An ultra low-cost smartphone device for in-situ monitoring of acute organophosphorus poisoning for agricultural workers.

In this work, we present an ultra-low-cost smartphone device for in situ quantification of OP poisoning severity. The performance of the lens-less smartphone spectrum apparatus (LeSSA) is evaluated using standard human Interleukin-6 (IL-6) immunoassay kits. Upon dose-response curve fitting, LeSSA demonstrates an accuracy of 99.5%. The limit of detection (LOD) of LeSSA was evaluated through comparison of 6.4 pg/ml with standard laboratory grade UV-vis spectrophotometer at 5.5 pg/ml. Evaluating the capacity of LeSSA in spike solution by combining plasma cholinesterase (PChE) and human plasma shows consistency at agreement of 97.6% between LeSSA and the laboratory instrument. For application demonstration, the activity of PChE for 24 agricultural workers' plasma samples was measured with LeSSA, showing exceptional agreement (r2 = 0.92) with the laboratory instrument reference. In addition to near laboratory grade accuracy, the total manufacturing cost of LeSSA is only $20 USD highlighting it's affordability. With LeSSA, clinicians can evaluate OP poisoning severity without the need to transport patient samples to facilities at far distances. Utilizing LeSSA, immediate results can be used for administration of appropriate treatment.

Characteristics of phenol biodegradation in saline solutions by monocultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas pseudomallei.

Phenol is a highly toxic and carcinogenic compound and its biodegradation is very important to meet the environmental regulations. Two bacterial strains capable of utilizing phenol as a sole source of carbon were isolated from the wastewater of a pharmaceutical industry. On the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics these strains were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas pseudomallei. Both of these strains were very efficient for phenol degradation. P. pseudomallei degraded phenol at a maximum concentration of 1500 mg L(-1) within seven days with a specific growth rate of 0.013 h(-1) and phenol degradation rate of 13.85 mg L(-1)h(-1). Maximum initial concentration of phenol utilized by P. aeruginosa was 2600 mg L(-1) with 0.016 h(-1) specific growth rate and 26.16 mg L(-1)h(-1) phenol degradation rate. Moreover, the effect of various salts i.e., NaCl, KCl, Na(2)SO(4) and K(2)SO(4) on the growth of these strains and phenol degradation rate (at 1000 mg L(-1)) was studied. In the presence of these salts, P. aeruginosa showed up to 1.53 and 1.34 times faster phenol degradation rate and specific growth rate, respectively as compared to P. pseudomallei. In addition, P. aeruginosa exhibited higher chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) reduction rates as compared to the strain P. pseudomallei.