Identification of a potential fungal species by 18S rDNA for ligninases production.

Fungal species for ligninases production was investigated by 18S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis. Two primer sets were chosen to amplify a major part of the 18S rDNA, which resulted in intense PCR product of approximately 550-820 bp in size per sample. The results suggest that the 18S rDNA-based approach is a useful tool for identification of unknown potential fungal species for ligninases production. The isolated fungal species produces mainly manganese peroxidase (MnP). The enzyme oxidized a variety of the usual MnP substrates, including lignin related polyphenols. Time course studies showed that maximum production of ligninolytic enzymes MnP (64 IU L⁻¹), lignin peroxidase (26.35 IU L⁻¹), and laccase (5.44 IU L⁻¹), respectively, were achieved after 10 days of cultivation under optimum conditions. Furthermore, the biological decolorization of Remazol Brilliant Blue R dye following 10 days of cultivation was 94 %. NCBI BLAST was used to search for closest matched sequences in the GenBank database and based on sequence homology the first BLAST hit was Dothioraceae sp. LM572 with accession number EF060858.1.

Thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of cellulose nanofibers reinforced epoxy composites.

The current study presents about the effect of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) filler on the thermal and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of epoxy composites as a function of temperature. In this study hand lay-up method was used to fabricate CNF reinforced Epoxy nanocomposites with CNF loading of 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% into epoxy resin. The obtained thermal and DMA results illustrates that thermal stability, char content, storage modulus (E'), loss modulus (E") and glass transition temperature (Tg) increases for all CNF/epoxy nanocomposites compared to the pure epoxy. Thermal results revealed that 0.75% offers superior resistance or stability towards heat compared to its counterparts. In addition, 0.75% CNF/epoxy nanocomposites confers highest value of storage modulus as compared to 0.5% and 1% filler loading. Hence, it is concluded that 0.75% CNFs loading is the minimal to enhance both thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of the epoxy composites and can be utilized for advance material applications where thermal stability along with renewability are prime requirements.

Mechanical, morphological and structural properties of cellulose nanofibers reinforced epoxy composites.

Present study, deals about isolation and characterization of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from the Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp, fabrication by hand lay-up technique and characterization of fabricated epoxy nanocomposites at different filler loadings (0.5%, 0.75%, 1% by wt.). The effect of CNFs loading on mechanical (tensile, impact and flexural), morphological (scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope) and structural (XRD and FTIR) properties of epoxy composites were investigated. FTIR analysis confirms the introduction of CNFs into the epoxy matrix while no considerable change in the crystallinity and diffraction peaks of epoxy composites were observed by the XRD patterns. Additions of CNFs considerably enhance the mechanical properties of epoxy composites but a remarkable improvement is observed for 0.75% CNFs as compared to the rest epoxy nanocomposites. In addition, the electron micrographs revealed the perfect distribution and dispersion of CNFs in the epoxy matrix for the 0.75% CNFs/epoxy nanocomposites, while the existence of voids and agglomerations were observed beyond 0.75% CNFs filler loadings. Overall results analysis clearly revealed that the 0.75% CNFs filler loading is best and effective with respect to rest to enhance the mechanical and structural properties of the epoxy composites.

Preparation and characterization of wheat straw fibers for reinforcing application in injection molded thermoplastic composites.

The potential of wheat straw fibers prepared by mechanical and chemical processes as reinforcing additives for thermoplastics was investigated. Fibers prepared by mechanical and chemical processes were characterized with respect to their chemical composition, morphology, and physical, mechanical and thermal properties. Composites of polypropylene filled with 30% wheat straw fibers were prepared and their mechanical properties were also evaluated. The fibers prepared by chemical process exhibited better mechanical, physical and thermal properties. Wheat straw fiber reinforced polypropylene composites exhibited significantly enhanced properties compared to virgin polypropylene. However, the strength properties of the composites were less for chemically prepared fiber filled composites. This was due to the poor dispersion of the fibers under the processing conditions used. These results indicate that wheat straw fibers can be used as potential reinforcing materials for making thermoplastic composites.

Modeling the environmental fate of manganese from methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl in urban landscapes.

The environmental impacts of gasoline additives such as lead (Pb) and Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) are well documented, leading to the phasing out of these additives. In contrast, little is known about the health and environmental impacts of potential replacement chemicals such as Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl (MMT). The combustion of MMT in gasoline leads to the formation of MnPO4 and MnSO4 and MMT is considered a recent source of inorganic Mn in urban landscapes particularly in high traffic areas. The main objective of this study is to estimate the automotive deposition of Mn from MMT relative to the traffic volume at sites near a major highway in the Greater Toronto Area of Canada, where MMT is currently being used. Manganese emission levels were estimated for two sites that varied according to Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) density, fuel consumption, distance traveled by automobiles, and Mn concentration (mg l(-1)) in gasoline. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict the AADT volume from year 2002-2010. Comparison of the mass balance between the ANOVA means of 15% Mn emitted from the automobile tailpipes at 10, and 18 mg of Mn l(-1) in gasoline was conducted for both study sites. The percentage difference between the Mn input at the selected concentrations of Mn in gasoline and output into surface soil were found to be 99% significant for both sites. Thus the predicted 15% tailpipe emission levels for 10 mg of Mn l(-1) of gasoline used in automobiles, which represented 1290.03 g/year for site 1 and 555.94 g/year for site 2, will add 5.73 and 2.47 mg/kg of Mn annually, respectively. These input levels are considered negligible when compared to the natural abundance of Mn in soil. Based on these data, it could take more than 95-256 years of continuous MMT usage in the region to double the content of Mn in surface soils at the respective sites.

The possible impact of dialysis modality on cognitive function in chronic dialysis patients.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health problem. Individuals in all stages of CKD are at higher risk for development of cognitive impairment and this may be a major determinant in their quality of life (QOL). The prevalence of cognitive deficits is particularly high in subjects with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). While it is sufficiently well documented that ESRD is linked with a change in cognitive function, little is known about the influence of different dialysis modalities on cognitive function. The effect of dialysis modality on risk of cognitive impairment is unclear. Some data suggest that patients with ESRD treated with chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) had consistently better cognitive function than patients treated with haemodialysis (HD). We concluded that the previously observed apparent difference between two modalities of dialysis treatments resulted either from very low dialysis delivery or comparison with poorly matched controls. Regarding these data from previous studies we hypothesised that well-dialysed, well-nourished and medically stable HD patients had no cognitive dysfunction in comparison with well-dialysed, well-nourished, medically stable and demographically matched CAPD patients. Also, future studies are needed to differentiate between modality as a risk factor from the factors contributing to selection bias among patients choosing CAPD over HD.

Rhabdomyolysis in early-onset very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency despite normal glucose after fasting.

A patient with very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency presented in the neonatal period with hypoketotic hypoglycaemia and at the age of 1 year with rhabdomyolysis and normal glucose after fasting. Rhabdomyolysis may occur in the absence of hypoglycaemia in young infants as well as in older patients.