Photobioreactors for building integration: A overview of designs and architectural potential.

The global community faces critical energy and environmental challenges, necessitating innovative solutions to ensure a sustainable future.In response to these challenges, this paper explores the potential of integrating microalgal biotechnology with renewable energy systems within buildings. This innovative approach could transform architecture into a "bio-factory" capable of producing food, energy, and other valuable products.The success of this concept hinges on developing highly efficient photobioreactors specifically designed for building integration. Optimizing these systems requires careful consideration of design parameters, growth rate models, and factors influencing performance within diverse urban environments.Furthermore, integrating these systems must prioritize productivity and aesthetics to promote urban self-sufficiency and a sustainable built environment. By utilizing microalgae and renewable energy sources, building-integrated photobioreactors offer a promising solution for reducing energy consumption and carbon footprints in modern buildings.

Theoretical and experimental performance evaluation of single-slope single-basin solar still with multiple V-shaped floating wicks.

A solar still is used to convert saline water into potable water by means of the distillation process. In order to improve the productivity of conventional solar still, various modifications are implemented by researchers. In the present study, multiple V-shaped floating wicks are used to enhance heat absorption and thereby increase productivity. The experiments are performed during the summer and winter seasons in Rewa, India (Latitude: 24.5373° N; Longitude: 81.3042° E). These multiple floating wicks are made from black jute cloth wrapped in V-shaped pieces of thermocol. Because of their V-shaped profile, the evaporative surface area of modified solar still is 26% larger than that of conventional solar still. The maximum daily productivity in one of the clear days is found to be approximately 6.20 kg/m2 in summer and 3.23 kg/m2 in winter with daily efficiencies of 56.62% and 47.75%, respectively. A theoretical thermal model is formulated by using the energy balance equations of the modified solar still. Reasonable agreement was seen between the theoretical and experimental results of modified solar still. An economic analysis is also performed for the modified solar still and conventional solar still; in a 10-year life cycle, the annual cost of distilled water is estimated at Rs. 1.81/kg for the former and Rs. 2.24/kg for the latter.

In Silico Structural Studies and Molecular Docking Analysis of Delta6-desaturase in HUFA Biosynthetic Pathway.

Fish are an important source of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) such as eicosapentaenoic acid EPA (20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid DHA (22:6 n-3) and play a significant role in human nutrition. The fatty acyl delta6-desaturase (Δ6 desaturase) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) that converts polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as linoleic (18:2n-6) and α-linolenic (18:3n-3) acids into HUFA. In this study, fatty acyl Δ6 desaturase was identified from pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and further analyzed for sequenced-based characterization and 3D structural conformation. Sequenced-based analysis revealed some important secondary information such as physicochemical property. e.g., isoelectric point, extinction coefficient, aliphatic index, and grand average hydropathy, among others, and also post-translational modification sites were identified. An evolutionary-conserved stretch of amino acid residue and a functionally significant conserved structural ancestor, N-terminal cytochrome b5 and membrane FADS-like superfamily, were identified. Protein association analysis showed a high confidence score with acyl-CoA synthetase, elovl5, elovl2, and phospholipase A2. Herein, we report, for the first time, a 3D native structure of Δ6 desaturase protein by homology modeling approach; molecular docking analysis was performed with linoleic (18:2n-6) and α-linolenic (18:3n-3) acids, which are the two key substrates in the HUFA biosynthetic pathway. This work provides insight into the structural and functional characterization of Δ6 desaturase, which is involved in HUFA biosynthesis as a rate-limiting enzyme.

Emissivity range constraints algorithm for multi-wavelength pyrometer (MWP).

In order to realize rapid and real temperature measurement for high temperature targets by multi-wavelength pyrometer (MWP), emissivity range constraints to optimize data processing algorithm without effect from emissivity has been developed. Through exploring the relation between emissivity deviation and true temperature by fitting of large number of data from different emissivity distribution target models, the effective search range of emissivity for every time iteration is obtained, so data processing time is greatly reduced. Simulation and experimental results indicate that calculation time is less by 0.2 seconds with 25K absolute error at 1800K true temperature, and the efficiency is improved by more than 90% compared with the previous algorithm. The method has advantages of simplicity, rapidity, and suitability for in-line high temperature measurement.

Dietary lecithin potentiates thermal tolerance and cellular stress protection of milk fish (Chanos Chanos) reared under low dose endosulfan-induced stress.

Endosulfan is an organochlorine pesticide commonly found in aquatic environments that has been found to reduce thermal tolerance of fish. Lipotropes such as the food additive, Lecithin has been shown to improve thermal tolerance in fish species. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of lipotropes (lecithin) for enhancing the thermal tolerance of Chanos chanos reared under sublethal low dose endosulfan-induced stress. Two hundred and twenty-five fish were distributed randomly into five treatments, each with three replicates. Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were prepared with graded levels of lecithin: normal water and fed with control diet (En0/L0), endosulfan-treated water and fed with control diet (En/L0), endosulfan-treated water and fed with 1% (En/L1%), 1.5% (En/L 1.5%) and 2% (En/L 2%) lecithin supplemented feed. The endosulfan in treated water was maintained at the level of 1/40th of LC50 (0.52ppb). At the end of the five weeks, critical temperature maxima (CTmax), lethal temperature maxima (LTmax), critical temperature minima (CTmin) and lethal temperature minima (LTmin) were Determined. There was a significant (P<0.01) effect of dietary lecithin on temperature tolerance (CTmax, LTmax, CTmin and LTmin) of the groups fed with 1, 1.5 and 2% lecithin-supplemented diet compared to control and endosulfan-exposed groups. Positive correlations were observed between CT max and LTmax (R(2)=0.934) as well as between CTmin and LTmin (R(2)=0.9313). At the end of the thermal tolerance study, endosulfan-induced changes in cellular stress enzymes (Catalase, SOD and GST in liver and gill and neurotansmitter enzyme, brain AChE) were significantly (p<0.01) improved by dietary lecithin. We herein report the role of lecithin in enhancing the thermal tolerance and protection against cellular stress in fish exposed to an organochlorine pesticide.

Evaluation of pectinolytic activities for oenological uses from psychrotrophic yeasts.

UNLABELLED: Of the twenty-three morphotypes of yeasts isolated from soil capable of utilizing pectin as sole carbon source at 6°C, two yeast isolates, one psychrotolerant (PT1) and one psychrophilic (SPY11), were selected according to their ability to secrete pectinolytic enzymes under some oenological conditions (temperature 6 and 12°C and pH 3.5) and ability or inability to grow above 20°C, respectively. As compared to their optimal activity, the three pectinolytic enzymes viz., pectin methyl esterase (PME), endopolygalacturonase (endo-PG) and exopolygalacturonase (exo-PG) isolated and assayed at pH 3.5 from PT1 were found to retain 39, 60 and 60% activity at 12°C and 40, 79 and 74% activity at 28°C, respectively. Likewise, the enzymes PME and endo-PG at pH 3.5 from SPY11 displayed 46 and 86% activity at 12°C and 50 and 60% activity at 28°C, respectively. All these enzymes showed 20-90% of residual activity at pH 3.5 and 6°C. The yeast isolates PT1 and SPY11 were identified as Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Cystofilobasidium capitatum, respectively, on the basis of morphological, physiological and molecular characteristics. This study presents the first report on pectinolytic activities under major oenological conditions from psychrotolerant isolate R. mucilaginosa PT1 and psychrophilic isolate C. capitatum SPY11. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The cold-active pectinolytic enzymes (PME, endo-PG and exo-PG) from the newly isolated and identified psychrophilic yeast Cystofilobasidium capitatum SPY11 and psychrotolerant yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa PT1that exhibited 50-80% of their optimum activity under some major oenological conditions pH (3.5) and temperatures (6 and 12°C) could be applied to wine production and juice clarification at low temperature. The psychrotrophic yeasts themselves could be applied to cold process for the production of enzymes thus saving cost of energy and protecting process from contamination.

Methyl donors potentiates growth, metabolic status and neurotransmitter enzyme in Labeo rohita fingerlings exposed to endosulfan and temperature.

A 2-month preliminary study was conducted to delineate the effect of dietary methyl donors (choline, betaine, and lecithin) on the growth performance and metabolic status of Labeo rohita fingerlings subjected to endosulfan alone and in combination with elevated temperature. Four iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets viz. basal diet, betaine-supplemented diet, choline-supplemented diet and lecithin-supplemented diet were prepared and fed to the different experimental groups throughout the experimental period as per the design. Two hundred and seventy fingerlings (average weight 7.95 ± 0.04 g) were randomly distributed in six treatment groups each having three replicates. The experimental groups were as follows: fish subjected to normal water (without endosulfan) and fed with control diet (control group T(0)), fish subjected to endosulfan-treated water and fed with control diet (T(1)), fish subjected to concurrent exposure of endosulfan and elevated temperature and fed with control diet (T(2)), fish subjected to endosulfan and elevated temperature and fed with choline-supplemented diet (T(3)), fish subjected to endosulfan and temperature and fed with betaine-supplemented feed (T(4)), and fish subjected to endosulfan and temperature and fed with lecithin-supplemented feed (T(5)). The result shows that in both the groups, that is, endosulfan exposed and concurrent exposure to endosulfan and elevated temperature group of L. rohita the growth performance like percentage weight gain, feed conversion ratio and specific growth rates were significantly different (P < 0.01) when fed with supplemented diet compared with control fed group. The liver LDH and MDH activity were significantly lower in lecithin, betaine, and choline fed groups. The muscle AST as well as G6PDH, AST, and ALT did not vary but liver ALT, gill and liver ATPase, intestine ALP, muscle and liver glycogen varied significantly with dietary supplementation. The liver and gill glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were significantly lower in methyl donors-supplemented groups and brain AChE activity showed lower inhibition in supplemented groups in both endosulfan alone and concurrently exposed endosulfan and temperature groups. The result obtained in this study concludes that inclusion of methyl donors, particularly lecithin and betaine in feed as nutritional supplements have potential to improve growth and stress mitigating effect in L. rohita fingerlings.

Dietary choline, betaine and lecithin mitigates endosulfan-induced stress in Labeo rohita fingerlings.

A five-week experiment was conducted to delineate stress-mitigating effects of three different methyl donors in Labeo rohita fingerlings subjected to endosulfan toxicity. Four iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric feed were prepared with and without supplementation of methyl donors. The feed were basal or control diet (i.e., without methyl donor supplementation), feed supplemented with choline, feed supplemented with betaine and feed supplemented with lecithin. Two hundred and twenty-five fishes were distributed randomly in five treatment groups each with three replicates. The experimental setup were normal water (without endosulfan) and fed with control diet (control group), endosulfan-treated water and fed with control diet (T1), endosulfan-treated water and fed with choline supplemented feed (T2), endosulfan-treated water and fed with betaine supplemented feed (T3) and endosulfan-treated water and fed with lecithin-supplemented feed (T4). The level of endosulfan in endosulfan treated water was maintained at the level of 1/10 of LC50, that is, 0.2 ppb. During the experiment, growth performances, metabolic enzyme activity and histological examination were done to assess the effect of treatments. The growth performance (percentage weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio) and nutrient digestibility were significantly different (P<0.01) in lecithin, betaine and choline fed group when compared to endosulfan-exposed group fed with basal diet. The liver LDH and MDH activity were significantly (P<0.01) improved in the groups fed with methyl donor supplemented diet. The liver AST and ALT, brain AChE and muscle ALT did not change with supplementation in the diet, but muscle ALT and G6PDH significantly (P<0.01) changed with supplementation. The gill and liver ATPase and intestinal ALP were significantly (P<0.01) noticeably changed in supplemented group. After endosulfan exposure, histopathology alter like slight large vacuolation in hepatocyte and lipoid vacuole were observed and with supplementation normal appearance of liver were observed. The chromosome aberration (karyotype) was observed in endosulfan-exposed group. The result obtained in present study concluded that inclusion of methyl donors, particularly lecithin and betaine, in feed as nutritional supplements has a potential stress-mitigating effect in L. rohita fingerlings.

Early Eocene lagomorph (Mammalia) from Western India and the early diversification of Lagomorpha.

We report the oldest known record of Lagomorpha, based on distinctive, small ankle bones (calcaneus and talus) from Early Eocene deposits (Middle Ypresian equivalent, ca 53 Myr ago) of Gujarat, west-central India. The fossils predate the oldest previously known crown lagomorphs by several million years and extend the record of lagomorphs on the Indian subcontinent by 35 Myr. The bones show a mosaic of derived cursorial adaptations found in gracile Leporidae (rabbits and hares) and primitive traits characteristic of extant Ochotonidae (pikas) and more robust leporids. Together with gracile and robust calcanei from the Middle Eocene of Shanghuang, China, also reported here, the Indian fossils suggest that diversification within crown Lagomorpha and possibly divergence of the family Leporidae were already underway in the Early Eocene.

Glycolytic metabolites and intracellular signaling in the pancreatic beta cell.

In the pathways modulating the secretion of insulin and other physiologically important molecules, the critical role played by calcium in the moment-to-moment regulation of secretory processes may be modulated by additional factors, and these factors may include the glycolytic metabolites. We studied these early glucose breakdown products for effects on calcium release and inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) binding to the IP3 receptor in a pancreatic beta cell preparation. The physiological significance of the response was also examined in terms of the insulinotropic effects of these metabolites. In studies of calcium release from the pancreatic beta cell, the metabolite 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (DPG) exerted a statistically significant stimulatory effect on calcium release. A lesser but nonetheless significant effect also occurred in the presence of 3-phosphoglycerate and glucose-6-phosphate. The DPG-induced effect was concentration dependent. It is likely that the effects of DPG and other glycolytic metabolites on pancreatic beta cell signaling are physiologically significant inasmuch as we were also able to demonstrate that DPG and other glycolytic metabolites promoted the release of insulin from the pancreatic beta cell.

Nitric oxide does not initiate but potentiates glucose-induced insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells.

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in glucose-induced insulin secretion was studied in pancreatic beta-cells, HIT-T15. A role for NO is suggested since glucose stimulated NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, significantly inhibited glucose-induced nitric oxide production as well as insulin release in HIT-T15. Furthermore, this inhibitory effect can be reversed by sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a well known NO donor. While SNP alone did not stimulate insulin release, it potentiated the secretory response of HIT-T15 cells to glucose by approximately two-fold. Potentiation by SNP appears to be mediated by NO, since (i) the potentiation was completely abolished by 10 microM hemoglobin, a scavenger of NO; and (ii) was not affected by rhodanese plus sodium thiosulphate. Neither hemoglobin alone nor the combination of rhodanese and sodium thiosulphate had any effect on glucose induced insulin release. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that glucose-induced formation of NO may potentiate the effect of glucose by a positive feedback mechanism.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of extra-adrenal paragangliomas.

We studied nine histologically proved cases of extra-adrenal paragangliomas. Of these, eight cases were correctly diagnosed preoperatively by FNA cytology. Salient cytological features included clusters and discretely scattered cells, with occasional acinar configuration. The cells showed moderate to abundant slightly basophilic cytoplasm with ill-defined margins and round to oval nuclei with mild to marked nuclear pleomorphism. Fine reddish intracytoplasmic granules were also noted (six cases). Cytological features along with clinical data are quite diagnostic of paragangliomas. A correct preoperative cytological diagnosis helps to prevent undue surgical complications.

DNA profiling of banana and plantain cultivars using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genomic DNA from 57 Musa cultivars with 60 random 10-mer primers generated 605 polymorphic amplification products which were useful in unambiguous cultivar identifications. Unweighted pair-group method analysis of this data grouped the cultivars into specific clusters depending on their genomic similarities. The diploid ancestral species of cultivated banana and plantains, namely Musa acuminata sp malaccensis, an A genome donor and M. balbisiana, a B genome donor, were farthest apart from each other in the phenogram. The edible fruit yielding cultivars with the genomic constitutions AA, AAA, AB, AAB, ABB, and ABBB grouped in different clusters according to overall genetic homologies. The restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) prevalent among the cultivars were studied by hybridization of 19 random genomic clones to blots of HindIII, EcoRI and MspI digests. Cluster analysis of these data on 107 polymorphic alleles resulted in a phenogram comparable to the one obtained with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Two multilocus probes useful in distinguishing all the 57 cultivars analyzed were also identified. The A and B types of cytoplasms in the cultivars were further distinguished by hybridization of heterologous chloroplast DNA probes. Results showed that use of different kinds of molecular markers in gene banks is essential for characterization and classification of germplasm collections.

Optical phase conjugation in a magnetic photorefractive semiconductor CdMnTe.

Magneto-optical phase conjugation was performed in a diluted magnetic photorefractive semiconductor crystal CdMnTe under an applied magnetic field. The magnetic field removes time-reversal symmetry and quenches orthogonal components of the phase-conjugate signal for selected field strengths. The experimental results as functions of magnetic field and incident polarization angle are in good agreement with coupled-mode theory with transmission gratings during magneto-photorefractive mixing.

Stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate in electroporated HIT-T15 cells.

HIT-T15 cells labeled with myo-[3H] inositol were permeabilized by electroporation and subsequently stimulated with various glycolytic intermediates in the presence of 20 mM LiCl in a buffer mimicking cytosolic ionic composition. Of the various glycolytic intermediates tested, only D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3-P) stimulated the formation of labeled inositol phosphates. The half-maximal response to G3-P occurred at a concentration of 0.75 mM. Formation of inositol phosphates in electroporated cells was also observed in response to GTP. G3-P further potentiated the formation of inositol phosphates in response to GTP, however, the interaction between G3-P and GTP was additive rather than synergistic, indicating that G3-P stimulates phosphoinositide hydrolysis in a manner different than the receptor mediated GTP-dependent activation of phospholipase C. The potentiation of the GTP response by G3-P did not appear to involve inhibition of the GTPase activity of a phosphoinositide-specific G protein, since G3-P also potentiated the formation of inositol phosphates in response to GTP-gamma-S or NaF in a nearly additive manner.

Vasopressin and oxytocin but not glucose stimulate hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine in a hamster insulinoma.

HIT-T15 cells prelabeled with [3H]-arachidonate were incubated for 15 minutes at 37 degrees C in Krebs Ringer buffer (pH 7.1) in the presence and absence of various agonists. Radioactivity remaining in major phospholipids was measured at the end of incubation period. Oxytocin (1 microM), vasopressin (1 microM), and A23187 (5 microM) stimulated loss of radioactivity from phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. No loss of radioactivity from either of the phospholipids, however, was detected in the presence of 10 mM D-glucose, an insulin secretagogue in HIT-T15 cells. The lack of phosphatidylinositol response to glucose was also evident when the cells were prelabeled with myo-[3H] inositol. The formation of inositol phosphates at 15 minutes was readily observed upon the treatment of myo-[3H] inositol-labeled cells with oxytocin or vasopressin but not glucose or A23187. Inability of glucose to stimulate phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis in beta cell-derived HIT-T15 cells contrasts sharply with results from studies with pancreatic islets, where hydrolysis of these two phospholipids is readily observed and thought to contribute to the signaling mechanism responsible for stimulation of insulin secretion.

Breast feeding and weaning practices among urban Muslims of district Lucknow.

PIP: Data on 73 Moslem women living in an urban area of District Lucknow, India were analyzed to determine duration and frequency of breast feeding, child spacing, and their beliefs about advantages and disadvantages of breast feeding. Physicians attended 78.9% of the deliveries. Nurse-midwives and trained traditional birth attendants delivered the remaining infants. The woman had a average 5.9 children. All women breast fed their infants from day 1. The mothers were more likely to breast feed sons longer than daughters (24.9 months vs. 21.3 months). Median breast feeding duration was 22.4 months compared with 23.8 months for Moslem women in Bangladesh. It declined with parity except for the 1st child which was 23 months and the 5th child which was 17 months (26.7 months for parity 2, 25.6 for parity 3, 14.8 for parity 4, and 11 for parity 6). Infants 3 months old received more feeds each day than those 3 months old (7.5 vs. 5.3). 50% of mothers who breast fed for 12-17 months had a 2-year birth interval and those who breast fed for 2 years had an interval of about 4 years. While 100% of the noneducated mothers and 72.7% of the educated mothers knew that breast feeding maintains a child's health only 36.3% of educated mothers and none of the noneducated mothers knew that it conferred immunity. Mothers began giving their infants other liquids at a mean of 1.4 months. These liquids were water, diluted milk, toned milk, barley water, and pulse's water. The average age for introduction of solid foods (rice, kheer, porridge, bread, biscuits, boiled eggs, egg yolks, bananas, pudding, curd, and wheat) was 8.2 months.^ieng

Teratomas of rare sites: a review of ten cases.

Out of 267 cases of teratomas diagnosed in the department of pathology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab from January 1980 to December 1989, 10 cases occurred in rare sites ie, 3 cases of teratoma in retroperitoneal space, 3 in the floor of the mouth, one each in mediastinum, thyroid, urinary bladder and kidney. None of these cases was clinically suspected as teratoma. One of the 3 teratomas of the retroperitoneal space and that of kidney were solid. Lesions of mediastinum and urinary bladder were solid as well as cystic. All these teratomas showed foci of immature elements. All other tumours were cystic and contained mature tissues only. Teratomas of the thyroid and kidney were treated with subtotal thyroidectomy and nephrectomy respectively, rest had surgical resection. One patient of immature retroperitoneal teratoma was lost to follow-up. All the others are alive and well for the period of 1 to 8 years. None had recurrence.