properties was investigated. The developed films were characterized for their mechanical, morphological, optical, barrier, antibacterial, and biodegradable properties. The inclusion of long-chain carbon groups acted as internal plasticizers and resulted in an amorphous structure with better film-forming ability, improved hydrophobicity, and higher elongation at break values. The modified films exhibited antibacterial properties and excellent biodegradability under aerobic conditions.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in serious chest injuries: is a pharmacological blockade effective?

PURPOSE: There has been an ongoing increase in the frequency and severity of blunt chest injuries. Their rather high lethality is caused by the injury alone as well as by the following systemic inflammatory response. The aim of the study is to verify the efficacy of the pharmacological blockade of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in serious blunt chest injuries, and to identify whether the administration of indomethacin as a cyclooxygenase inhibitor could prevent a multiorgan dysfunction (MODS) and a multiorgan failure (MOF). METHODS: Patients were divided into 4 Groups according to trauma severity--injury severity score (ISS) and into two subgroups--an indomethacin subgroup where patients received indomethacin together with standard therapy, and a non-indomethacin subgroup. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were included in the study and 33 patients were given indomethacin. In Groups III and IV there was a later increase in inflammatory markers in patients treated with indomethacin. The elevation of inflammatory markers and the period of mechanical ventilation support in patients treated with indomethacin were shorter in Groups II and III. Seven (8.3%) patients died. Six of the seven dead patients were from the non-indomethacin subgroup. MOF was the cause of death in two patients in the non-indomethacin subgroup and in one patient in the indomethacin subgroup. CONCLUSION: The results obtained during the first 20 months of the study imply that a certain number of patients with serious blunt chest trauma could benefit from indomethacin administration.